Sam Broad: Colony Collapse Disorder

Letham Gallery are excited to announce Sam Broad's return, with a brand new body of work mined from the deepest surreal dreamscapes of his memories and imagination, reworked, packaged and delivered in the form of Colony Collapse Disorder, opening 18th August.

Left to the artist to define this exhibition, he would describe it as “Liquid Acrylic Crack on Sculpted Wood, manufactured by Sam Broad to exacting standards and no taste". We see skilfully constructed works of unique imagery, in a perfectly balanced presentation of ‘high art’ and consumable pop culture.

Broad’s representations often involve unforgettable childhood icons - The infamous Buzzy-Bee is pulled apart, examined, questioned and reassembled, never to be the same again. In Broad’s opinion, the success of the Buzzy-Bee is attributed to its primal aesthetics and geometrical purities; Primary colours plus white and black, perfect circles, cylinders and lozenges, an irritating clack and hefty weight. Following its many varying transformations at the hands of Broad, the Buzzy-Bee now inhabits a political future moonscape of beehives and cartoon violence, milk and honey, and a childhood of friends and enemies.

The exhibition takes the form of original custom wood cut paintings, limited edition prints, one-off sculptures and unique t-shirts.

Broad is a mastermind of the eclectic and his exhibition comes with a warning from the artist himself: "Patrons cannot stop at owning just one piece of Sam Broad’s art. The Surgeon General recommends the wearing of blindfolds and the evacuation of the Auckland geographical area for the shows duration".

Join us from 5pm on August 18th for the preview of Colony Collapse Disorder!

Exhibition runs from 19th August until 4th September. See www.lethamgallery.co.nz for more details.