Pacolli's POP UP SHOP February 10th, 2-8pm one of a kind silk screen printed apparel

Empire Seven Studios is thrilled for an installation of unique, wearable art fashion. As far as we can remember we have not experienced a showcase like this in our hometown. Pacolli prints all of the apparel on her own with a small squeegee  freestyling and layering designs of characters she illustrates creating a story with each piece exploring possibilities without fear. “Wrap your troubles in dreams’”, “I wish I could talk in technicolor”, “stay true”, ”real life is magic (and tragic)”, “nothing special” (a nod to Andy Warhol) are just a few of the punchlines printed on the one of a kind clothing. Sleeves are equally covered in illustrations, the inside of hoodies are printed as well as the outside. All of the products are extremely limited, color combinations and the way each garment is printed is unique and tells a different story.

Pacolli’s Pop-Up collection is made up of bright, fluorescent colors: yellows, oranges, lime greens, pinks, and blues that intersect from the garments themselves and the fabric she chooses for each combo, and she's a master of her color choices.

When she chooses to print on black garments, the iridescent bright inks come to play and it's a whole different vibe. It’s the closest couture street wear that is not cut and sewn, and any designer would be lucky to have these artwork patterns mass produced in fabric. Hopefully Gucci will pick her up and we’ll get to talk about this in a few years. But here you're able tp get the 1/1 art pieces straight from her studio, people actually frame her garments and put them on their wall!

In the age of standing out, not fitting in and having something exclusive, this is the artworks you want to be wearing. Not a chance of bumping into anyone else wearing the same outfit and you'll most definitely stand out from the crowd.

Patricia Colli aka Pacolli is a Sao Paulo born and San Francisco based self-taught artist with a DIY go-getter mentality that’s motivated her to self publish zines, comics, slap up sticker bombs, shown in galleries from Brazil to Europe and all over the U.S., designed and produced apparel for fashion shows (Sao Paulo Fashion Week) and fashion art shows in galleries (like her first ever show at Gallery 85 in Antwerp, Belgium), she ran an art gallery in Brazil called Bendgy where she curated a vast array of original art, books, zines, prints from artists from all over the world, she runs her online store Pacolli Studio (ex-High in the Bay) for the past 14 years in SF

Pacolli worked as a producer and AD for MTV Brazil and made her own way through a male dominated arts industry back home. Residing in the Bay Area for nearly two decades pursuing and establishing herself as an artist, collaborating with bands to create album covers, fostered in venues like Needles and Pens worked, curated shows and met a lot of her peers in SF. Her work is inspired by the human condition, everyday life struggles and beauty. With a witty sense of humor, her zine and comics are equally autobiographical and part of an observation of the world that surrounds her.

When there’s nothing scheduled on the calendar, she seizes the opportunity to explore new concepts or collaboration with artists. We admire Pacolli for her resilience, hard work ethic and dedication to being true to herself, understanding the struggle, sacrifices, and maintaining consistency, never hijacking ideas respecting others' craft even if it takes longer to succeed in this competitive industry. It’s been lovely reconnecting since our gallery hiatus and pandemics. It’s a great honor to be able to present this event that is different, bold, and colorful. Originally we were only going to pick up a few pieces for the Gift Shop and after a full day of hanging at her home studio in the Tenderloin catching up on life and things we miss in the Bay, we sprouted the idea of a Pop-Up. Please join us and come out to meet Pacolli, she will have zines, and buttons available. Let's give her bright personality a warm welcome in San Jose.

If you are interested in any piece or need additional info, please contact info@empiresevenstudios.com 

Art Lovers! This is the last week of our BARGAIN SALE...

Art lovers: this is the last week of our Bargain Sale! We have sold many artworks since we launched. We appreciate everyone who has walked in or visited our online store and purchased pieces to take to their homes or businesses. It’s been fun negotiating prices without jeopardizing the artists’ commission. Notifying our artist friends that they have a check in the mail is very rewarding and collectors are what make that happiness happen. 

In an era of instant gratification, collecting artwork and owning something physical is becoming a lost tradition. As curators our mission is to sell, sell, sell, upholding the values and responsibility we’re assigned when given the opportunity to hang and sell someone's work. 

Since 2022, Empire Seven Studios has had the opportunity to assess how the local art market is functioning. We’re honored to be a place where collectors understand our vision and the importance of purchasing someone's dedication to their medium of choice: painting, sculpture, knitting, mixed media, or what have you. While we make these transactions, we’re also connecting and learning from you all and we appreciate the feedback.

Curating artworks that are not available at every other venue is the same as bringing Beyonce, or Taylor Swift to an arena where people pay a generous amount for tickets for a few hours of lifetime memories. No one questions where they come from or what's their area code. You buy that ticket because it’s an artist unlike any other talent sticking out; out of millions of others. Whether mainstream or underground, the interest in their art is solidified because of the product's quality. We are stimulated by art as deep as our wallets allow us to be. 

Empire Seven Studios will not sacrifice quality over quantity or biases knowing there’s an artist struggling to put out the best they can or know how to. We’re here to support the most technical and emerging artists from San Jose or beyond. If we had it our way (and we aim to do so) there would be no borders, and in terms of art, that's what it’s all about for us. The ultimate freedom to be ourselves. Like Stephen Powers (aka Espo) has said: “unapologetic, uncut, giving it to you raw.” 

Over the last year, we have had the pleasure of hearing positive feedback about our gallery and our work;  it is these compliments that inspire us to be ourselves, which is what got us here in the first place. What is working for us is realizing we have you, our visitors, fans, and collectors, that believe in our mission and support an art movement that allows us to be FREE. We will continue to do just that, knowing so many of you miss the authentic vision our Gallery works tirelessly to deliver.

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Takashi Murakami's first solo exhibit in SF! Opening of “Unfamiliar People — Swelling of Monsterized Human Ego”

Took a trip up to SF to see the new Takashi Murakami exhibit at the SF Asian Art Museum.

“Unfamiliar People — Swelling of Monsterized Human Ego” is Takashi’s first solo exhibition in San Francisco! There was such a variety of mediums and styles in this exhibit! Definitely planning to go back to become re-immersed in his world!

Below is the SF Asian Art Museum’s write up about this exhibit:

An internationally recognized artist, Murakami is also a major figure in global pop culture whose influence extends to fashion, consumer products, curation, and entertainment. With a boldly colored, upbeat style and a pop sensibility that draws inspiration from anime and manga, Murakami’s accessible and fun creations deliver more than meets the eye: beneath the surface of his work lies a nuanced examination of human behavior, informed by historical and art-historical references and a wry sense of humor.

The larger-than-life paintings and sculptures in Murakami: Monsterized use monsters as a central motif to address the complicated nature of the world around us. The artist’s recent works suggest that our rapidly changing and increasingly digital landscape is populated by monsters — whether harmful or helpful — many of which humans have created and perhaps even become. Blurring the line between frightening and fun, these monsters embody the forces and behaviors that threaten and haunt us, as well as those that offer us diversion and escape from chaos. Several new works created for this exhibition find Murakami responding to a social environment marked by a global pandemic and a shift toward virtual interaction. Paintings of distorted figures reflect the swelling egos of individuals promoting themselves relentlessly on social media, while works recording the artist’s creation of NFTs, including avatars, look with optimism toward a digitally liberated future.

Senior Curator of Japanese Art Laura W. Allen locates Murakami’s imagery in a lineage of Japanese supernatural creatures including the kaiju (giant monsters) of postwar manga, television, and film — such as Godzilla, who makes a memorable appearance in this exhibition — and extending back to the “menacing and adorable” yōkai (supernatural entities) of Edo-period scrolls. “The visual DNA of Murakami’s characters has origins in centuries-old styles in Japanese art,” says Allen, “such as depicting Buddhist arhats and Daoist immortals as wizened beings with strange features, bulging eyes, and bared teeth.” To these venerated historical sources, Murakami adds the “technicolor palette, goofy expressions, and eclectic mixture of motifs” that have become his trademark — boldly remixing tradition to reflect the complexity of the present day.

Los Gatos Art & Wine Festival September 16-17th

We mobilized our gallery to a friend’s hair salon, The Studio Los Gatos . This weekend September 16th, and 17th …the two day event will be hosting artists, live music, beer and wine! 

There will be a wonderful collection of original artworks on display inside featuring: Chad Hasegawa, Jason Arnold, Juan Carlos Araujo, Stephany Sanchez, Stephen Longoria, and Tyson Johnston. Additionally, there will also be artist merchandise such as books, totes, and more!

Come visit we look forward to seeing you, and having a great time!