There are many contenders, but only a few can take the New York art scene by storm. Ask many of discerning collectors, and they will tell you they have found their woman. Her name is Stella Michaels, and on anyone given day she is working between 7 and 22 hours in her Chelsea studio on the modern day masterpieces she creates. Think the color of Matisse with the abstract of Pollock and you get an idea of Stella’s work. Still affordable for many collectors, Stella’s paintings hang in homes of discerning collectors around the world. Yet despite her increasing popularity, this artist remains a New Yorker through and through, and you can find her creations in the only art gallery in Chelsea Market. Why there? “Because I love New York, and though the market is known for it’s variety of foods ‘man can not live by bread alone’ “. It has the greatest energy and it is an inspiration.” Stella’s remarkable collection is at the Stray Kat Gallery, a calm and creative force within the thriving Market. If nothing else this space is worth a look even if you aren’t able to buy. In the bustle of the market this quiet space is an amazing experience. The gallery also enables you to sometimes meet Stella Michaels and Zane Fix, another New York artist who’s work is that of a modern day Warhol. Zane is known throughout New York as a man who looks like a rock star and paints like Warhol, and he is a master at his ,draft. A trained draftsman, Zane knows color and form as well as anyone and, from time to time, is known to paint the Icons of history and pop culture. The whole experience of visiting this space is a creative wonderland unto itself, and meeting Stella and Zane is the icing on the cake.
The Stray Kat Gallery opened in 2012, as the first art gallery in the Chelsea Market, with an exhibition of two New York City artists with Stella Michael’s and Jap Pop Art’s Zane Fix at the helm. Stella and Zane started their careers selling their work on the streets of Manhattan in mobile pop-up shows everywhere from the Meat Packing District to Madison Avenue. The buzz they created started to build among collectors around the world and demand for a gallery came into play. Upon meeting the duo, their charismatic sensibility and artistic style caught the eye of Stray Kat.
The Stray Kat Gallery made it’s debut in Chelsea Market’s 4,200 sq ft event space in June 2012, featuring the works of abstract expressionist and ran for three weeks. The successful show culminated in the move to the Stray Cat Gallery for painter Stella Michaels, and Jap Pop Art’s Zane Fix, in a full blown installation to the permanent gallery space. This space now provides visitors the rare in-house experience of meeting the artists themselves. Both Ms. Michaels and Mr. Fix work add a wonderful splash of color not only to the Chelsea Market, but to the lives of all those who enter the refreshing world of Stray Kat. Ask a New Yorker about a great gallery experience and this is it. Energy is everything and Stella and Zane are happening.
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http://www.straykatgallery.com
