Awol Erizku / Moon, Turn the Flames...Gently Gently Away / Sean Kelly
- LA Art Documents
- Jun 9
- 2 min read
Awol Erizku
Moon, Turn the Flames...Gently Gently Away
Sean Kelly, Los Angeles, CA
May 16 - July 3, 2025
Continuing his critical investigation of identity politics, resistance, and abstraction, Erizku offers a cosmology of visual language that disrupts conventional narratives of representation. The exhibition presents new photographs, neon installations, and sculptures that underscore Erizku’s distinctive approach to symbolism and cross-cultural dialogue.
Through a sophisticated interplay of diverse mediums, Awol Erizku’s unique lexicon recontextualizes historical narratives. A series of neon works further expand Erizku’s investigation of identity and symbolism. These new works reflect the artist’s exploration of beauty within everyday life. One neon reimagines the iconic Los Angeles Dodgers logo in vibrant, Pan-African colors, subverting expectations of branding and belonging.
NO ICE is a striking neon addition to the artist’s enduring lexicon, introducing a multifaceted symbol ripe for interpretation within today’s volatile political climate. Within the broader constellation of works in this exhibition, NO ICE ignites a more urgent dialogue, illuminating the fraught landscape of race relations in America with unflinching intensity.
Expanding on Erizku’s deep engagement with the intersection of music and visual art, the third-floor installation presents a suite of “The Most influential Hip-Hop Albums of all time” according to the artist, inkjet printed on stone. Erizku elevates his selection beyond their original commercial and digital contexts. Presenting them as “paintings” he situates them within art history.
The weight and texture of the stone serve as a counterpoint to the ephemeral quality of contemporary music consumption, prompting reflection on how cultural memory is preserved and rewoven into a new tapestry. Creating an immersive experience, the exhibition is accompanied by a curated mixtape for visitors to listen to as they move through the space, serving as an auditory extension of Erizku’s artistic language.
