Brad Kahlhamer: Girls And Skulls

Animals, ghosts, skulls, the gritty streets of New York, rifles, Native American landscapes and rugged charismatic urban women are just some examples of what can be found in Brad Kahlhamer's paintings. With Girls & Skulls, this Tucson-born, New York-based artist plays on his favorite themes--death and sex. His Urban Prairie Girls portraits are inspired by the way Native American girls in New York continue to embody both the spirit of their ancestors and a certain tough independence. All 36 portraits collected here are paired with interviews of the models. His 200 skull drawings are reminiscent of catacombs, and are based on a stack of skulls the artist found in a church in Milan. Girls and Skulls is Brad Kahlhamer's third solo Deitch Projects exhibition. His large drawings were recently featured in a show organized by the Scottsdale Museum.