Los Angeles, CA – Sow and Tailor is pleased to announce Traffic a solo exhibition by Los Angeles-based artist L.W.D. aka Little Walt Dog. The exhibition will open on the afternoon of June 29th from 3-6 pm and will be on view through July 27th, 2024.
The artist will be present at the opening reception. Little Walt Dog, a Los Angeles native, grew up in the neighborhoods of Watts, Compton, Gardena, and Torrance. Immersed in the vibrant culture of rock & roll and classic cars, L.W.D. found inspiration in the LA’s expansive and dynamic scene. Shortly after high school, he enlisted in the army in 1975, serving in Germany. Upon his return to Los Angeles, his journey led to unexpected and transformative experiences.
The 90s marked a significant turning point in L.W.D.'s life, culminating in a 30-year sentence. His release in 2019 became a moment of profound transformation, inspiring the works featured in Traffic. Shortly after returning home, L.W.D. was captivated by live painting at a community event. The sight of paint being pushed and pulled across a blank canvas, free from rules and restrictions, inspired him to pick up a brush and begin his artistic journey.
Traffic is an exquisite exhibition showcasing L.W.D.'s oil paintings and mixed media sculptures. The paintings are installed in a line wrapping the walls of the gallery, reminiscent of a film strip or cars lined up in traffic, each one a snapshot, a memory steeped in nostalgia. At the center of the exhibition, a low pedestal displays a collection of L.W.D.'s sculptures. Constructed from found wood and nails, these sculptures blend crude construction with intrinsic beauty, embodying history and the effects of time on the city’s landscape. Each work depicts a road with cars, segments of the boulevards that surround us.
L.W.D.'s work captures a spectrum of emotions, from the elation of cruising through the city to the pressure and tension he observes and experiences within LA’s social fabric. Each piece serves as a reflection of our society, infused with personal narratives that reveal the artist's own journey and the broader human experience. The complex interplay of joy, struggle, and resilience makes his work both deeply personal and universally accessible. L.W.D.'s work is characterized by its sincerity, honesty, and authenticity, offering an unfiltered glimpse into the realities of life.
