WARD OF THE STATE: TONY WARD- ARTIST'S MUSE

Ward of the State: Tony Ward, Artists’ Muse

RIVERA & RIVERA is pleased to announce Ward of the State: Tony Ward, Artists’ Muse,
a group exhibition of works centered on shared muse, Tony Ward.

Curated by Robert Standish, the exhibition highlights a diverse collection of images by artists whose lives and careers have at various points been impacted by Ward, as subject, muse and myth.

A reception for the artists will be held on Saturday, May 21, 2011 from 6–8p.m.

Ward of the State: Tony Ward Artists’ Muse includes artwork by Greg Gorman, Steven Klein, Patrick Hoelck, Patrick Martinez, Herb Ritts, Estevan Oriol, Retna, Paul Rusconi, Bruce Weber, Robert Standish, Michael Gregg Michaud, Jules Muck, RICK CASTRO, Christoph Schmidberger, Ray Turner, Maya Mercer and Tony Ward.

Called "male icon of the century" by Paris Vogue, Ward has been the subject of numerous photographers and designers, including Bruce Weber, Jim French, Steven Meisel, Herb Ritts, Ellen Von Unwerth, Karl Lagerfeld, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana,
Calvin Klein, and numerous others. Ward has also appeared in Madonna's book Sex, as well as in her hyper-sexualized music videos.

Ranging from the 1980s to the present, Ward of the State will feature paintings, photographs, and works in other media based on Tony Ward’s role as a visual icon. Through their respective mediums, each artist communicates a different facet of a man not easily defined. As a collective work of art, Ward of the State reveals Ward as the embodiment of ideals of masculinity, beauty, brutality, fashion, and sexual ambiguity.

As striking and strongly featured as his face and physique are, Ward serves as a blank canvas for the artists to reinterpret and immortalize his essence and persona for their own artistic devices.

RIVERA & RIVERA Gallery, located in West Hollywood, is housed in a space designed by the Museum of Contemporary Art's architect, Arata Isozaki. The gallery represents mid-career and established artists. RIVERA & RIVERA's roster of artists have 22 museums shows aligned through 2013, including the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles and the Pasadena Museum of California Art.

Opening Reception for the artists: Saturday, May 21, 2011, 6 – 8 p.m.

454 N. ROBERTSON BOULEVARD WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA
phone: 310. 713.1635 f a x : 310. 388.3187 email: info@riveraandrivera.com

Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and by appointment.

 For additional information on Ward of the State: Tony Ward Artists’ Muse, please call 310.713.1635, or email shayna@riveraandrivera.com