The work of Pam Glew. © Photo Vicky Bigmore

Exhibition Review – Vicky Bigmore is impressed with the first show at a new Brighton art space, Inner Voices runs at Visual Imprints Artspace until August 24 2008 – see below for details of a closing party!

Inner Voices, which closes this weekend, is the first exhibition to be held in this brand new gallery, in the heart of Brighton and it offers a diverse selection of artists whose work could be indentified as Street Art.

It features four talented street artists, Lotz, Pam Glew, Jim Sanders and The Krah.

As you enter, Lotz work goes right across the wall. Her very feminine paintings of different women all have surreal, illusory styles about them. All of the work exhibited concerns female faces and one highlight is a brooding elfin-looking girl created on the floor out of black and white sellotape.

Behind the images, Lotz has drawn many illustrations directly on the wall that make you feel like you have walked through Alice’s looking glass itself.

The work of Jim Sanders. © Photo Vicky Bigmore

Opposite is another female artist, Pam Glew. If Lotz and Pam Glew represent the female dream, hers is the darker side. A big vintage American flag hangs prominently on the wall with a face of a bewildered girl looking out.

Underneath is a tent draped in an American flag and dainty fairylights - anyone is invited to jump in. Elsewhere little movie prints are slick and striking representations of female icons from horror films - printed onto paper from horror novels.

Moving towards the back of the room, huge phallic totems stand in the centre of Jim Sanders' exhibit. Each one has been carefully crafted with shiny bottle tops collected over the years.

The final part of the exhibition, by the Krah, occupies a small room at the top of the stairs.

As well as using canvas and boards, he also works with found objects. Amidst the explicit political messages about capitalism and a large Nazi symbol are detailed images from our pop culture including CNN, McDonalds, The Simpsons and of course, Uncle Sam shushing at you from the centre.

The work of Lotz. © Photo Vicky Bigmore

Visual Imprints is not exactly a gallery, but more of an art space where anyone willing has the chance to get involved with street art. On Friday 25 July 2008 there was a paint-off, which is a kind of artist’s equivalent to battle of the bands.

On Saturday 9 August, everyone was invited to ‘draw on the wall’ and to have a few drinks. Other events will be happening periodically to exhibit more of this fresh talent. And they intend to get some out onto the streets.

It seems almost contradictory to keep street art inside a building. After all, it’s a style that’s all about developing art out in our big urban jungle, but this exhibition is a very interactive art space that manages to conjure the spirit of urban art and still push boundaries.

Visual Imprints will be finishing thier first show with a party on Saturday August 23 2008. As well as being free, with free music and beer, they are giving away artworks to the first 20 people.

See visualimprints.co.uk/content/inner-voices-closing-party for more details.