Recap: Buff Monster “Legend of the Pink Cherry” at Corey Helford Gallery

Los Angeles street artist Buff Monster had a lot to celebrate on April 14th. Not only was it his birthday but also the opening of his highly anticipated Legend of the Pink Cherry exhibition at the Corey Helford Gallery. The downstairs main gallery featured pieces that celebrated the past eleven years of the internationally known artist’s career. Fans carefully navigated through the packed space while Judas Priest, Metallica, Iron Maiden and Ozzy blared through the speakers. The heavy sounds of the metal bands were contrasted with Buff Monster’s bold imagery, in particular his heavy use of pink and wide eyed characters. He used acrylic-on-wood panel pieces for the show and skillfully rendered with airbrush. On display were several narrative scenes involving soft served ice cream cones that came to life in an alternate planet. The cones took on human form with arms, legs and eyes while retaining their treat-like torsos.

The second floor of the gallery debuted Buff’s “The Melty Misfits” a set of 60 collectible trading cards in the same vein as the Garbage Pail Kids. The card project had been in development throughout his entire career. To accompany the card unveiling, Buff also displayed original acrylic and air brush on watercolor paper.

While the show was a celebration of how far Buff has come as an artist, it also signified a new direction in his career. “I’ve always thought of my work as inspired by and representative of Los Angeles— Hollywood more specifically. Los Angeles is the birthplace of Buff Monster,” he commented. “Part of why I feel compelled to tie everything together is that I feel that this chapter of my life and my work is coming to an end, and I’m looking to the future. It’s time to go East.”

Buff Monster’s Legend of the Pink Cherry will be on display at the Corey Helford Gallery until May 5.

Text: Keisha Raines
Photo: Birdman