Preview: Olek "The Bad Artists Imitate, The Great Artists Steal" at Jonathan LeVine

Image via Complex Original

Polish-born Olek is best known for bombing the streets with a unique brand of crochet sculptures. She's previously covered the Wall Street bull, and earlier this week placed a newly covered shopping cart in the Financial District. Tonight, Olek moves indoors: her solo exhibition, "The Bad Artists Imitate, The Great Artists Steal" opens at Jonathan LeVine Gallery.

The show features crocheted canvases, installations, and sculptures. Olek draws her title from a Banksy work, and also playfully quotes the famed Bristol-born artist in the show. 

Olek says, “My work is always focused on gender and time, each piece has its history and purpose. I place them together so they can tell you a story or two. Just listen. My work is very personal. I hope art in general can inspire and initiate change. I use street art as an additional viewing space, like a gallery or any other area that is showing my work. Good public art works make a person stop walking, stop staring at the ground, and focus on art. My work is never finished – the continuous response of the viewers is the art. My work is simply an instrument for their expressions. It proves that all things are interconnected.”

Show runs: August 10 to 27, 2011. 

Jonathan LeVine Gallery, 529 W. 29th Street, 9E, New York, New York. 

Check an advanced preview of the show.

"American Flag" 

"Balloon Girl, Banksy Tribute" 

"Crocheted Salon Chair" 

"Crocheted Shopping Cart" 

"Homage to Rrose Se'Lavy" 

"Keith Meets Arc of Hysteria", installation. 

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