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

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.