Derek Hess "Critical Infrastructure Against External Threats" Gallery Show at Inner State Gallery

1xRUN & Strhess Present:

New Work from Derek Hess Opens March 21st
Join Us For Hess' First Detroit Solo Exhibition In Over 10 Years!

Opening March 21st from 7-10pm, Inner State Gallery is proud to showcase new work from acclaimed artist Derek Hess. "Critical Infrastructure Against External Threats" is a continuing examination of Hess’ evolving body of work that explores his use of line and form to create a sense of emotion and depth.

The show will feature new work highlighting Hess’ recent reclaiming of long lost vinyl album covers, 8-tracks and Playboy magazines, all alongside his signature pen and ink pieces. The show will be Hess’ first Detroit solo show since 2002.

Throughout the last 25 years, Hess has created hundreds of rock posters and album covers for bands ranging the spectrum of rock music from Pink Floyd, Iggy Pop, Pearl Jam and Nine Inch Nails to Pantera, Clutch, Deftones and countless others. Solidifying his place in rock music history Hess’ work has joined permanent collections at the Louvre in Paris as well as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The Musee de la Publicite at the Palais du Louvre called his work "...a remarkable series of posters" and the European journal of poster art, called his work "the most highly sought after concert posters in the world".

Recently, Hess has turned his obsessive concentration on the human form to a vast series of grease pencil nudes on retro Playboy covers from the 60’s and 70’s - the very same issues Hess first discovered as a fourth grader in his father’s closet. The nostalgia brought back by the taboo material of Hess’ childhood made the project even more fun for the artist. Drawing loose and fast, Hess was able to capture the vibrant feeling of the figure. In 2013 the limited edition book “He Ain’t No Vargas” was released. The book has drawings spanning Hess’ earliest experimentation with Playboy covers in 2010 all the way into his most recent works done in August, 2013.

He will also have his Suicide Notes Prints that printed on old album covers