As soon as I walked into Monkdogz the other night, Bob Hogge (in black, below) came up and introduced himself (it’s his gallery) and offered me a drink.  Bob really took the time to talk to me …how unusual!  Being as I like some of the work in his chelsea gallery and the feeling in the gallery - I thought I’d write it up in ArtNYC.  

Bob Hogge strikes me as someone who’s been in the art world for a while - a search on Bob Hogge brings up a Robert D. Hogge who invented “Xfusionistic” art - I think that’s the same guy, but I’m not 100% sure.

I asked Bob Hogge if it was really true that it takes 2 years to set up a NY Art Show.  He said it depends; my gist is it does not take that long to get a show in his gallery if your his kind of artist - someone that is dedicated, is willing to put yourself foward. He sees his gallery and selection process as different than any other gallery…and I believe him.  He had some pretty good work on his walls.

I liked an artist called Marcus Van Soest (he’s an artist to watch) who is showing his work currently in the Monkdogz gallery….Bob Hogge told me this artist got on a plane and came right over to the gallery to ask to show his work in Monkdogz because he had read about Monddogz and Hogge for several  years.  Looks like the trip paid off as Marcos is one of Monkdogz collection of artists that are shown in the Chelsea gallery (Monkdogz has an online gallery that anyone can join for free).

  

Van Soest was the most original artist I have seen in Chelsea lately - powerful work.  There’s a lot of info on him online and you can see pictures from the opening at Monkdogz Urban Art “Came to Believe” show last week (which I did not know about or I would have come).