biography of James Reka

James Reka

Biography | Artwork

James Reka is a young contemporary painter and artist based in Melbourne. With influences in pop culture, cartoons and illustration, Reka creates his own world of mysterious creatures that communicate though colour and movement, based around the style of abstracted fantasy and surrealism. Since 2002, Reka has established himself as a pioneer in Melbourne’s burgeoning street art scene that has become a successful exhibitor of his work, both in Melbourne, interstate and overseas. His work has recently been acquisitioned by the National Gallery of Australia for their permanent collection, and over the years has curated numerous shows focusing on supporting Australian and International artists.

ARTIST STATEMENT

I have always been intrigued with the Buddhist belief of reincarnation and the continuation of your soul in another lifetime. The concept behind ‘Outside Infinity’ explores the notion of the infinite abyss known as the universe, contrasted with the fragility of our life. In the fabric of time, our existence would be compared to a speck of dust. Not even. My core focus is to portray the journey of the conscious human life and the subconscious connection with elements such as fate, time, the dream-world and reality. I like the idea that your soul could actually be made up of many different lives that connected throughout the ages. The dream world could be your existence in a parallel universe, and vice versa. Although this exhibition is a personal journey of my core beliefs, I have intentionally left doors wide open for the viewer’s interpretation and personal reflection on their own life. Does everything happen for a reason? How long does forever last for? How many lifetimes have I seen? Was I at the beginning? I think so. We all were.

EDUCATION

BA. (Visual Communication & Design) RMIT University, Melbourne
Self-Taught Artist

EXHIBITIONS

Solo Exhibitions

2011 ”Down Lo, Too Slow” Solo Exhibition - Backwoods Gallery, Collingwood (VIC) March

2010 “Outside Infinity” Solo Exhibition - 19Karen Gallery, GoldCoast (QLD) July
2010 NGA: “Space Invaders” Paper/Street Exhibition, NGA Canberra (ACT) October2009 “Such Is Life” Greenwood Gallery, South Melbourne (VIC)
2008 “Against The Grain” Wasteland Gallery, Perth CBD (WA)
2008 ”Tall Oaks” No Vacancy Gallery, Melbourne CBD (VIC)
2008 "Tall Oaks” China Heights Gallery, Surry Hills, Sydney (NSW)
2006 “100K Melbourne” Bus Gallery, Melbourne CBD (VIC)
2006 ”100K Sydney” China Heights Gallery, Surry Hills, Sydney (NSW)
2004 “Negative Reality” Early Gallery, Collingwood (VIC)

Group Exhibitions

2010 “Street Studio” Book Launch & Exhibition, No Vacancy/Fed Square, Melbourne CBD (VIC)
2010 “Mixed Business” Semi Permanent Exhibition, Ambush Gallery, Waterloo (NSW)
2010 “Street Studio” Book Launch & Exhibition, Black Rat Press Gallery, London (UK)

2009 “Record Time” Group Exhibition, Gorker Gallery, Fitzroy (VIC)
2009 ”King Brown #5″ Group Exhibition, Gorker Gallery, Fitzroy (VIC)
2009 ”Contains 12 pcs.” Group exhibition, Gorker Gallery, Fitzroy (VIC)
2009 ”Suit Up” Playing Card exhibition, No Vacancy Gallery, Melbourne CBD (VIC)

2008 “Drawing Machine 2″ Group exhibition, Greenwood Gallery, Sth Melbourne (VIC)
2008 ”No Comply” Skateboard exhibition, No Vacancy Gallery, Melbourne CBD (VIC)”No Comply” Skateboard exhibition, Red Bull Gallery, Sydney (NSW) ”Monster Invasion” Group exhibition, Ruban Rat, Newtown (NSW)
2008 ”Sideways” Charity Auction Exhibtion, MTV Gallery, Sydney (NSW)
2008 ”McCulloch Gallery, Studio Group Exhibition, McCulloch Gallery, Melbourne CBD (VIC)
2008 ”Black & White” Ingenious Exhibition, Famous When Dead Gallery, West Melbourne (VIC)
2008 ”Golden Brown” Two Colour Group Exhibition, Bodhi Gallery, London (UK)
2008 ”Red Balloon” Print Exhibition, Famous When Dead Gallery, West Melbourne (VIC)
2008 ”No Vacancy” Gallery Opening Exhibition, No Vacancy Gallery, Melbourne CBD (VIC)
2008 ”Kids Today” Semi Permanent Group Exhibition, MTV Gallery, Sydney (NSW)
2008 ”Everfresh at Wasteland” Everfresh Studio Exhibition, Wasteland Gallery, Perth (WA)

2007 “Backwoods” Everfresh Studio Exhibition, Wooden Shadow Gallery, Richmond (VIC)
2007 ”Back-up” Everfresh Studio Exhibition, Hogan Gallery, Collingwood (VIC)
2007 “Another Show” Everfresh Studio Exhibition, Hogan Gallery, Collingwood (VIC)
2007 “KingBrown 3” Magazine Launch, Paper Shadow Gallery, Melbouyrne CBD (VIC)
2007 “KingBrown 3” Magazine Launch, China Heights Gallery, Surry Hills (NSW)
2007 “No Comply 3” Skateboard Exhibition, Federatiopn Square, Melbourne CBD (VIC)
2007 “12×12” Group Exhibition, Ambush Gallery, Waterloo (NSW)
2007 ”Plastic Pimps 2” Toy Exhibition, Central Station Gallery, Melbounre CBD (VIC)
2007 “Street Art Feature” Outre Gallery, Melbourne CBD (VIC)
2007 “Anniversary Show” PerSquareMetre Gallery, Collingwood (VIC)
2007 “Street Art Feature” Mucholoch Gallery, Melbourne CBD (VIC)

2006 “KingBrown” Issue 2 Launch Exhibition - Per Square Metre, Collingwood (VIC)
2006 ”Selftitled” The Autopsy Gallery, St. Kilda (VIC)
2006 ”Its who you know, not what you know!” - Per Square Metre, Collingwood (VIC)
2006 ”Infiltrate” Workshop Space, Melbourne CBD (VIC)
2006 ”Letter Heads” Alphabet Exhibition, Wooden Shadow Gallery, Richmond (VIC)
2006 ”Prahran Mission” Charity Exhibition, Revolver Space, South Yarra (VIC)
2006 ”All City Style ” Train Exhibition, Revolver Space, South Yarra (VIC)
2006 ”All City Style” Train Exhibition, China Heights Gallery, Surry Hills (NSW)
2006 ”Semi Permanent 06″ Launch Exhibition, Perth (WA)
2006 ”Without Reason” China Heights Gallery, Surry Hills (NSW)
2006 ”Outside Over Here” Imp Gallery, South Yarra (VIC)
2006 ”Urban Myths” Street Art Exhibition, Brunswick (VIC)
2006 ”Plastic Pimps” Toy Exhibition, Betula Gallery, CBD (VIC)
2006 ”Resist” Remix Media Exhibition, Brightspace Gallery, St. Kilda (VIC)
2006 ”Plastic Pimps” Toy Exhibition, China Heights Gallery, Surry Hills (NSW)

2005 “Art + Heart Project” Curious Eidolon Space, Fitzroy (VIC)
2005 ”What the Fuck” Monster Children Gallery, Darlinghurst (NSW)
2005 ”Until Never” City Lights Gallery, Melbourne CBD (VIC)
2005 “Tijuana Powder Run” Snowboard Exhibition, Selected Mountains (VIC & NSW)
2005 “No Comply 2” Skateboard Exhibition - Revolver Space, South Yarra (VIC)
2005 “Bits & Pieces” Bright Space, St. Kilda (VIC)
2005 “Paper Ninja’s” Melbourne Stencil Festival, Meat Market, North Melbourne (VIC)
2005 “Tranzit” Melbourne Arts Supply Space, CBD (VIC)

2004 “Surface: Subject to Change” Melbourne Fringe Festival, Shed 14 Docklands, CBD (VIC)
2004 “No Comply” Skateboard Exhibition - Revolver Space, South Yarra (VIC)
2004 “Affiliated 2” Forest One Gallery, Adelaide (SA)
2004 “Outlandish” Traumatic Art Galleries, Coburg (VIC)
2004 “Free Space” Empty Show 3, Collingwood (VIC)
2004 “Battle Ship” Early Gallery, Collingwood (VIC)

2003 “Permit Zone” City Lights light-box projects, Hosier Lane (VIC)

ACHIEVEMENTS

2010 “LTRHDS” Curated Alphabet Exhibition - Melbourne, Sydney, February, April 2010
2010 ″St Ali” Laneway/ Exterior Building Mural Commission - South Melbounre
2010 Fitzroy Private commission, interior installation – Fitzroy Melbourne
2009 “Melbourne Ink” (Street-art documentary) - Featured Artist, screened at Federation Square, July 2009
2008 “RTR Radio” Perth Artrage Festival interview (21/10/08) Perth
2008 ”9am with David and Kim” (channel 10), Street art feature (23/10/08)
2008 ”Chupa Chups” Commissioned exterior mural, ACDC lane, Melbourne CBD
2008 ”R Wine Bar” Commissioned interior installation, North Adelaide
2008 ”Maid and Magpie” Commissioned Exterior mural, Adelaide CBD
2008 ”Prince Albert” Commissioned interior mural, Wright St. Adelaide
2008 “Street Art Project” Commissioned workshop, City of Yarra, Napier st. Fitzroy
2007 “Suede Bar” Commissioned exterior mural, Smith st. Collingwood
2007 “Dragonfly” Commissioned artwork for eterior mural, Chapel st. Windsor
2007 “Rose Street Markets” Commissioned exterior mural, Rose St. Fitzroy
2007 “Backwoods” Exhibition Curated Project. Wooden Shadow Gallery, Richmond
2007 “Wine & Bar Expo” Commissioned for Live art installation, Melbourne and Sydney exhibition buildings
2006 “Publicist Mojo” Commissioned artwork for interior installations throughout the foyer and studios of the advertising firm.
2006 ”Letterheads” Alphabet Exhibition, Curated Project including launch of Wooden Toy’s “Vintage Issue”
2006 "Red Bull Music Academy” Commissioned artwork for interior installations throughout recording studios.
2006 ”Uniform” Commissioned interior mural for retail store. Brunswick st. Fitzroy
2006 ”Rash” Featured Artist screened at Melbourne International Film Festival & ABC TV. Madman Distribution
2005 “Brahma” Comissioned artwork for A-frame on Truck_
2005 "Another Inch” Commissioned interior mural for retail store. Darlinghurst, Sydney
2005 ”Melbourne Fringe Festival” Commissioned Artwork for the exterior design of information booth at FedSquare
2005 ”Jade” Comissioned exterior mural for retail store. Balaclava
2005 ”Loreal Fashion Week” Commissioned for exterior artwork and murals. Greville st. Prahran
2005 ”GhostRider movie” Commissioned artwork and designs for sets and backdrops
2005 “Big Day Out” Comissioned Live art demonstration at main entrance. Melb Showgrounds
2004 “Extra Classic” Commissioned artwork for exterior panels by World Square and Citylights. George rd. Sydney
2004 “Space & Smart Car” Comissioned Live artwork for exterior of smart car. Space, Sydney
2004 ”Negative Reality” Exhibition Curated Project. Early Gallery, Collingwood.
2004 “Big Day Out” Comissioned Live art demonstration at main entrance. Melb Showgrounds

PUBLICATIONS

2010 “Street Studio” artist feature - Melbourne Street Art book, Thames & Hudson
2009 “Such is Life” M magazine, The Age July 26th
2008 ″Writing’s on the wall for risque wine maker” The Advertiser (SA), June 11
2007 “Backwoods Review” Illegal Fame Magazine issue 4, November
2007 “SWB crew Feature” Stealth Magazine no.14, Febuary
2007 “Character Kings” Overspray Magazine issue 5, January
2007 “Reka interview” Acclaim Magazine issue 3, January
2006 ″Reka interview” King Brown Magazine no.2, Mr Yok, October
2006 ″Street Art Uncut” book cover. Matthew Lunn. Craftsman House Publishers, Thames and Hudson Australia 2006 ″Without Reason”. Elliot, Twisted Inc. productions
2006 ″Graffiti down to a fine art” Maria Bervankis, Melbourne Leader, August 16
2006 ″The Guild 2nd Ed: Outside Over Here”. Andy Sargent, Seven-Nine productions
2005 ″Decked” Wooden Toy Magazine no.1, Timba Smits, December
2005 ″Street Scene” Bill Craske, The Age (Melbourne Magazine Issue 10) August
2005 Cover design, Out4fame Magazine no.32, February
2004 ″No Comply” Tattoos Downunder Magazine no.51, Nicole Reed, November
2004 ″Melbourne” Stu Magazine issue 30, Qube Konstruct, October
2004 ″Street Section” Artillery Magazine no.2,
2004 ″Reka interview” Lucky Magazine no.18, Luke Canning, March
2004 Conform no1: Australia Street Art. Saskia Folk, Macmillain Publishers Australia
2004 ″Sticker Nation” Dom Murphey, Blowback Magazine February