Featured artist: Casey Zoltan and Known Gallery
Alex Achaval, & then some, 10x10, oil on Ampersand Gessobord, Seattle, WA
Street art veteran Casey Zoltan, founder of Known Gallery in Los Angeles, invited us to collaborate on an immersive art exhibit that pays tribute to the iconic AMPERSAND symbol.
Little did we know how much this idea would take off and the immense scale of artists from around the world that would participate! Read on to learn more about Casey, the “Ampersand Show” and get a sneak peek at some of the artwork and artists featured in the show!
Chie Tamada, Beach Days, 10x10, acrylic on Ampersand Gessobord, Los Angeles, CA
Q: Can you walk us through the origin of the Ampersand Show and what inspired its inception?
Certainly, let’s start with the name of the show. A couple of years ago, my good friend Andy said, “I like how Pins & Needles Collection uses the ampersand,” I replied, “What is an ampersand?” Having gone to school in Europe for a portion of my life, I didn’t learn certain words in English, and I guess this was one of them. He explained the history of the ampersand, and I immediately became obsessed with it. It resonated with me in so many ways. Quickly after that, I wanted to create Mr. Ampersand as a mascot for the Pins & Needles Collection. So, when I decided to do a group show at Known Projects, Mr. Ampersand was perfect, and the subject matter would be our beloved ampersand symbol.
We invited about 100 artists to participate, hoping to get 60 to sign on. That backfired, and everybody we invited replied with a yes. Now, what do we do? One hundred pieces wouldn’t fit the small footprint of Known Projects. That’s when I realized this show was bigger than Mr. Ampersand, Pins & Needles Collection, and Known Projects. So, in very Casey fashion, I decided to make this show huge and make it its own thing. I started going hard on inviting artists to join with the idea of capping it at 200. Well, 200 became 300, 300 became 400, and I told myself I’d cap it at 500 no matter what. This led to the name 500&. Well, that name was short-lived because before I knew it, I broke my promise to myself and had well over 500. That’s when I changed the name to the Ampersand Show and locked in the website, social media handles, etc.
Tim "OHM ONE" Siemokat, 10x10, mixed media on Ampersand Gessobord, Hamburg Germany
Q: What draws you to the ampersand symbol? How do you perceive its significance, and what unique qualities do you believe it adds to the show?
It resonates with me for so many reasons. Coming from a graffiti background, I’ve always loved lettering, logos, and symbols. The ampersand is all of that in one. The fact that it was once the 27th letter of our alphabet and then removed also touches me personally, as do current events. I don’t think any artist out there doesn’t like the ampersand symbol, and most actually love it.
Brianna Gardocki, Fire and Ice, 10x10, acrylic on Ampersand Gessobord, Atlanta, GA
Q: Could you share insights into your selection process for the artists featured in this show? When choosing participants, what criteria did you consider, and how many artists are involved to date?
I have a nontraditional approach to curating group shows. I reach out to artists who are serious about their careers in art. This has very little to do with their current status but more about their dedication. I don’t want to reveal more about the number of artists until we announce the invite, but as I said, it’s more than 500 and probably the largest group show in history.
Cloakwork, Clean Tag &, 10x10, mixed media on Ampersand Gessobord, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Q: Where can we anticipate experiencing the exhibitions? Could you provide insight into any planned venues or cities?
I’ll give your readers some alpha; the show opens in November 2024 in Las Vegas at ComplexCon and will then travel the world.
Ronald "Dr.Yo" Schrodt, 10x10, mixed media on Ampersand Gessobord, Berlin, Germany
Q: How did you discover Ampersand Gessobord, and what do you love most about it for this project?
Truth be told, I was searching #ampersand on social media and kept seeing everybody using these beautiful panels. I realized that the company making them was called Ampersand Art. Wait! What? How is this? I’ve used these panels in the past and never put two and two together. I thought I had to reach out to them, so I did. After a couple of emails and DMs back and forth, we were able to make it happen. I had already purchased the original 60 panels from another brand, and once we received the Ampersand panels, I knew we couldn’t use anything but these. No other brand compares, to be honest.
Sean Hamilton, &, 10x10, oil on Ampersand Gessobord, Seattle, WA
Q: Now, to get to know you better, share a bit about your background in graffiti art and how it has influenced your journey as an artist. What aspects of your experiences within the graffiti scene do you find most impactful in shaping your artistic style and perspective?
I was born in West Los Angeles to a Hungarian father and a German mother in the ’70s. I went to school in Kastl, Germany, and Culver City, California, and graduated from UCLA. I started doing graffiti in 1986. I started doing clothing design in 1989. I founded my first graffiti crew in 1988. Created The Seventh Letter in 1998 and launched it in 2000. I created Known Gallery in 2005, traveling shows worldwide, and opened my first brick-and-mortar gallery in 2010. I currently live between Los Angeles and Joshua Tree, California, with my beautiful indigenous wife. I have an amazing daughter and two brilliant sons, and by the time this interview is published, my wife will give birth to our 3rd son. To sum it up, I would have none of this if it weren’t for graffiti and where it’s taken me.
Yubia, 10x10, mixed media on Ampersand Gessobord, Barcelona, Spain
Q: Your godfather was Hungarian artist Endre Szász. How did he influence your artistic journey?
Yes, Szász has had a huge influence on my art and my life in general. Szász lived as he wanted, and I’ve tried to mimic that my entire life. At a very young age, he taught me to break the rules and not follow anybody’s path but my own. I used to sit in the studio with him all day and night, just watching him create masterpieces in his home in Holmby Hills, California, and his studio in Hollóháza, Hungary. Three men in my life have helped mold me: my father, Endre Szász, and my brother. Unfortunately, I lost all three of them in 2003, and ever since, they have been the fuel for me to do massive shows like this.
Konstantin "Zmogk" Danilov, Unity, 10x10, acrylic on Ampersand Gessobord, Athens Greece
Q: Looking ahead, what do you hope audiences will take away from experiencing the Ampersand Show, and what do you envision as your chapter?
I want to bring people together, both artists and spectators. I love traveling the world and sharing art and experiences with great people.
The team at Ampersand Art Supply is honored to support the Ampersand Show and we can’t wait to see more of the amazing artwork!
To learn more about the Ampersand Show, visit:
