The 543 E. 6th St. storefront on the Lower East Side was home to the B-Side Gallery in the early ‘80s. Then, for the next 20 years, it was the studio of neo-expressionist artist, Rick Prol. Today it houses the ever funky and original boutique, Love Shine. In homage to the artistic legacy of the space and the neighborhood, Love Shine will start transforming part of the store and windows into a pop-up art gallery for short periods of time throughout the year.

For our first exhibit we are delighted to present “Break Out” New Paintings by Rick Prol, opening on Thursday, April 29th and running through Sunday, May 2. Eleanor Heartney wrote in the July 1993 issue of Art in America – “The East Village art scene of the ‘80s thrived on the romance of slumming in an era of widespread economic prosperity. Rick Prol was one of the icons of that era, known for his cartoonish tableaux of mayhem, murder and suicide set in a rat-infested fantasy world somewhere east of first avenue.”

The world “east of first avenue” has changed dramatically. But at Love Shine, we are committed to re-engaging with Alphabet City’s (as the neighborhood was once affectionately and fearfully labeled) history of artistic experimentation, innovation and galleries. Thus we invite you to join us for our opening reception for “Break Out” on Thursday, April 29th from 6-9 pm.