Rouge 58 is thrilled to present the exhibition FANATIC: Recent Works and Fan Art by Ruvan Wijesooriya. Contrasting his past ephemeral exhibitions where the work is taken away and the audience is engaged as participants, “FANATIC” reflects on Ruvan’s work with artists, personalities, musicians, bands, models and more. Iggy Pop, Vivienne Westwood, Mark Ronson, James Murphy, Ellen Page, Aziz Ansari, Anne V, Anouck Lepere, and Anna Wintour are some of the people celebrated in the photographs. Collaborations with various musicians and illustrators will also be on display.

The printing formats vary to include high-end framed gallery prints, D.I.Y. posters, hand-screened t-shirts, custom publications and 8×12” photographic C-Prints sold with accompanying 55×34” prints made for the collector to assemble at home, much like furniture from Ikea.

Ruvan’s prints decorate the set of Gossip Girl, are in the collections of Ed Ruscha and Doug Aitken, have been on display in Bergdorf Goodman and adorn album covers such as LCD Soundsystem’s “This Is Happening.” Many of these prints will be publicly available for the first time through Rouge 58. Ruvan says, “The scope of work is really a mish-mash of favorites and the show is my way of celebrating, cherishing and adoring people who have given me so much through their talent and, of course, through their image. In many ways this show is like a visual DJ set. I feel inclined to share these images with people because I know we are fans of the people and actions in the pictures. The show is also about community and the awe we have for others. I think the location is perfect and I aim for FANATIC at Rouge 58 to become a hangout where everyone is a special guest.” In the intimate environment of Rouge 58 in Brooklyn, Ruvan also will curate informal salon-style programming. A complete list of collaborators will be available later upon request.

About the Artist Ruvan Wijesooriya, born 1977, is a photographic artist based in New York City. His work has been published in media including The New Yorker, New York, The NY Times, British Vogue, Rolling Stone, etc. His prints are owned by artists such as Ed Ruscha, musicians such as James Murphy, and have also been used in promotional materials for The MoCA. www.ruvan.com.


About Rouge58 Rouge58 opened in August 2010 in the heart of Williamsburg. The gallery is a blank canvas for emerging and established artists working across media, with a focus that extends beyond the realm of traditional fine art into the myriad forms of contemporary creative experimentation. Curated art, mixed with music, fashion and film screenings, blurs boundaries and breaks down barriers. There are no rules in creativity. It’s all about fun in the end, isn’t it? Rouge58 is located at 555 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211 and open Wednesday – Sunday 2-8pm. For further information, please visit the gallery’s newly launched website www.rouge58.com.