Henry Street Settlement’s Abrons Arts Center is delighted to present Visual Slang 2009: The Modern Urban Imagination, the third in a series of cutting-edge global urban art exhibits.

Integral to contemporary urban art is an eclectic range of characters and creatures. Representing a broad spectrum of cultural heritages, the images presented in Visual Slang 2009 celebrate this aspect of the modern urban imagination.

Some of these characters are figurative; others are abstract. Some are easily recognizable icons; others are intentionally ambiguous. Some are whimsical in spirit; others are dark and unsettling. Whether drawn, painted or stenciled, all of these characters – from the personal to the political – exude a vibrant energy that is certain to captivate.

Among the images presented are: C215’s finely-detailed stencils inspired by his recent travels; Ame72’s iconic Lego man navigating his way in our nuclear age; Klone’s curious creatures that stalk the streets of Tel Aviv; Bastardilla’s shimmering lady that graces the walls of Bogota; A1one’s fanciful characters that evoke the cultural landscape of his native Tehran; and Shayne Bovell’s apocalyptic figures that inhabit an alternate universe.

Other featured artists include: Sebastian Bagge, Cekis, Jason Cosme, Daniel Dover, Lorenzo Gomez, Joseph Knight, Malik, Alex White Mazzarella, Mefisto, Kenji Nakayama, David “Gaze” Pham, Julio Rölle, Adi Sened, Stinkfish, and Zero Cents. Among those artists representing NYC are: Bishop, Cern, Charm, Chris Cortes, Sien, Spaze Crafte One and Whisper.

Curated by Lois Stavsky with Jonathan Meres Cohen, Visual Slang 2009: The Modern Urban Imagination opens on June 25th with a reception from 6-8 p.m. and continues through August 14th.