LITERAL & LATERAL
Gallery Alchemy is thrilled to introduce Em Reid and Tito Le Vole, a talented creative duo hailing from the gallery’s hometown of Milton, NSW. Many of you may already be familiar with their artistry, as they’ve likely left an indelible mark on your skin at Blanc Space Studio, where both Em and Tito have built their reputation as esteemed tattoo artists over the past five years. Now, they are stepping away from the tattoo chair and re-entering the world of traditional art for their highly anticipated dual exhibition, *Literal & Lateral*.
Em Reid, with her meticulous eye for detail, transitions her focus from tattooing to realistic illustration. She transforms personal images into digital sketches before bringing them to life with delicate layers of coloured pencils, accented by archival blue and black ink. Her works carry the same precision and intimacy that have made her tattoo designs so revered, offering viewers a new yet familiar perspective on her creative expression.
Tito Le Vole, meanwhile, brings an entirely different yet complementary dimension to their collaboration. Born in Guadeloupe, a vibrant island in the Caribbean, Tito’s childhood was steeped in mixed cultures and creative expression, partly inspired by his surfing parents. After completing a Bachelor of Arts at the French Academy of Fine Arts in Bordeaux, he has infused his heritage and artistic training into his bold acrylic and varnished paintings on plywood. Repurposing cherished tools inherited from Em’s grandfather, Tito’s work echoes the fluidity and originality of his tattoo designs, resulting in a series of wall sculptures that are as tactile as they are visually striking.
Together, Em and Tito seamlessly blend their tattoo expertise with innovative new mediums, crafting a body of work that is as inventive as it is personal. Their collaborative vision in *Literal & Lateral* invites you to explore the intersections of literal realism and lateral abstraction through two uniquely connected artistic voices.
*Literal & Lateral* will be on display at Gallery Alchemy until October 29th.