Drawing inspiration from the forbidden baseball technique of moistening the ball with saliva as well as the concept of raw, unfiltered exchanges of ideas, artists Richie Culver and Tyrrell Winston present their first duo exhibition, “Spitball,” at Stems Gallery Paris.
Fittingly, saliva takes center stage in both artists’ respective works. Culver’s artwork features watermarks suggestive of saliva behind his expressive graffiti-style sayings — with his pieces stretching beyond the canvas boundaries, often spilling onto walls, doors and street corners. A notable work reads, “I wanna do as little as possible but still get that mad money,” while another challenges the old adage “Less is more” with the phrase “Less is less.”
On the other hand, Winston’s works display saliva traces more prominently, evident in the cigarette butts he’s collected since the 2000s from the streets of New York and Detroit. Additionally, he’s known to reinvent street materials, turning discarded basketball nets and balls into poignant sculptural pieces that evoke memories of games played and moments shared.
Coming from working-class backgrounds, it would seem both artists have their fingers on the pulse of societal dynamics. While Winston’s installations spotlight the sense of community in marginalized neighborhoods, Culver uses his art to comment on societal issues, political absurdities, and the art world’s pitfalls — including a “Paris is boring” piece, intentionally displayed in Paris.
Although each artist’s practice is distinctive, their combined presence at Stems Gallery presents a harmonious dialogue, with all works shared in monochromatic tones, despite none of them being collaborative pieces. The fusion of Culver’s and Winston’s artistry exemplifies the possibilities that can emerge when two like-minded individuals meet, a testament to the potent bonding nature of saliva.
“Spitball” is set to open on September 2 and will stay open through to September 14, at Stems Gallery in Paris.
Elsewhere in art, Peter Saul debuts his latest series of paintings at Venus Over Manhattan.
Stems Gallery
11 rue Pastourelle,
75003 Paris, France
