Broad Strokes ~ The Art of Brian Clark aka Les Toil ~ Opening Reception

Local art stop in Oakland: Brian Clark at The Grand Gallery

If your Saturday could use some color, head over to The Grand Gallery Oakland on August 8 for the opening reception of Broad Strokes, a new show from Berkeley raised artist Brian Clark, also known as Les Toil.

The reception runs from 12 noon to 4 pm, which makes it an easy afternoon visit. The gallery sits at 560 2nd St in Oakland, in that part of town where old brick, port energy, and art spaces all seem to share the same block. It is the kind of setting that works well for a show with roots in comics, car culture, pop images, music, and Saturday morning imagination.

Clark grew up surrounded by Big Daddy Roth model cars, Fantastic Four comics, MAD Magazine, The Jackson Five, and Bruce Lee. Those influences show up in his work with a sense of humor, motion, and bold character. There is a playful edge here, but also a real point of view from someone who came up in the East Bay and carried those visuals forward.

This is also a chance to meet the artist in person. That matters. Seeing the work on the wall is one thing, but talking with the person who made it can add a whole other layer to the visit.

Go if you like local art, comic culture, bold line work, or just want a relaxed Oakland afternoon with something real to look at. The event page is here: Brian Clark opening reception at The Grand Gallery Oakland.

Brian Clarke aka Les Toil, grew up in Berkeley, CA. Surrounded by Big Daddy Roth model cars, the Fantastic Four, MAD Magazine, The Jackson Five and Bruce Lee the very forces that became the foundational threads shaping his work.
You can see those threads in his new show Broad Strokes this August at the Grand Gallery.
Meet Les Toil at the:
Artist Reception
August 8th 12Noon -4pm
The Grand Gallery
560 2nd St. Oakland