Taking it to the street: the spread at Broome/West Broadway

Introducing Patrick-Earl Barnes.

A few weekends ago I came upon the work of Patrick-Earl. What caught my eye were his wry LLC-Storefronts, inspired by sign painting and small businesses. The LLCs (Limited Liability Corporations) comprise a series of 100 different “businesses”, each of to have 50 different franchises created by the artist (i.e. a limited edition of 50 variations for each of the 100 LLCs).

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LLC: Club No

That one kind of says it all, right? All LLC-Storefronts are mixed media (acrylic, oil pastels, color pencils, cut-out ink drawings decoupage) on wooden vegetable crates.

LLCs: Soul Food Restaurant & Barber Shop

LLC: Hat Shop

There's a storefront for everyone, even an art auction house & a jazz club.

LLC: Art Auction House

LLC: El Cheapo

LLC: Ned's Wines

LLC: Jazz Club

There's lots more LLCs to see on his website, as well as a whole series of benchwarmers that really warms the heart.

Benchwarmers. Acrylic on wood panel.

Individual portraits

Don't wait. You'll want to get in on the ground floor of some of these LLCs. The price of each LLC depends on how many have already been created (or licensed!). For example, Nos. 1-5 of an LLC are priced at $150, Nos. 6-10 are $200. The price rises $50 for every 5 sold. “ It's like I'm franchising my creativity,“ says the artist. Hats off to you Mr. Barnes.

Inquiries? Please contact the artist directly via email, or drop by and see the work in person on Saturdays and Sundays on the NE corner of West Broadway on Broome Street in Soho. Sometimes you can catch him during the week (M-F) on West Broadway at Spring Street.

Know any artists whose work would make a home a lovelier place? Send ideas to The Gallery. Thanks!