Fiends and Flowers

Tiffany Liu

This Saturday Corey Helford Gallery in Culver City, CA will see an invasion of subversive cuties. A "double solo" show explores the works of Tiffany Liu and M. Mararian, featuring their darkly adorable visions. Subversive cuties have an illustrious history in art and pop culture, including Edward Gorey's tragic Gashlycrumb Tinies, Yoshitoma Nara's sulky little girls, and, well, mogwais. Mr. Mararian's Inky Dreadfuls and Ms. Liu's adorable abominations of nature do justice to this great tradition.

Tiffany Liu's show "Life, Death and the Inbetween" includes her half-human, half-flora-or-fauna creations and uncommon beasts (two-headed birds cavorting with no-headed birds, for example) populating lovely fairy tale villages and countrysides. Ms. Liu is a children's book illustrator and art teacher, but her fine art pieces display a darkness for her adult fans to appreciate and ponder.

Meanwhile, Mr. Mararian shares a background in art for children, but as a playwright for children's theater. His well-known Inky Dreadfuls are precious little children (possibly Victorian?), some causing doom, other experiencing it. His "Phobias, Foibles & Fiends" show at Corey Helford looks to continue his history of making us laugh at the horrible circumstances of his diabolical babies, toddlers, and children despite ourselves.

While you're checking out the two shows, don't forget to see Corey Helford newcomer Krista Huot exhibiting her lovely fairy tales in the loft. Another don't miss exhibit.


M. Mararian


Krista Huot

Tiffany Liu and M. Mararian at Corey Helford Gallery

Michael Mararian's Official Site

Tiffany Liu's Official Site

Krista Huot's Official Site