Korean contemporary street artist Xeva has joined forces with The Untitled Void Gallery in Seoul for a solo exhibition titled Ways of Painting. The storied artist, with over 22 years of street art experience, has long been a staple in the Korean art scene. Displaying more than 50 pieces, the new show is packed with excitement and a few surprises

Like any larger-than-life figure, Xeva’s story is defined by urban legend as well as within his own artistry. Xeva began as an art student and later a full-time painter - an experience that gave him important knowledge about textures and coverage of urban surfaces. Xeva was initially influenced by American artist Chuck Close, who is known for combining massive-scale photorealist portraits with his paintings. To better establish his own artistic identity, Xeva began experimenting with his visual presentation by using eye-popping color palettes and abstract geometry. Achieving a sense of deviance, his distinctive style embodies Chuck Close’s postmodern work juxtaposed with South Korea’s urban aesthetic. This combination gained Xeva an international following.

It took four years for curator Hyuncheol Moon to bring the exhibition to life. Ways of Painting borrows admiringly from British novelist and painter John Berger’s lecture series, Ways of Seeing, which aims to inspire readers to evaluate art with a new perspective. The exhibition itself encompasses a similar ideology in hopes of reflecting Xeva’s journey by allowing audiences to take a look back at his previous work while offering a glimpse at his future direction through mural paintings, prints, sculptures, and his recent customization of a Tesla Cybertruck model.

But what is an exhibition without collaboration? Ways of Painting also adds Xeva’s collaborative works with some of Asia’s biggest names including XEME, Kenji Chai, Clogtwo, and Inkten to name just a few.

Xeva’s Ways of Painting is on view till May 23 at The Untitled Void Gallery 3-5 Gyeonghuigung 3-gil, Sajik-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul.