By Verena Faden

	Harold Golen in front of Tim Biskup’s Door Nob to the Universe, featured at Golen’s new gallery in Wynwood Photo: Meg Pukel

Just when you thought all you would find at a gallery opening was some turtlenecks in the heat of summer, the word “fabulous” echoing from the mouths of many, recycled anonymous beats as soundtrack, no longer chilled wine, and the snooty types who pull their black framed glasses onto their face when they are about to appreciate a piece of art, an event comes along and shatters the myths.

The Saturday, September 8 opening of the Harold Golen Gallery proved to be a drastically different experience.  I arrived just as I thought the doors would be closed and found a wonderland. It was so packed I had to navigate my way around people to get a peak, actually, an eyeful.

Unlike usual galleries with walls five times painted over in white, the Harold Golen Gallery dances to the beat of its own drum, abandoning small spotlights, hooks and wire. I felt like I was transported to an alternate universe with bright neon green and red walls with colorful shapes and designs, life-size figurines, toys, holograms, and unique lighting.

Parts of the gallery may as well be the set of a movie. Harold Golan himself designed the interior of the 4,000 square foot gallery in the Wynwood art district.  The lounge area features Mid-Century Modern furniture, vintage lighting and colorful graphic wall murals. The gallery store offers original art, limited edition prints, vintage illustration art, artist books, cards and objects pertaining to the gallery’s featured artists. The environment pulls you in to absorb this very expressive, skillful and fun reflection of American pop culture.  Harold Golen takes pride in his gallery that specializes in low bro pop culture surrealism ephemera.

	Guests enjoy the art at the opening of the Harold Golen Gallery on September 8 Photo: Verena Faden

In Los Angeles, during the late 1970s, an underground art movement spawned low bro pop surrealism that derived from street art like graffiti, tattoo art, customizing cars, paint by numbers, surf culture, pulp, anime, punk rock and more. 

“All the kinds of art we did as teenagers was dismissed and considered trash in the past,” Golen says.  “A collection like this helps finally give this work the respect it deserves.”

Low bro artists take paint, acrylics and mixed types of media that is uniquely handcrafted to create something modern.

	Cathy Cowgirl, in 3D animated motion, by Ron English Photo: Verena Faden

At an early age, Golen loved making art. After studying at the University of Miami in 1991 he became an architect hoping to nurture his love for design and structure.  Unfortunately, the structure he felt most confined in was his office. He made jewelry, mosaics and sculpture in his spare time.  Through his travels to California, New York and Detroit he began to collect low bro.  Formerly, he owned the infamous POP boutique in South Beach, which carried art, vintage collectibles, clothing, and costumes. POP quickly became a Miami Beach landmark, attracting tourists, locals, and celebrity clientele. After a successful 10-year run, the store was sold in 2006.  Golen bought a space in the Wynwood art district to make his dream of having his own gallery a reality.

“The entire feel of it is very approachable, Gen X, ghoulish and violent,” says Golen.  Indeed, the gallery maintains a fun atmosphere that seems to be full of what Golen calls “edgy, quirky, whimsical imagery.” 

	Kiss Me Deadly, 23" X 31 1/2" Acrylic on Wood Skate Decks ( Triptych) by Lesley Reppeteux Photo: Verena Faden

Because Miami is not by any means afraid of color, it makes for a good fit for low bro. Golen’s gallery will differ from other galleries in that it won’t be focusing as much on urban art, but instead on pop art.

“Modern art has typically been high concept and simplistic un-like low bro art which maintains a high concept while incorporating fine art technique,” says Golen, who believes that modern art has already come to the forefront through artists like Mark Ryden and Todd Shore, who have already enjoyed success.

As a gallery owner, Golen’s goal is to bring low bro up from the underground and into the high-end market. If you visit the gallery you’ll see that he’s going to have a great time doing it.

The Harold Golen Gallery will host special events, parties and experimental music concerts in addition to monthly art openings.

	Helper, by Tim Biskup, one of the fun and colorful pieces at the newly opened Harold Golen Gallery Photo: Verena Faden

Golen wants to keep the art he curates diverse and global. Currently there are artists from Japan, Slovakia, China and Europe.  He intends on curating a generous portion of exhibitions from local Miami artists. There are almost no galleries of Golen’s kind; he intends on supporting local artists while paving the way for the Miami pop surrealism movement.

“This is the contemporary art of tomorrow,” Golen says.  “Now is the time to collect it because it is still affordable and will hold its value because of the fine art technique involved.”