Cheifitz is known for Lucky Fish, the moniker under which she produces her line of clothing and home furnishings hand-printed in Brooklyn, NY. With its vibrant and graphic imagery derived from Cheifitz’s experience growing up in South Africa, and subsequent global travels, Lucky Fish has strong, yet subtle political undertones.
This series of posters will be Chefitiz's first work on paper, and her politics come to the forefront. Drawing inspiration from pre-Lucky Fish life, when Cheifitz lived in South Africa at the height of the struggle against apartheid, this work echoes a time when her generation of South African artists were challenged to integrate their political activism and new African identity with art and personal style.
Cheifitz recalls printing “struggle” T-shirts and banners to support new campaigns one day, and the next day printing dresses or leggings when she couldn’t find the clothes she wanted in stores. This series of silk screen posters were handprinted in Brooklyn using layers of metallics or foils, and water with chalk-based inks, primarily used for printing wallpaper. Although they can be displayed singularly, Cheifitz urges hanging the posters in rows, or using them as wallpaper, as an homage to where her work in art and politics began.
Jann Cheifitz, b. 1964 in Capetown, South Africa, currently lives and works in Brooklyn, NY.
Jun 9th 2016