LA ROC:  Not Keith Haring, an exhibition of new work by graffiti artist Angel Ortiz, aka LA ROC, or LA II, will open at Lawrence Fine Art in East Hampton from July 11th to July 28th with a fashion show and reception Saturday, July 20th starting at 5 pm.

One of original graffiti artists of the 1970s and 1980s, he was sought out by Keith Haring in 1981 because of his distinctively unique “tag.”  That initial bond created an artistic partnership that, over the next 5 years, would generate some of the most iconic pop art work of the 1980s.  LA ROC introduced Keith Haring to genuine street art culture and considerably influenced his development as an artist.  Even after Haring's death in 1990, LA ROC never stopped creating.  True to his street art roots, he turns even the most mundane objects into functional sculpture. Many of these pieces will be showcased in the exhibition, along with some of his finest canvases to date. 

Gallery Curator and Director Howard Shapiro notes: "LA ROC's work has evolved considerably since his collaboration with Keith Haring.  His latest body of work is resurgent, vibrant and frenetic.”

Adds Shapiro:  “Graffiti artists changed how we look at art and, indeed, what we consider art.  We look forward to exploring this idea in our show.”

LA ROC himself will be tagging and working in East Hampton throughout the exhibition, just not on buildings.  The artist will be working full force on Saturday, July 20th at a reception and fashion show at Lawrence Fine Art and looks forward to creating a collaborative work with the East Hampton public, since, in true street art fashion, everyone can create art.

"No serious art collector can omit street art from his collection. It's a fundamental part of pop culture art, and LA ROC's work is iconic, having inspired our current generation of street artists,” says Shapiro.