'Art at Playboy launches: KA-POW! A Hero’s Exhibition By Paul Mellia'

7th March 2013 ~ Cut the Cap
(Click here for original article)

'It’s that time again people! The iconic Playboy Club London is welcoming Paul Mellia, the latest in a long line of illustrious artists, to 14 Old Park Lane – he will be showcasing KA-POW! A Hero’s Exhibition from March 14th.

And the good news doesn’t stop there, Paul Mellia will be in attendance with a number of familiar faces for a members private view on March 14 to launch the eight week exhibition curated by Sara Wade of London based art advisory and consultancy Wade Contemporary.

The club has been playing host to a number of top artists and photographers over the last 12 months in association with Wade Contemporary and it will be little surprise to regular readers that this has been to critical acclaim. Art lovers now have an exclusive chance to see and purchase the resident artists creations over the course of each exhibition.

If your not familiar with Paul Mellia allow us to fill you in… Paul is one of the art world’s most celebrated contemporary super realism artists. He is also one of the world’s fastest selling artists in today’s contemporary art scene, renowned for his distinctive 3D interpretations of celebrated icons. Straddling the delicate line between visual art and popular culture, his work is neither illustrative nor photographic, but stands somewhere between the two.

He is most famously known for his pop art superhero characters, but Paul’s wider artistic prowess and vision has seen private commissions that often delve into the dark, mysterious side of human nature, psychology, religion, lust, greed, sexual ambiguity, death, desire and shame – deep deep stuff!

Mellia’s work has evoked a cult following and status with street and graffiti artist BANKSY, the late Princess Diana, Lisa Marie Presley, Seal, Motley Crue’s Tommy Lee and TV chat show host Jonathan Ross being just a few of the celebrity collectors of Paul’s work. Could Cut The Cap be added to this list coming March 14th – we hope so. Fact.

For all those comic book fans amongst us you’ll be interested to know Paul Mellia is one of a select few artists in the world licensed by Marvel Comics to reproduce their superhero characters Spiderman and The Incredible Hulk, the same collection includes Catwoman and The Joker. These along with many other characters represent some of Mellia’s most popular recreations, all of which have a unique and mesmerizing allure that has become the artist’s signature style.

Over the years Paul’s works have been exhibited in major cities across the world including London, LA, and Monte Carlo. In Los Angeles his debut solo show ‘Preview of Hollywood’, sold out in the first two days of opening. Returning to the UK Paul designed and created a life-sized work of art, which surrounded a prestigious docklands development that was unveiled by the then Minister for the arts, Richard Luce.

Paul Mellia’s work is predominantly by private commission for collectors who see the desirability of owning unique one-off commissioned works of art. Many of these people preferring to invest their money in valuable artwork to stocks and shares. In 2006 Paul’s original artwork for Batman and The Joker was sold for £56,000 and was recently resold via the London Stock Exchange for in excess of £76,000!!

Mellia was also the first artist in 60 years allowed to recreate the original artwork of ‘Thomas the Tank Engine’. The original painting that he was commissioned to create was later sold at auction for £150,000 and bought by HIT Entertainment, which was then subsequently presented to Her Majesty the Queen.

Exhibitions of Paul Mellia’s work are rare occasions and an opportunity for individuals and art collectors to admire and acquire unique one-off pieces of artwork. Prices start from £1,250 for a print and between £8,000 and £30,000 for an original.
Paul Mellia also accepts commissions.

Public viewings commence on March 15th until May 7th between midday and 9pm 7 days a week for non-members, or 24 hours, 7 days a week for members. Contact usfor more information.'