Frazetta Exhibit at Metropolis Gallery in New York
Industry: Art & Design
Death Dealer Comes to Manhattan. New Metropolis Gallery to Host First NYC Show of Frank Frazetta’s. Iconic Fantasy Artwork
New York (PRUnderground) April 10th, 2015
For the first time ever, New Yorkers will be able to view Frank Frazetta’s legendary fantasy artwork—including seminal pieces from his signature Death Dealer and Conan series—in its original form.
Beginning April 17, the new Metropolis Gallery will host its first exhibit: a showcase of Frazetta’s work, along with other fine artists. The Gallery is the creation of Metropolis Collectibles, the world’s largest vintage comic collectibles dealer.
Metropolis Collectibles and its online auction house, ComicConnect.com, have regularly shattered records for its million-dollar deals, amassing an inventory of more than 150,000 vintage comics. The 31 year old company holds five Guinness World Records for all-time high comic and collectibles transactions.
In 2010, it was the first to break the million dollar threshold. Last fall, it moved from the Flatiron District to a new 5000 square foot showroom in midtown Manhattan.
“When we moved, we doubled our space,” says Metropolis COO Vincent Zurzolo. “Besides supporting our ongoing business expansion, it allowed us to realize our vision of opening a gallery.”
Metropolis Gallery is curated by Rob Pistella, who has more than 40 years of experience in comic art. He served as Frazetta’s business manager until the artist’s death in 2010.
“Without question, Frank Frazetta is the foremost fantasy art illustrator in the world,” says Pistella.
“He brought an academic, classical style of painting to a genre that was largely pulp-style art, infusing elegance and beauty into otherwise violent and erotic scenes.”
Frazetta illustrated comic books, album covers, movie posters, and, most famously, book covers. His groundbreaking depictions of fearsome warriors came to define fantasy heroes like Conan the Barbarian, Tarzan, and John Carter of Mars.
Frazetta’s hallmark creation, Death Dealer, will be on display, along with a multi-million dollar collection that includes Death Dealer I, Death Dealer V, The Sorceress, Conan & the Snow Giants and Princess of Mars.
Frazetta’s popularity continues to soar. Several of his paintings have recently sold for $1 million or more. Director Robert Rodriguez and Sony Pictures recently announced an upcoming series of films based on the work of Frazetta, who Zurzolo calls “the Da Vinci of contemporary fantasy painters.”
In addition, gallery visitors will find a wide variety of works by Neal Adams, Bernie Wrightson, Barry Windsor Smith, Jack Kirby, Todd McFarlane, Gil Kane, George Herriman, Winsor McCay, Jeffrey Jones, Alex Toth, Mac Raboy, Curt Swan, Don Heck, Frank Miller, John Buscema, Robert Crumb, Victor Moscoso, Mark Beyer, Gary Panter, Roy Krenkel, Brom, Frezzato, Eric Larsen, Gene Colan, and more. Many works will be available for purchase.
The show’s opening will be held Friday, April 17, 6-9 pm, and Saturday and Sunday, April 18-19, 11 am-5pm. Thereafter, viewings will be by appointment. Metropolis is located at 36 West 37th Street, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10018.
The Metropolis Gallery’s permanent collection of original art will also be available for viewing. Regarded as one of the finest of its kind in the world, it consists of over 100 works including seminal pieces like Bernie Wrightson’s masterpiece 1971 cover of House of Secret 92 showcasing the first appearance of Swamp Thing, as well as the cover to Flash 123, The Flash of Two Worlds.
To interview Vincent Zurzolo or Rob Pistella, contact Lekas & Levine PR at 847.327.9530 or JoannePR@aol.com.
