St. Superman

Cover | Valentin Popov

St. Superman (oil painting on woodblock, 19″x17″x4″ framed, 2013, covered by a 24-karat gold-plated, 18th-century Russian icon, called an oklad.) Ukrainian-born Valentin Popov, an Oakland resident whose work is featured in museum collections around the world, mixes the academic and the anarchistic. St. Superman is part of Popov’s ironic icon series, where he experiments with combining images of the superhero in American society (like Batman) with traditional religious iconic art from Christianity. His work can be seen at Modernism gallery, 685 Market St., Ste. 290, San Francisco. For info: 415-541-0461, www.modernisminc.com, or www.popov.com. For an essay by Popov about his artwork using icons, click here. Popov has a show, Reflections, Feb. 5-March 2, at the Long-Sharp Gallery in Indianapolis, Ind., with a reception 6-9 p.m. Feb. 5, www.LongSharpGallery.com.



NEXT MONTH: Reese Erlich weighs in on what’s right—and wrong—with journalism movies, just in time for the Oscars; a seminal Bay Area artist, Luis Gutierrez, talks about what influences his brand of fine art; and Repast tucks into La Marcha Tapas Bar in Berkeley for olives, patatas bravas, gambas, chorizo, and other delicious Spanish-inspired dishes.

Faces of the East Bay