Loud music blared. Intricate, vivid art lined the walls. A small white room filled to the brim with people, all there for one particular reason: to peruse the artwork of UT student artists Ian Cato and Sterling Goller-Brown.
The pair opened their gallery show “Boomslang” Friday night at Gallery 1010, displaying their many oil, paint and enamel pieces in addition to two large sculptures.
Olivia Bradley, senior double majoring in psychology and religious studies, stopped by to support her friends’ venture. Of the many showcased pieces, Bradley’s favorite was Goller-Brown’s “Tattoo Removal.”
“The colors are very calming,” Bradley said, “but when I look at it, there is still a lot of chaotic story to it.”
Inspired by unconventional sexual actions, “Tattoo Removal,” and his large painting “Kink” were Goller-Brown’s most popular pieces of the evening. A vibrant painting inspired by his travels abroad, Cato’s piece “Get in This Endless Getaway” stood out as a creation of steel rod, twine and foam. He specifically cited the musical group Flying Lotus as an influence on what he described as his “masterpiece.”
Kate Turnbull, a recent UT graduate in art, commented on the intricacy of the piece.
“I like it because it’s a bit more odd,” Turnball said. “You have to think about it a bit more.”
As the evening continued, the gallery only became more crowded as people lined up outside and crammed into the space to get a better look.
“It’s going way better than I expected,” Goller-Brown said, senior in studio art. “People I don’t even know are here, and I have no idea how they even found out about the show.”
The exhibit’s audience started to dwindle around 9 p.m. The artists were given rave reviews from friends, admirers and art enthusiasts. When the artists weren’t answering questions about their art, they were mingling with friends.
“I am really happy to see all these people here and all my friends,” Cato said, also a senior in studio art, “but I love seeing random people at my shows.”
While the show may be over, art never dies. Cato and Goller-Brown will return to their shared art studio where they will continue to make art that invites questions, interests art critics and pleases their own souls.
