FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JULY 1, 2008

RileyStreet flaunts world-class talents of independent women artists.

Colorful eye catching t-shirts designed by artist Laura Lengyel, flew off the shelf to an art-loving crowd during the 2nd Friday San Rafael Art Walk on June 13. RileyStreet Art Suppy unveiled its first official store t-shirt, GOT PAINT, a licensed design derived from Lengyel’s original artwork. The original painting was on display for a sneak preview of her new paintings. The artist states: ìMy current work is inspired by American icons, modern and contemporary art, Dadaism, Action painting, abstract expressionism and popular media content.î

Lengyel’s T-shirts were literally “hot off the press,” when Bente Mirow, a manager of RileyStreet’ s San Rafael store, spotted her attractive t-shirts on a spring art studio tour. The artist developed several original art-based licensed designs with another local artist, Kristen Gregoriev, who had literally just printed samples of Lengyel’s “GOT PAINT” with her new computer driven giclee fabric printer. Kristen set up her busy silk screen-printing shop, Reflective Images, in Novato in 1984, after selling her cloisonné jewelry at art festivals for 10 years. 

RileyStreet Art Supply opened in San Rafael a year ago with art supplies and picture framing services for artists of all levels. It sponsors community art events and educational demonstrations by noted local artists.  

About the talent:

Laura Lengyel, born and raised in the industrial town of Bridgeport, CT, came to San Francisco to study art in 1963. She has a BA in Studio Art from Mills College, Oakland, CA, studied art history at Stanford University, portraiture at the Academy of Art College and CCAC and apprenticed to a master sculptor. She is a professional painter, sculptor and printmaker, and accepts commissions from small to monumental for public and private sites. Artwork, artist’s statement and biography:  www.lauralengyel.com.  415-713-3087.

Bente Mirow, a native of Denmark, is a RileyStreet Art Supply manager. With a Masters Degree in Art History from Dominican University, she is also a professional writer and researcher, specializing in art and art history.  www.rileystreet.com 415-457-2787

Kristen Gregoriev, a San Francisco Bay Area native, graduated from UC Davis with a BS in Design. She owns Reflective Images, Novato, CA, a wholesale silk screen-printing shop, specializing in custom image design and apparel printing.   Her wholesale company has gone green and offers full service design and printing to retailers, and fabric, fashion and visual artists. www.reflectiveimageswear.com  415-883-5815

Contact: Bente Mirow, RileyStreet Art Supply, 415-457-2787
               Laura Lengyel, artist, Lengyel Studio, 415-713-3087
               Kristen Gregoriev, Reflective Images, 415-883-5815

Photo credit: Kelsie Fons (download hi-res copy)

San Rafael Art Walk, June 13, 2008, Riley Street Art Supply
L to R top row: David Brewer, Isa Foulk, Nancy Humphrey, Susan Pomeroy, Laura Lengyel (artist), Franklin Amster;
bottom row: Bente Mirow, Kristen Gregoriev, Ben Gale, Devin Nickoloff.

The original "Got Paint" painting by Laura Lengyel:

(c) 2008 Laura Lengyel. 12" x 20" Acrylic