de deuil d’une vie nocturne : le radeau de santa teresa 2024
Pytka has dedicated her latest exhibition to her best friend, Teresa Murray, who unexpectedly passed away on June 30th 2023. The paintings were made in the wake of her death, while mourning this indescribable loss. Teresa meant everything to the artist, she was a hugely positive influence on her for over 15 years. Upon meeting in 2008 when Arielle was just 18 years old, Teresa “kidnapped” her for lack of a better word, and brought her on tour. Teresa Murray was a highly sought after Rock N’ Roll tour manager and audio engineer. Working with acts ranging from The Kills, M83, and Spiritualized to Sixto Rodriguez, Peter Murphy, and Gary Numan amongst many other prominent musicians. She brought Arielle with her everywhere she could, assigning her any available job for whatever band she was working with at the time. They traveled the world together several times over and were inseparable throughout all of Pytka’s adult life. That is, until June 30th when Teresa was found peacefully lifeless in her bed by her loving husband, in their home in Vienna, New Jersey. The impact this woman had on the artist cannot be overstated. For this exhibition, along with the visibly emotional paintings, Pytka has constructed a life raft to facilitate Teresa’s safe passage to the afterlife. They had spent nearly every summer sailing together. It only seemed fitting for Teresa to have her own vessel to make her way across the River Styx, from the land of the living to the world of the dead and into the next realm. The raft carries the name ‘Santa Teresa.’ A mannequin is adorned with Teresa’s wedding gown, having been married to her partner of many years, Emilio DiZefalo China, only a few months before her passing. The wedding was officiated by Pytka on the 364th day of 2022 in a small village in southern Mexico, after having become an ordained minister specially for this long awaited ceremony. The photographic portraits displayed in the gallery were taken the day of the wedding, and are the perfect encapsulation of the “Beach Goth” style both Teresa and Arielle encapsulate. Rest In Peace Teresa Judith Murray. September 7th 1979 - June 30th 2023. Honored be her memory.
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Arielle Pytka is an American and French multi media artist. She resides between Los Angeles and Paris. Her artwork has appeared in multiple solo and group exhibitions in Los Angeles, Miami, Paris, London, and Indonesia. Her exhibitions have featured a wide range of mediums including painting, photography, sculpture, video, and an automobile amongst others. She has worked professionally as a lighting and drum technician for touring bands in the United States, Europe, and Australia. Pytka has also worked as a motion picture cinematographer leading her to direct her own projects. Arielle now directs music videos and commercials. An avid surfer and sailor, she was a part of the Roxy/Quicksilver team and has completed three transatlantic crossings crewing on vintage and modern sailboats. Her sailing team has won the 2015 Panerai Transatlantic Classique, Les Voiles De Saint Tropez, 2008 Falmouth Pendennis Cup, Fife Regatta in Scotland, and many others. Arielle is now working out of her studio in Venice Beach, California and still actively works as race crew on several sailboats for various regattas.