Trade Marks features the work of Stephen Bivens, Keith Berr, Jordan Wong, mr. soul, Cathy Law, Gaby Gonzalez, Dana Depew, Joe Lanzilotta, Joann Dickey

In the 1960s, Andy Warhol famously made silk-screened copies of Brillo boxes and Richard Prince re-photographed magazine ads for Marlboro cigarettes in the 80’s. Barbara Kruger created large-scale word-and-photographic image pieces that objectified her experience of the world, transforming her job as a designer into her work as an artist.

Trade Marks examines the challenges regional artists face who hug the commercial field and art world in their practices. These artists understand the dual life trade-off better than anyone. They produce new work at a rapid pace to keep up with the commercial market, seek profit and recognition, and generally produce art that can please themselves and their clients. The exhibition considers the impact commercial art has on the NEO avant-garde and offers a fresh view on the artists tenuous relationship to a 21st century torn and liberated marketplace. Trade Marks provides these artists with creative license to flex their own ideas apart from their day jobs, corporate clients and the commission-expectations of others. Yards will host an Industry night mixer with Northern Ohio Illustrators (NOIS) and American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA)

American Greetings and other creatives who hug this creative commercial territory.