Located at 4900 Hatfield St.,
Zombo Gallery is the latest arts venue to join Lawrenceville’s eclectic array of commercial and cultural destinations. Part of a venue that also houses a screenprinting studio, novelty shop and offices, the 800 square-foot gallery is spearheaded by Michael “Zombo” Devine, a nationally known DJ, novelty product designer and entertainer.
Zombo Gallery opens on July 13th with the inaugural exhibition
Squaresville, featuring pop art paintings by Pittsburgh-based cartoonist, illustrator and writer Wayno, whose work has been featured in
The New Yorker,
Entertainment Weekly, and
The New York Times.
The 5,000 square-foot building also houses a massage therapy business run by Zombo’s wife Julie, as well as the couple’s residence. Built in the late 1800s, the three-story property features exposed brick, cherry stained bead board and laminate wood flooring. “I’m going for mid-century modern--a lot of open space. I got this entire building for the price of a mobile home in a bad area in Portland,” says Zombo, who lived in Oregon in 2006, and in Pittsburgh from 2000-2003. The gallery's 50s-era, mint green and burgundy sign announces the venue’s “See it, Hear it, Wear it, Own it” manifesto. “The place looks like a hipster funeral home,” says Zombo, of the gallery’s coffins, crushed red velvet drapes, and torch lamps.
In lieu of a commission, Zombo asks each artist to design a commemorative t-shirt to sell in his shop. “The building is the pay-off,” says Zombo, who purchased the property for $115,000 and invested an additional $45,000.
Writer:
Jennifer BaronSource: Michael Devine, Zombo Gallery
Photograph copyright © Jonathan Greene