While the art world is ever-changing, certain art forms and subject matter have long been overlooked by the fine art community. This Fall, New York gallery Rehs Contemporary will embrace these underrepresented forms of artistic expression, challenging the traditional notions of “fine art.” This first-of-its-kind exhibition will feature a provocative blend of tattoo-inspired art, street art, and functional glass art.

The Art of Subversion is a deliberate departure from the conventional art gallery landscape. The term ‘subversion’ is defined as “the undermining of the power and authority of an established system or institution.” With that, the exhibition is a celebration of artistic rebellion in an effort to redefine what constitutes “fine art”.

This is not simply an exhibition to showcase these various art forms. The goal is to initiate a broader conversation about how artwork is understood in our contemporary world. For decades, street art was seen as no more than vandalism, and only recently has it gained recognition for its cultural value. Similarly, while the traditional medium of tattoo art has been around for centuries, it has only been in the last few years that our society has shaken the stigma associated with the art form. The same cannot exactly be said for functional glass art, more simply known as ‘smoking pipes’… as with tattoos, the art of pipe making and the medium of glass blowing has a profound history, yet it is an outsider in the art world.

“The Art of Subversion is more than just an exhibition; it is a revolutionary act,” says Lance Rehs. He sees this as the start of something much bigger… a shift to embracing the art of our times.