User:Sasha Kraye

=Sasha Kraye= (ARTIST), Born John Sasha Danna on October 22nd 1965, Brit Art,  Installation Art,  80s subculture,  Light Installation Art,  DJ

BIOGRAPHY / WORK
Born John Sasha Danna on October 22nd 1965 to (showmen) parents Elizabeth and John (Danna. Unusually for a show family, he is an only child.   At 17 years of age, John Sasha Danna took his mother’s maiden name Kraye (3rd daughter of (circus showmen) Elliot Kraye) to become Sasha Kraye. Both the Danna and Kraye families toured their Showmens' attractions throughout Europe the UK and the USA. Elliot Kraye was a leading light in theatre style illusion acts, and was a consultant on many television illusions throughout the 1980s and 1990s before his retirement in 1994. The young Sasha Kraye lived with his grandfather Elliot Kraye learning the family business.    Kraye has extended family in the USA, and throughout his early years, he spent time living both in England (UK) and Midtown Manhattan, New York (USA). Kraye's involvement with the street scene in New York fashioned his love of street art. The young Sasha Kraye had many brushes with the law. One early attempt of art was the painting of a grocery store shop front with white wash and black gloss paint, as the lack of money meant spray paint was too expensive. Kraye and his three sidekicks were quickly caught as they had all signed their work.

Kraye was a regular attendee of the now infamous 80s Blitz Club in London. One of Kraye's most famous works is inspired by the club and the decadent people who attended. In 1982, Kraye produced his first exhibition which previewed at the world famous nightclub, STUDIO 54, NEW YORK. It was originally named "Fade to Kraye" a poster misprint read "FADE TO GREY" which stuck and was printed in the New York arts review later that year (1982). The exhibition consisted of six canvas works and twelve black and white photographs, taken by Kraye dipicting street life in 1980s New York. The very fact that Krayes exhibition had even got near Studio 54 was considered by Art critics as a notable achievement, Krayes work was quickly accepted by many of the Studio 54 New York socialites. This new world of glamour and Celebrities inspired many of Krayes later works, contrasting urban street life with the glitz and glamour of the L.A. and New york socialite scenes. In 1986, Kraye collaborated with the Austrian rock musician FALCO. In that year, Falco's single ROCK ME AMADEUS was a global hit. Kraye was commissioned as a consultant to supply art work for a planned tour which would also include lighting effects. This is believed to be his first foray into the world of EVENT LIGHTING which would later define his outdoor event work. Kraye worked as an album cover designer for bands 1984-1988. In 1992, Kraye presented an original album cover design to Manchester club promoter and entrepreneur TONY WILSON who started FACTORY RECORDS with business partner ALAN ERASMUS. TONY WILSON would be later known for the HACIENDA night club in Manchester, also known as FAC51. WILSON signed the Manchester based band JOY DIVISION to FACTORY RECORDS which later became NEW ORDER after the death of lead singer IAN CURTIS in May 1980, on the eve of a US tour. Much of Kraye's early work is believed to be influenced by the post punk sound of JOY DIVISION and other bands such as CABARET VOLTAIRE from nearby SHEFFIELD. It is believed that an untitled piece of work was inspired by the late PAULA YATES who died in September 2000. Kraye was a close friend of the television presenter, although it has never been confirmed whether the piece was influenced by her. However, the piece remains untitled and has not been included in any exhibitions since her death.

LIGHT INSTALLATION ART Kraye's lighting installation work includes; New York's Twin Towers memorial event and the opening/closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics 2008. Lighting installation events have included; London (central), Dubai (Palm), China, Japan, Germany (Hamburg), Holland, France (Paris), USA (New York).

PAINTINGS
Drawing mainly on the topics of subculture and fetish, many works are acrylic based. Other mediums used; oil paints, water colours, glass, synthetics. KRAYE'S PAINTINGS are classed as MODERNISM ART or CONTEMPORARY ART. ART REVIEWS often describe Kraye's work as having a naivety and unfinished appearance. Kraye's painting "UNION" sold in 1984 in New York for $60,000. At that time, it was considered a huge amount to pay for a relatively unknown artist. In December 2010, Kraye's "LIFE CIRCUS" watercolour sold for $102,000. In 2000, Kraye donated three paintings to private charities to fund Arts for young people at the London event. It is believed that there are seven original paintings by Kraye that are unsigned but dated. These have caused much speculation regarding their origins between collectors of Kraye's work. The painting "STARS" sold in 2010 for an undisclosed amount to an Art Syndicate based in Dubai. It is understood that there are three original Kraye canvas works on loan to private collectors for promotional use. They have been listed as not for sale by Kraye. It is these three works which form the hub of many of Kraye's exhibitions; all three PAINTINGS are classed as seminal works by Kraye. NEW YORK GIRL (LILLY)1982, KIEGA 1984, SYNTHETIC 1992. The 1984 work by Kraye STARLIGHT COTTAGE was in homage to a recording studio used by many experimental synth pop bands in the early 1980s. Kraye also produced a second work influenced by STARLIGHT COTTAGE, named DIRTY STAR, which is displayed in his NEW YORK gallery. DIRTY STAR has toured only once in JAPAN 1988, a request by a drinks manufacturer to use DIRTY STAR in a world wide promotional campaign was refused by Kraye in 1990. It is believed DIRTY STAR is no longer owned by Kraye but on permanant loan to the Gallery.

LIGHT ART
Colour wash lighting, including laser and dynamic lighting are used in many of Kraye's installations. Other effects that are widely used by him are HPM Laser and Colour Icon. Kraye's LIGHT INSTALLATION in DUBAI 2010 included lighting key buildings in colourwash effects timed to a 45 minute loop which created the effect of a colour sweep throughout the city. Kraye used a similar technique in BEIJING in 2008.

PERSONAL LIFE
Kraye lives with his long term partner and showgirl, Shel Danter. They have a daughter named Sar Danna (born October 2000) Shel and her sisters, Victoria Danter and Louise Danter, have appeared as supporting acts in many of Kraye’s city light installations. Current homes include houses in England (UK) and New York (USA).

BUSINESS
Sasha Kraye has offices and studios in both the UK and Manhattan, [New York]. Kraye's ART WORK is seldom promoted regarding exhibitions or events. His ART EXHIBITIONS are rarely open to the public.

EXHIBITIONS
(Private Exhibitions only)

1982-1982 Fade to Kraye (NY,USA)

1984-1986 Fade to Grey (UK)

1988-1989 Love (Japan, UK, USA)

1992-1993 Synthetic (New York only)

1998-1999 Anatomy of a Girl (UK)

2002-2003 Black (Japan, USA)

2008-2009 Circus (Holland, UK, GERMANY)

2009-2010 Life Circus (USA)

2010-2010 Life Circus (Dubai)

ARTWORK
Kiega, 1984. New York Girl (Lilly), 1982. Fallen Angel, 1982. Manhattan, 1983. Star Light Cottage, 1984. Dirty Star, 1984. Jack, 1985. Glass Box, 2003. Stars, 2009. Venta, 2000. Broken,2011. Union, 1984. Tori, 1986. Brick Art,1989. Spot 1994. Green Edge, 2009. Crash, 2007. Untitled, 1988. Charter House, 1990. Pendulum, 1985. Anatomy of a Girl, 1997. Hand, 2004. Taylor, 1984. Synthetic, 1992. Love, Ghost, 1999. Mantrap, 2000. Stone, 1987. Life Circus, 2010. Car, 2008. Untitled, 2006. 4 Tears, 1985. Stam, 2008. New York Girl, 2001. Box, 2005. Leaf, 2010. Bay, 2008. Call Girl, 2003. Time, 2006. Dark Forces, 2011. Fake, 2010. Red, 2008. Santori, 2010. Sintra, 2011. (Note: Not all works are listed)