November 6, 2020 - January 10, 2021

Hailing from Monroe, Louisiana, contemporary mixed-media artist, Vitus Shell, returns one year later to Wisconsin to take us on a great migration back to the “dirty dirty” with his solo exhibition Birds Fly South at 5 Points Art Gallery & Studios.

In nature, birds inherently fly south to survive. But the saying "Birds Fly South" has a certain meaning in the streets. In the past decade, black Americans have been moving back to the South in droves. This reverse migration symbolizes a return home and an attempt to reconcile the past, present and future for the black American.

With an artistic goal to exude hip-hop lifestyle with a southern vernacular, Shell gives a “southern playalistic” style to discussing stereotyping, bigotry, and oppression. He incorporates paste-ups, stamps, stencils, vintage advertisements and foam-cut printing in his acrylic portraiture paintings, reflecting his regard for graffiti techniques, but also addressing classism and the viewer's perception of what is considered low art or high art.

You can see what Shell and how “The South got sumthin’ to say” from November 6, 2020 until January 10, 2021.

To view and purchase works online, click here or visit “Current Exhibition” under the “Shop” drop-down.

Missed the opening reception artist talk? View here.