Up and coming Los Angeles street artist and activist Homo Riot, whose brazen artistic imagery originally began as a visual “fuck you” to the supporters of Prop 8, has evolved into a bold symbol of pride and rebellion for young gay and closeted youth who feel alienated by mainstream society. Hold Up Art will feature a new exhibition of his work at its 358 East 2nd Street gallery in LA October 22 – November 18. “The work in this show explores the dichotomy between the often hidden and dark realms of gay life and the simultaneous desire for visible exuberance. In these pieces, the fusion of these disparate concepts leads to awkward explosions of ‘pride’ and naïve outbursts of youthful anger and rage,” Homo Riot said of the new show, Fist Pump. (Pictured: Bash Back, mixed media on wood; photo by Jennifer Leigh Strauss)