Known as the advocate of a new social realism, Vallen's thought-provoking artworks confront the public with a myriad of political and social issues. With paintings, drawings, and prints, Vallen documented the upheavals and social realities that helped to shape the face of LA. The topics addressed by the artist range from the Vietnam War to the battlefields of Central

America, and the resulting waves of immigration these conflicts engendered. Vallen submerged himself in the city's original 1977 punk rock explosion, and created portraits of the fans and musicians involved. The artist's brush railed against apartheid and the Cold War of the 1980's, and captured the Rodney King riots of 1991. This solo exhibition will present a chronology of

studio works, pieces created as public art, illustrations produced for books and newspapers, and artworks never before shown.

The A Shenere Velt Gallery of the Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring in Los Angeles will be presenting the Vallen retrospective starting July 12th and running until August 26th., 2004.

The ARTIST'S RECEPTION will be held on Saturday July 17th, 6 - 9 pm. For complete details on the exhibit, visit: www.art-for-a-change.com