On Saturday, January 25th, downtown Los Angeles’ Corey Helford Gallery will be ringing in the New Year with a major group show in honor of the surreal filmmaker Federico Fellini, entitled The Influence of Fellini: A Surreal 100th Birthday Celebration, on display in the Main Gallery through February 29th.

Italian film director Federico Fellini is known for his distinct style that blends fantasy and baroque images with earthiness. He is recognized as one of the greatest and most influential filmmakers of all time. Besides La Dolce Vita and 8½, his other well-known films include La Strada, Nights of Cabiria, Juliet of the Spirits, Satyricon, Amarcord and Fellini's Casanova.

This special group exhibition represents a dramatic selection of works from CHG’s artists and new works specifically created for the show from the likes of Adrian Cox, aica, Alexandra Bastien, Bei Badgirl, Brandi Milne, Caia Koopman, Carol Liu, Chloe Early, Christybomb, Dan Lydersen, Dilka Bear, Dosshaus, Eva Montanari, Handiedan, HERAKUT, Hirabayashi Takahiro, Ian Francis, Ivana Flores, Jackie Dunn Smith, Jana Brike, Jang Koal, JD King, Junko Mizuno, Kazuki Takamatsu, Korin Faught, Krista Huot, Krovblit, Kukula, Lauren Marx, Lioba Bruckner, Lola, Lu Cong, Luke Chueh, Marc Scheff, Mark Mothersbaugh, Meredith Marsone, Michael Campbell, Miho Hirano, Miss Van, Naoto Hattori, Nicoletta Ceccoli, Nicomi Nix Turner, Nunzio Paci, Oliver Hibert, ONCH, Relm, Rhiannon Valenti, Richard J Oliver, Ron English, Ryan Heshka, Sarah Folkman, Sasha Ira, seenaeme, Shark Toof, Soey Milk, Stella Im Hultberg, Sylvia Ji, Tarntara Sudadung, The London Police, Tina Yu, Troy Brooks, Vyal One, Yosuke Ueno, Yuka Sakuma, and Zoe Byland.

Illustrator and participating artist Eva Montanari, who like Fellini, was born and raised in Rimini, Italy, shares: "As a child growing up in Rimini, I use to watch Fellini's films and my favorite was Amarcord. I studied his shots and way of telling a story but I would imagine my own version of how to tell the story. His figurative pictorial references are many and different.” The group show will showcase Montanari’s original illustrations from her children's book, Federico.

Another participating artist from Italy, Nunzio Paci, shares his inspiration: "I watched Juliet of the Spirits many times. The artwork in the group show reflects my current exploration of the natural world and its connections with the dream sphere, nostalgia and memory, all themes in common with Fellini's oeuvre."

Missouri-based artist Lauren Marx sees a connection between her work and Fellini’s artistic eye and cinematography: "I see similarities with the use of religious imagery, earthy imagery, baroque and fantastical themes. All of which are important to my work. I can also see a slight connection between the composition of my piece and some of the beautiful compositions he created.”

Curator Caro Buermann shares, “I revisited many of Fellini's classics in the process of organizing this show and got to know Fellini as the ultimate dreamer. He cared about creating experiences for his audience, to tell a story, to amuse, and this has had a big influence on me. Fellini said, 'Realism is a bad word. In a sense everything is realistic. I see no line between the imaginary and the real.' The works on display in this exhibit walk this fine line between reality and surreality."