A little while ago Sophie Crumb came into the Epitome Gallery. She was looking for a gallery to show the work of her Iranian friend Kian Radpouyan and she thought the Epitome Gallery would be a good fit. For the month of May we will be displaying the work of Kian as well as pages of Sophie’s sketch book. This is a one of a kind show where the viewer gets a glimpse into the sketchbooks of two wonderful international artists. On display May 1st through May 26th.

Opening Saturday May 4th 2024 6-9pm Arts Alive

Sophie Crumb is the daughter of underground comix legends Robert Crumb and Aline Kominsky-Crumb. Her half brother Jesse Crumb lived in Humboldt until his untimely passing in 2017. Born and raised in Woodland, California Sophie’s parents relocated in 1991 to the south of France. Sophie has been a “published comic artist” since childhood. Sophie studied acrobatics and clowning at French circus school. While living in Brooklyn in the mid-2000s she apprenticed as a tattoo artist. She currently resides in the south of France.

We reached out to Sophie for a bio and some context for this amazing exhibit and this is what Sophie had to say:

Sophie Crumb is a 42 year old artist and musician living in the South of France. Growing up in a weird, artistic family, she had a wild and crazy youth, doing things ranging from circus school to English teacher in Paris to tattoo apprentice in Brooklyn. She has 3 children and mostly works on paintings, zines and music these days. Sketchbooks have been a constant part of her life too. She works with quill pen and ink, watercolor and bic(ball-point pen). She has done shows in NY, Paris and her village Sauve, where the local gallery Vidourle Prix opened by her mother Aline Kominsky-Crumb and friend Julie Katan is a hub of local and national artists, hosting exhibits and events.

When she started talking to Kian, she discovered a hidden and fascinating country and culture : Iran. Seeing this mysterious paradoxical place through the eyes of an alienated, smart young artist was a very powerful experience. She started to study the culture, read Iranian books, watch films, study Farsi and listen to Persian music, all the while lucky enough to see candid videos of Kian's life : walking in the park, the call to prayer, the buses and taxis and home life. It became a passionate obsession!

She is honored to be able to show his art, to support and promote this underappreciated, talented artist who is stuck in an artistic desert, isolated and forbidden to leave, despite the beauty and depth of the Persian culture.

She is planning on going to Iran soon to visit.