FEAST OF THE BEASTS

Duff Yong & Ella Stouse

Gallery 2424 / May 22 - May 24, 2026

The singular is devoured in “Feast of the Beasts,” a collaborative exhibition by Duff Yong and Ella Stouse. Within this body of work you will observe the rapid progression from individual artistic practice to collaboration. A series of solo works by Yong and Stouse welcome you, flanking both sides of the exhibition doors. As you move inward, the sense of self and familiarity is dissolved and a menagerie that reflects both chromatic cocoons of chaos and monochromatic explosions of madness joins the feast.

The creatures themselves within this bestial banquet are not bound by any particular geographical location or myth. Their forms vary in size and appearance; they parade their claws and hooves alongside the fluid, energetic linework known by Yong as ookee. It is through this feral lineation that Yong attempts to give structure to the intangible, to name the unknown creatures that lurk in the shadows. Stouse’s familiar silhouettes and forms occasionally consume the chaos, absorbing the disorder. But it is hard to contain an incursion of energy; in other paintings Yong’s forms burst forth from their corporeal vessel and consume the picture plane.

Each collaboration reflects a collision of energy and style, a duel of composition and frenzy. This exhibition is as much a visual bestiary as a record of time. Some paintings exchanged hands several times, while others were merely an appetizer, conservative in approach. Stouse’s mastery of color and allegorical rendering acted as a bold interruption to Yong’s spontaneous, monochromatic drawings; the exchange of power pushed both artists into new territory. Their clashing methodologies presented preliminary hurdles but the precious nature of the individual was eventually slaughtered. Dinner is served.

Reception:

The dinner bell is ringing. A parade of motley beasts awaits your presence; we invite you to attend our banquet on May 23 from 6 to 9pm at Gallery 2424.

Address: 2424 Drayton St. Savannah, GA 31401

Additional Gallery Hours:

5-7pm Friday, May 22

2-5pm, Sunday, May 24

Artists:

Duff Woon Yong (b.1976) is a Singapore born, Savannah-based artist working under the moniker Ookee (烏奇), meaning “dark strange.” His practice centers on black-and-white drawings and paintings created through an automatic painting process, where forms emerge intuitively through spontaneous mark-making. Influenced by Chinese calligraphy, ink painting, and street art, his work features fluid, intertwined figures that wrap, merge, and transform across surfaces such as wood panels, paper, and found materials. These evolving forms reflect themes of connection, presence, and the quiet emotional spaces between people. Yong has exhibited both internationally and domestically, ranging from a two-person exhibition with ceramic artist Dorosi in Lukang, Taiwan, to a solo exhibition, “Ookee: Duff Woon Yong,” at the Telfair Museums. His most recent solo exhibition, Mei Mei (妹妹) at the UNC Charlotte Rowe Arts Gallery, showcased his exploration of connection and chosen family. Yong’s work resides in the Telfair Museums’ permanent collection.

Ella Stouse (b. 2003) is a painter and printmaker from New Orleans, Louisiana. She received her BFA in Painting from the Savannah College of Art and Design in 2026. Stouse’s work is devoted to figuration and mythology. Her storytelling stems from an interest in animals and personal conflict, referencing folklore and fairytales. Stouse’s work has been exhibited at Gutstein Gallery and ARTS Southeast in Savannah, GA and her work is held in the permanent collection at the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Curators:

Alexis Lynn Baker is a Savannah, Georgia–based artist whose interdisciplinary practice is rooted in printmaking, with particular focus on lithography processes. While print remains central to her work, she also explores painting, mixed media, installation, and curatorial practices as ways to expand the emotional and conceptual possibilities of her artistic practice. Across disciplines, Baker investigates the tension between presence and absence, illumination and concealment. Her work is nuanced with the hidden narratives of loss, mortality, and the quiet weight of unspoken truths. Through layered surfaces and carefully constructed contrasts, she creates imagery suspended between revelation and obscurity. Light and shadow function not only as formal elements, but as psychological terrain where memory, vulnerability, and transformation emerge. Lithography plays a significant role in her practice due to its sensitivity to gesture and tonal nuance, allowing her to render subtle atmospheres that reinforce ideas of fragility and emotional restraint. Figures and forms often appear in states of reaching, dissolving, or becoming, suggesting both longing and concealment. Alongside her studio practice, Baker maintains a strong interest in curation and gallery work, viewing exhibition-making as an extension of her artistic language. She is particularly drawn to creating immersive and fluid spaces that encourage slow engagement and emotional resonance. Through unexpected connections and carefully considered spatial relationships, she seeks points of unity between contrasting works, materials, and ideas. Her curatorial approach mirrors the concerns present in her artwork: ambiguity, intimacy, atmosphere, and the transformative potential of shared experience. Currently working in Savannah, GA, Alexis Baker continues to expand her interdisciplinary practice, creating contemplative spaces where light presses gently against darkness and where the unseen is given room to breathe.

Sarah Cherry (b. 1987) is the Assistant Director at Laney Contemporary in Savannah, GA. Cherry has spearheaded a number of curatorial endeavors and dynamic solo exhibitions for Laney Contemporary including booths featured at Future Fair in New York and Untitled Art during Art Basel, Miami. Cherry, along with the director Susan Laney, advise private and corporate clients in developing or enhancing their art collections. In addition to her role at the gallery, Cherry is a practicing artist who holds an MFA in Illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design. Recent exhibitions include "Supernatural" at Gutstein Gallery and "Word of Mouth" at Norwood Gallery in Savannah, GA.