A pair of dolled-up boxing gloves, a video of bobby pins in motion and a paint-splattered mannequin with a toaster head dazzled SF State’s Art Gallery opening reception Oct. 9 with its latest exhibit, “Lollipops and Threads.” The exhibit features the parallel artistic works of the established danyol and the up-and-coming artist and SF State alumnus Jai Carrillo.

Although the show’s title is based on the metallic abstract paintings of danyol and the crocheted textile designs of Carrillo, the theme of the exhibit has a much deeper meaning than sweets and knits.

“[The exhibit’s co-curator and I] wanted to bring an art show dealing with the issue of gender and gender expression to the gallery,” said Daniela Paez, who is the gallery manager and curator.

For both danyol and Carrillo, every piece of their art is based on growing pains, relationships and everyday life experiences. According to Carrillo, his work, which he described as kitschy and subversive, uses male dominated figures to portray aspects of gender. Carillo’s crotched boxing gloves and matching jockstraps are based on a childhood experience where his father tried to make a boxer out of him.

The 23-year-old recalled the experience of when he wore heavy, red boxing gloves while training for a fight he was to have in a family friend’s garage. Feeling weary and disinterested in the sport, Carillo said his passion lay in an art form of a more feminine nature--crocheting.

“[Boxing is a sport with] sweat and masculinity — and me at the time, that’s not what I wanted to do,” Carrillo said. “My grandmother was knitting at the time, but that just was not in my gender role.”

Black, silk boxing gloves lined with lace and criss-crossing red ribbons sat on display at the reception, giving visitors the opportunity to have a hands-on experience of Carrillo’s work. Carrillo’s other pieces on exhibit include a 40-second stop motion video of ebony bobby pins that gather to make everyday objects and an embroidered picture of bondage porn actor Dorian Slay wearing a bondage mask with a unicorn horn on top.

Since Carrillo is somewhat new to the art world, the curators wanted to pair him with a well-established artist as a way to draw in larger crowds. Laura Costantiono, one of the curators, said that no one was better to show at the exhibit than pop-inspired artist danyol. The 27-year-old is known for his artworks’ bright colors, mixed media and sassy titles.

In a piece titled “Yellowcard,” danyol paints a portrait of his friend Yuka using neon yellows and oranges. In what appears to be a reoccurring theme of his work, danyol jazzes up his portraits by turning them into collages. He decorates the portraits with cardboard puzzle pieces and emergency airline brochures. In one piece, he uses a cut out from a tablecloth willed to him by his grandmother before her death.

“My work is done in a very autobiographical way,” said danyol, as he placed the finishing touches on an art piece of a rocking horse made to look like it’s running up a pillar. His Diesel slip-on shoes were splashed with different shades of paint. “Each [piece] is like a little page in my diary.”

In another piece featured at the gallery, danyol turns his hobby of collecting fast food toys into an interactive exhibit. A collage of action figures and Hot Wheels race cars placed around a bookcase and onto the floor allow patrons to manipulate the placement of the toys in whatever way they see fit.

As the reception got into full swing, attendees circulated the exhibit while enjoying complimentary snacks and beverages. They grooved to the beats of disc jockey and SF State cinema student Hitmaster Holojam. Before the reception, Carrillo created black-laced masks to be worn by the gallery’s guests. The artist saw it as a way to enhance and incorporate them into his work.

“The lace jockstraps are very clever,” said psychology major Margarita Rossi, while wearing one of Carrillo’s black-laced bondage inspired masks. “I really appreciate the way [Carrillo] plays with gender norms.”

The pieces in the exhibit are for sale from approximately $50 to $1,300. Interested parties can check out the “Lollipops and Threads” exhibition from Oct. 9 until Nov. 5 at the Art Gallery, located in the Terrace level of the Cesar Chavez Student Center. The gallery is open Monday-Friday from 7-10 p.m.; Saturday 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.