Crabs, sausage, leopards and lasers

There’s a collage by Sfaustina at new Upper Playground installation called “Leopard Power,” and in it, an old-fashioned Russwin grinder spits out a technicolor wave that said leopard consumes to obtain energy—like Popeye with spinach. It’s playful and cunning, the psycho-sausage directs your eye through the mixed-media piece like a Candyland board game. Sfaustina’s a Bay Area-based freelance graphic designer and street artist, so this makes sense: His work has both attitude and craft—fun, striking collages; contrasty hand-drawn illustrations; devious modified photos (like “Crab Boy,” where a king crab attacks a NASA shuttle while dodging a space invader’s lasers). It’s a unique, not-to-miss exhibit. And don’t forget to check out his books (The Secret Door from ’07 and Bloodwars Vol. 1 from ’04).

Sfaustina’s exhibit The Diamond Dealer will be up through November at Upper Playground, 2524 J Street; (916) 444-8148; www.upperplayground.com.