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Category Archives: Street & Urban Art

Streets: Mear One (Los Angeles)

Another day, another impressive mural from Mear One (interviewed). This latest wall is located in Culver City and features some of the apocalyptical-illuminati imagery that is often seen in his work as well as puts the LA-based street artist’s top-notch technical skills on display. This piece was part of series of works in support for Prop 37 leading up to the election and the fight for labeling of genetically modified foods (see video below for more info). Photo credit: The Hundreds. Discuss Mear One here.

Setup: KAWS – Companion Balloon for Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade

Every year, legions of people from around the nation flock to NYC for a little Thanksgiving time with friends & family. During this busy holiday weekend, one of the traditions is the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. The day before the parade, tens of thousands visit the staging area to observe the balloon inflation ceremony next to the American Museum of Natural History. This year, AM surfed the crowds to catch the inflation of the Companion balloon (here & here) created by KAWS. This 40 foot feat of art […]

Videos / MOCAtv: Swoon – “Konbit Shelter”

Thanksgiving sees another worthy release from MOCAtv featuring Caledonia “Swoon” Curry (interviewed) and her time in Haiti. In the video, the NY-based artist talks about how she enjoys working on things outside of her studio, which can be confining at times. By moving her work outdoors (like with her street work), it allows her to increase her interactions with people and led to projects like the Swimming Cities of Serenissima and now Konbit Shelter.The new project for Bigones-Leogane, Haiti includes a community center to hold workshops, house the works of local […]

Showing: Anthony Lister – “Unslung Heroes” @ The Outsiders (London)

After seeding the streets of London and Newcastle with his public art, it was time for his simultaneous openings at The Outsiders locations in both cities. The new paintings and sculptures by the artist from down under were collectively entitled Unslung Heroes and were mainly loose portraits of after-party revelers, certainly something that Lister has seen plenty of with his high octane lifestyle. Take a look at some shots of the artist and the work from the London showspace below… Photo credit: Ian Cox / Wallkandy. Discuss these shows here. Discuss Anthony Lister here.

Studio Visits: Paul Insect – “Out of Chaos” @ Opera Gallery (NYC)

Next Thursday, November 29th, Paul Insect will make his New York City solo debut with Opera Gallery. Entitled Out of Chaos, this exhibition is a fresh series of works projecting a world spinning out of control with visions of helplessness, but also a sense of hope as one emerges from the storm. Using art as a tool to capture and analyze the maelstrom of marketing and pop iconography, Mr. Insect gives the Big Apple a taste of his unique artistic perspective and humor. In preparation […]

Upcoming: ROA – “Carrion” @ Backwoods Gallery

After his show in September in San Francisco (covered), street muralist and amateur zoologist ROA will be hitting up the other side of the globe with his latest solo exhibition. Held at the Backwoods Gallery in Melbourne, with the opening scheduled for November 30th, Carrion will explore the friction between man, animal, civilization and nature through the Belgium-based artist’s signature anatomical and interactive style. Also available will be 25 copies of his limited edition book to coincide with the opening. Discuss ROA here.

Showing: Know Hope – “The Weight” @ Known Gallery

Last week, the Known Gallery in Los Angeles welcomed the Israel-based Know Hope in to display new works as well as create an installation for their showspace. Entitled The Weight, the new paintings and sculptural compositions touched on the subject of the burdens we have and how we manage them. Along with glimpses of his spindly characters, the poetic musings seen in his street work also made the trip over on minimalistic pieces on the side of the gallery. Take a look in the photos below… Discuss Know Hope here.

Openings: Futura, Matta, Phase 2 & Rammellzee – “Deep Space” @ Joseph Nahmad

Joseph Nahmad, known for his pop-up events, recently presented a group show in New York’s Meatpacking district with Nemo Librizzi (who curated Futura’s recent showing at Valmorbida). Entitled Deep Space, this exhibition featured four noted street & graffiti legends Futura, Phase 2, Matta and Rammellzee. Using an interesting approach, this show was not just a collection of freshly made works but was instead a mini survey of old and new works from each of the four artists. The exhibition examined the historical journey of each artist and […]

El Mac x Adobe Campus (Utah)

The Los-Angeles based El Mac recently took another trip to the American Southwest (also see New Mexico) where he worked on a new project in Utah. This mural, created in his signature style, was completed on the Adobe campus just south of Salt Lake City and was organized by the RAPT Studio out of SF. If you look closely, you can see the faint tracings of binary code in the background. Check the details below… Portraits of the artist by Weston Colton, all other photos via the […]

Overtime: Nov 12 – Nov 18

Overtime stories of the week: Excerpts from Patti Astor’s (FUN Gallery) new memoir. Astor and Futura pictured – image © Anita Rosenberg. RIP William Turnbull, who died at age 90. Hot art market for South African works a contributing factor to big $2 mil. heist. Few days later, four of the five stolen paintings found on a bench in a cemetery in Port Elizabeth. Brian Ramnarine indicted on charges he used Jasper Johns’s mold to make unauthorized bronze sculpture. Met Museum being sued over misleading […]