Shepard Fairey

Currently on view at Brooklyn Art Haus, a new home for innovative arts in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, is “ON THE EDGE,” a group exhibition featuring a delightfully diverse selection of urban art, graffiti, photography and fine art in a range of media by both emerging and established artists.

On a recent visit to the wonderfully welcoming space, I had the opportunity to pose a few questions to its curators, Koz, founder of SilverTuna Studios, and Laura “Lulu” Reich.

This is your third exhibit here at Brooklyn Art Haus. In what ways does it differ from your previous ones held at this space?

There’s a bit of more emphasis on photography, as we are highlighting works by the amazing urban photographer Victor Thomas, known on Instagram as Vic Invades. We are also thrilled to be presenting for the first time four artworks by the legendary Shepard Fairey.

Yes, I love these Obey screen prints, and I love the way he takes a political stance on the critical issues of our time. How did you connect to Shepard Fairey?

I (Koz) was filming Shepard Fairey while he was at work on his Bad Brains mural for the LISA Project. I developed — at the time — a close relationship with his assistant, Rob Zagula aka Eastweed. And then we all met up at midnight and were out on the streets until dawn!

You, two, obviously have a great working relationship. How did you meet? And how do you manage to work so well together?

We are both friends with Easy, and he introduced us to each other. We are both passionate about what we do, and we complement each other in terms of our personal and professional skills. We also tend to share the same friends, who are largely artists and collectors.

In addition to sharing the artworks on exhibit with collectors and the general public, do the two of you have any other mission?

Yes, we want very much to educate those who view the works about the artists behind them. That is why we have included biographical information, alongside each artist’s work.

What’s ahead?

We are planning ahead for a mural festival to take place in Chicago next June. We are currently in the process of curating an exhibition of new work by Al Diaz scheduled to open next month at Brooklyn Made in Industry City. We are also looking forward to exhibiting artworks at the Tribeca Synagogue and again at City Point BKLYN. And Koz will be releasing a film featuring Cape Cod-based pro-skateboarder and artist Zered Bassett — introduced by skater and artist Eli Reed.

You are certainly productive! Good luck with it all! How can folks see your current exhibit here at Brooklyn Art Haus?

The exhibition can be viewed daily from 10am – 10pm through Sunday, September 3rd.  Private viewings are by appointment via lulu@collectwithlulu.com. Brooklyn Art Haus is located at 24-1 Marcy Avenue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Images featured in this post:

1 .Shepard Fairey, “Putin’s Ashes (Pussy Riot),” 2023, Screen print on thick cream speckletone paper, 24″ x 18″

2. Cope2, “Cotton Candy Star, ” Mixed media on canvas, 16″ x 20″

3 Tkid, “Do Not Cross,” Mixed media on subway sign, 18″ x 16″

4. Jessica Kaplan, “Roar,” Mixed media & collage on canvas, 12″ x 12″

5. Chris RWK, “TIL The End.” Mixed media on canvas, 36″ x 24″

6 SNAPKRACKER x RAMBO RAME, “Hip Hop Legends,” Paint marker and aerosol on street sign, 29″ x 29″

7. Curators: Koz and Lulu, — with Koz sporting a Chris RWK hat and SNAPKRACKER sweatshirt

Note: Also on view are tantalizing works by Eastweed, FLASH, Eric Orr and Vic Invades

Interview conducted and edited by Lois Stavsky; Photo credits:  1, 6 & 7 courtesy of the curators;  2-5, Lois Stavsky

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The following guest post is by Houda Lazrak

On the facades of high-rise Parisian apartment buildings near the southern bank of the Seine are beautifully painted walls by some of our favorite local and international street artists. Paris’s 13th municipal arrondissement, a multicultural residential neighborhood — adjacent to Chinatown and home to France’s National Library — has become a street art destination in its own right, with a distinctive mural-driven identity. The 50+ walls works erected since 2009 are curated by Street Art 13, an initiative of Galerie Itinerrance‘s founder and director Mehdi Ben Cheikh, in collaboration with the local Mayor’s Office. The project has not only been fully embraced by local residents, but also officially celebrated by city’s government. The 13th municipal arrondissement Mayor Jérôme Coumet was awarded the distinguished Marianne d’Or in 2016 for his contribution to the city’s culture.

On a particularly frisky Parisian morning, I explored these streets to capture some of these works. Featured above are murals by the NY-based duo Faile, And I Held My Breath, and French artist Seth.

Seth, closer up

French artist Maye, Thau Pond

Austrian-French couple Jana and JS, Self-Portrait

West Coast-based Shepard Fairey, Delicate Balance

UK-based D’Face, Turncoat

French artist C215, The Cat

All photos by Houda Lazrak

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Introducing the general public to an eclectic range of outstanding street artists from across the globe while boosting the development of the local street art scene, the third Russian biennale Artmossphere is now near completion. A particular highlight of this year’s Artmossphere was Shepard Fairey’s huge outdoor mural, Tunnel Vision, inspired by the bold aesthetics of Russian Constructivism. Several more images — representative of the wonderfully diverse artwork that made its way into Artmossphere 2018 — follow:

Shepard Fairey at work earlier on with a little help from his friends

Amsterdam-based Adele Renault at work on one of her signature birds with the legendary Martha Cooper capturing it all

Brooklyn-based assemblage artist Hyland Mather at work as he repurposes discarded materials into an intriguing installation

Swedish graphic designer Finsta’s completed installation

NYC’s masterful FAUST

Berlin’s 1Up Crew’s installation”Burner Phones”

Photo credits: Vasiliy Kudryavtsev

Note: Hailed in a range of media from WideWalls to the Huffington Post to the New York Times, our Street Art NYC App is now available for Android devices here.

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If you missed Shepard Fairey’s massive, hugely significant, exhibition Damaged in late 2017, it is still possible to experience it. West Coast-based VRt Ventures – in its mission to make provocative exhibitions accessible to all – has created the experience for us in virtual reality with a mobile app that enables us to move around the entire gallery, tap on all artworks and listen to two hours of outstanding narration by the artist.

Experiencing Damaged now couldn’t be more timely, as Shepard Fairey focuses on those Americans most affected by current policies and social issues in our increasingly troubling political climate. Among the issues tacked are: xenophobia, racial bias, Wall Street corruption, economic inequality and sexism.

“I definitely think that art can be part of the solution because it can inspire people to look at an issue they might otherwise ignore or reject,” commented the artist.  Damaged is an honest diagnosis, but diagnosis is the first step to recognizing and solving problems.

Officially launched earlier this week in collaboration with Juxtapoz, the app that will make it possible for you to experience Damaged can be downloaded for $4.99 via the iOS App Store and the Google Play store for Android, and on Oculus, HTC and Steam. You can also check it out at the Damaged pop-up open to the public through Sunday, October 21, at 136 Bowery.

Images: 1 & 4 Lois Stavsky; 2 & 3 courtesy VRt Ventures 

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Dedicated to promoting and celebrating public art, Wide Open Walls held its annual festival from August 9 – 19 in Sacramento, California. Local, national and international artists converged once again to transform the city into a tantalizing open air museum, featuring a wide range of diverse artworks. Organized by David Sobon and Branded Arts, it is the largest open air art festival in the USA. The mural pictured above — depicting Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison is the work of Shepard Fairey aka Obey — his largest mural ever in California. What follows are several more images — all captured by NYC-based travel and street photographer Karin du Maire aka Street Art Nomad.

LA-based Shepard Fairey aka Obey mural in progress

Shenyang, China native Lin Fei Fei

Local artist Michele Murtaugh at work

San Francisco-based Monty Guy at work

Portuguese artist Bordalo II

NYC-based Fench artist Hugo Kriegel 

Photos by Karin du Maire aka Street Art Nomad

Note: Hailed in a range of media from WideWalls to the Huffington Post to the New York Times, our Street Art NYC App is now available for Android devices here.

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This is the fourth in a series of politically and socially conscious images that have surfaced on NYC streets:

Chilean artist Otto Schade takes on gun violence in Chinatown — with East Village Walls

Shepard Fairey aka Obey Giant on the High Line

Colombian artist Praxis on the Lower East Side

Brooklyn-based Adam Fu and Dirty Bandits in Bushwick

Myth NY takes on Thanksgiving in Bushwick

Photo credits: 1 & 2 Tara Murray; 3-5 Lois Stavsky

Note: Hailed in a range of media from WideWalls to the Huffington Post to the New York Times, our Street Art NYC App is now available for Android devices here.

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Committed to using art to transform the ways that teens are prosecuted and sentenced in New York’s adult criminal justice system, Young New Yorkers’ fifth annual Silent Art Auction will fund its grassroots arts program for teens facing criminal charges as adults. Curated by Layqa Nuna Yawar and Ann Lewis, the fundraiser features works by over 80 artists. On Wednesday, May 10th, the Annual Silent Auction will take place from 7-10pm at 548 W. 28th Street in Chelsea, Manhattan. Its special honoree is the wonderfully gifted, Brooklyn-based actor and activist Michael K. Williams.  Among the artworks to be auctioned are several with a distinct political consciousness. Featured above is Icy and Sot, Stop Police Brutality, Spray paint on wood. Here are several more socially-engaged artworks to be auctioned:

Guerrilla Girls, What’s The Difference Between A Prisoner Of War And A Homeless Person?, Offset lithograph

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Jordan Seiler, Collisions – Bullseye, Inkjet 

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Kara Walker, Lost Mountain at Sunrise: Harper’s Pictorial History of the Civil War (Annotated), Offset lithography and screenprint on Sommerset textured paper

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Distort, Estranged, Enamel and engraving on aluminum

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Nicholas Galanin,  The American Dream is Alie and Well, Archival Ultrachrome ink on Epson ultra smooth fine art paper

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And with the purchase of any artwork from Young New Yorkers, you will receive one of these Amplifier prints designed by Shepard Fairey 

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You can purchase tickers here for May 10th’s Silent Auction and bid on the artworks at Paddle8 here.

Images of artworks courtesy Young New Yorkers

Note: Hailed in a range of media from Wide Walls to the Huffington Post to the New York Times, our Street Art NYC App is now available for Android devices here.

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Back in 2014, the RAW Project transformed Wynwood’s Jose De Diego Middle School’s stark walls into a vibrant, sumptious outdoor gallery. During last month’s Art Basel, a team of artists — from across the globe — brought beauty and intrigue to the walls of Wynwood’s Eneida M. Hartner Elementary School. Pictured above is Jules Muck at work. Here are several more images captured on site by travel and street photographer Karin du Maire.

Mr. June at work

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Paolo Delfin

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Kevin Ledo — on left — with Shepard Fairey (w/assistants) and Paolo Delfin at work earlier on

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Case Maclaim at work

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RAW Project curator Robert Skran posing with Miami Dolphins’ Jarvis Landry aka Juice and Kai Aspire in front Kai’s and Jarvis’s collaborative artwork

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All photos by Karin du Maire

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Last month during Miami Art Week, the Bushwick Collective once again collaborated with the Mana Urban Arts Project in facilitating first-rate public artwork in Wynwood, Miami. Pictured above is a mural by Louis Masai, along with an installation by Davis McCarty. Here are several more works captured by street photographer Karin du Maire.

Netherlands-based Michel Velt

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West Coast-based Chor Boogie — in front of mural — and Miami’s Trek6

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Brazilian artist Sipros

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LA-based Shepard Fairey aka Obey Giant in front of one segment of his huge mural

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Chilean artist Fiorello Podesta aka Fio

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All photos by Karin du Maire

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To celebrate the launch of the new book from Wooster CollectiveELEVEN SPRING: A CELEBRATION OF STREET ART, artist ELBOW-TOE remembers the historic event and its impact on the world of street art.

I was talking to a younger artist the other day about street art that I was involved in as opposed to murals — which she considers street art — and she said, “Oh, you mean vandalism.”

How did we get here?

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I recall the moment that I knew I wanted to be a street artist – I was at work, and one afternoon, my friend pointed me to this post on a blog I had never heard of called Wooster Collective. It was an image by an artist who had photoshopped street signs, so that they looked transparent from the correct angle. It was absolutely magical. How did it get there? Who was the artist? I had seen some street art around over the years: WK Interact when I was in school in the early 90’s and around the early 2000’s quite a bit of NECKFACE around the corner from a print shop I was using.

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As I began to explore the archives of Wooster Collective, I saw that there was in fact a community that had built up around these random acts of art that I had paid little heed beyond the internal “huh, that’s interesting.” What was truly fascinating about the work was that, aside from a moniker, the work was anonymous. In that anonymity there existed a mystery. It elevated even the most banal work, purely by the act of risk that was involved. And for the first time in over a decade in the city, it pulled me out of my tunnel vision and got me looking at the walls as spaces to be activated.

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The Wooster Collective site was such an impeccably curated space that it got people outside of the movement to give it their attention. Having known the Schillers over those early years, I, of course, was head over heels when I was asked not only to be involved in their secret project but to be given a coveted space on the main floor. At the time I don’t think any of us realized that this exhibition would have the impact that it did.

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11 Spring was truly a transformative exhibition; it reflected the very transition that would occur wholeheartedly in this movement just by walking from the outside of the building to the inside. The exterior of the building still had the raw power of getting your work up. The work was often messy and might last only a few hours before being covered by a new piece. Contrast the organic energy of the ever-changing composition on the shell with an impeccably curated show inside the five floors of a gutted building, where all these artists were able to truly flex their technical and creative muscles without concern of the work being damaged or transformed by others.

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It was this mercurial quality of traveling from the outside to the inside and then back out again that gave this show such power in my opinion. I am not sure that there is a direct correlation of this show to the mural program that followed, but it certainly opened a larger audience up to the possibilities of their public spaces’ potential.

I will always cherish the experience.

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Note: With its outstanding documentation, along with an introduction by Shepard Fairey and an afterword by JR,  ELEVEN SPRING: A CELEBRATION OF STREET ART captures an important moment in the history of the movement. Tomorrow, Tuesday, November 29 — from 6:30 to 8:00 PM — Marc and Sara Schiller, along with FAILE, Lady Pink, Michael DeFeo, and WK Interact, will be at the Strand for a special signing and celebration of the book’s launch. You can buy tickets to the event here

Images 

1.  COVER, ELEVEN SPRING: A CELEBRATION OF STREET ART

2.  ELBOW-TOE  (BRIAN ADAM DOUGLAS), EVERYBODY’S GOT ONE, MADE WITH WOOD BURNER, YARN, AND PAINT. PHOTO ELBOW-TOE

3.  WK INTERACT, THE FIRST ARTIST INVITED INSIDE THE BUILDING. PHOTO JAKE DOBKIN 

4.  11 SPRING STREET, THE DAY OF THE OPENING. PHOTO JAKE DOBKIN 

5.  SHEPARD FAIREY, HARD AT WORK, MAKING IT LOOK EASY. PHOTO WOOSTER COLLECTIVE 

6.  BARNSTORMERS’ COLLABORATION WITH PAINTINGS BY Z¥$, DOZE GREEN AND KENJI HIRATA. PHOTO JAKE DOBKIN

7  JUDITH SUPINE AND DAVIDE ZUCCO (R3KAL), THERE IS HELL IN HELLO. PHOTO DONALD DIETZ 

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