1x: Tell us a little bit about this piece, anything immediate you would like us to highlight?
Elle: The ELLE poster was one of the first things that I designed under my alias. I began wheatpasting them up around New York about 5 years ago and then brought them with me whenever I traveled. So they went up all over the world, Malaysia, France, Israel, LA, Mexico, Germany, everywhere I could get them. It was inspired by Obey propaganda style repetition to remember. The poster can be found in Mini Cooper Ads, the Robin Williams film The Angriest Man in Brooklyn, and most recently, hanging behind Halsey during her press conference for her upcoming New Americana show at Madison Square Garden. This is the first time that the ELLE poster has been printed both as a letterpress and as a limited edition run.
1x: When was the piece created?
Elle: The image was created about 5 years ago. I sketched up the idea then took a photo of my left eye- dropped it into Photoshop and created the first mock up.
1x: Why do you feel people should buy this print?
Elle: This is the first time this piece has been sold as a limited edition print.
1x: Describe the print in one gut reaction word.
Elle: Iconic ELLE Streetart.
1x: When did you first start making art?
Elle: I’ve always made art.
1x: What was your first piece?
Elle: Ever?! Oof. I don’t know. I have been drawing and painting nonstop since I was a child. I was always doing window painting competitions for Halloween and attended the California State Summer School for the Arts on scholarship when I was in High School.
1x: What artists inspired you early on?
Elle: I used to love Degas and Egon Shiele when I was super young. Then Van Gogh, Kiki Smith, Wayne Thiebaud, Bruce Nauman, Luise Bourgois, the Fauvists and Die Brucke.
1x: What artists inspire you now?
Elle: Wangechi Mutu, fashion, Frida Khalo, Murakami, Dada
1x: Do you listen to music while you work? If so what? If not then what is your environment like when you work?
Elle: Yep. Definitely. I listen to mixes by my girl Cat King, music by Die Antwoord, The Knife, Fever Ray, ASAP Rocky, Nosaj thing, Ulfur Ulfur and more…
1x: If you could collaborate with any living artist who would it be and why?
Elle: Wangechi Mutu. She’s so talented and her work is so poetic.
1x: If you could collaborate with any deceased artists who would it be and why?
Elle: Egon Shiele. He was so raw.
1x: What was the first piece of art that you bought? Do you still have it?
Elle: I normally trade for art…the only piece I’ve ever bought was a print by Cleon Peterson, which of course I still have. That said, I have pieces by Anthony Lister, Ai Wei Wei, Kevin Cyr, Vexta, Pixote and other friends and awesome artists.
1x: Any big shows or events coming up that you’d like to share?
Elle: I plan on doing a big solo in the next year and potentially a pop up in LA coming up in the next few months- stay tuned.
1x: Where else can people find you?
Elle: Website – Instagram@ElleStreetArt – Facebook – Twitter
-1xRUN