Category Archives: General News

Dan May Presents His Largest Painting To Date

As a modern narrative painter, Dan May cultivates a rich texture of the surreal and mysterious in his highly original flowing style. His detail-intensive works have become widely recognized for their dreamlike ability to transcend the natural states of space and time – mostly due to his usage of a very finely honed usage of line. May’s propensity for using hair as a metaphor has become a focal point that he has built on to speak about larger aspects of humanity as well as the dream world, and gives a strong nod to his progressive personal growth and evolution as an artist.

Dan has exhibited his paintings to consistently growing interest in the gallery world and is enthusiastically held in high regard by collectors the world over. May spends the majority of his time in the studio, painting new wonders or challenging his lovely wife Kendal to unscheduled debates on pro wrestling theory. His paintings have graced the pages of international publications as Hi Fructose Magazine, DPI and Communication Arts among others.

Here for his second RUN, Dan May has brought us his largest painting to date with Where Time Beckons The Wicked. Read on as we talk with Dan May about his current RUN, past influences and more as he gives us the RUN Thru…

1xRUN Thru Interview

Where Time Beckons The Wicked by Dan May

1xRun: Is the original still for sale? What materials was it printed on/drawn with?

Dan May:  It’s sold. The original was 60″ x 30″ acrylic on wood panel.

1xRun: When was the piece drawn and created?

Dan May:  2011.

1xRun: Tell us how the idea and execution came about?

Dan May:  I generally try not steer the viewer in any specific direction. As you know from my previous 1xRun release, I love hearing the viewers interpretation of my art. Feel free to insert your thoughts or feelings :)    My art is actually pretty organic. I never plan out my paintings, I usually just let things flow and see where the composition takes me. This piece is a great example of what happens when I allow myself some room to ‘stretch out’.

1xRun: How long did the piece take?

Dan May:   It took a couple months to complete (on and off). I usually have several paintings/projects going at any given time.

1xRun: What is unique about this piece?

Dan May:  It’s the largest painting I have completed to date.

1xRun: Why should people buy this piece?

Dan May:  hopefully because it strikes them in some way.

1xRun: Describe the piece in one gut reaction word.

Dan May:  flowing.

Run #00255 // Where Time Beckons the Wicked by Dan May

1xRun: When did you first start making art?

Dan May:  As early as I can remember.

Dan May

1xRun: What was your first piece.

Dan May:  My first painting was at age two… I have yet to stop creating art.

1xRun: What artists inspired you early on?

Dan May:  Dr. Seuss, Jim Henson, early Tim Burton, Mercer Mayer and Walt Disney.

Dr. Suess

1xRun: What artists inspire you now?

Dan May:  I have always been inspired by many artists from the past. Some of my favorites include, Salvador Dali, Max Ernst, Caravaggio, Vermeer, Monet, John James Audubon, among others. In the contemporary world, I am constantly inspired by the amount of art happening around us. It’s such an amazing time to be creating. The list would be far too long if I started naming folks.

1xRun: Do you listen to music while you work? If so what? If not then what is your environment like when you work?

Dan May:  Yes, music is a must. I also listen to a variety of podcasts while painting. I am not very specific on my musical tastes, I’m all over the place. As for podcasts, I enjoy comedy themed shows such as The Nerdist, Comedy Bang Bang, & WTF, as well as odd science and mystery shows like, Mysterious Universe & The Skeptics Guide to the Universe.
1xRun: If you could collaborate with any living artist who would it be and why?

Dan May:  I have had the opportunity to collaborate with a few incredible artists to this point. If I could collaborate with anyone it would probably be in film/animation. I do not have a specific person in mind, but I think it would be really exciting to work with a director and bring my world to life on the big screen.

1xRun: If you could collaborate with any deceased artists who would it be and why?

Dan May:  Salvador Dali. He was such a prolific and eccentric artist. I bet he would be really interesting to collaborate with.

Salvador Dali

1xRun: What was the first piece of art that you bought? Do you still have it?

Dan May:  Oh, man, I have no idea. It was probably a print or some poster art in college. I’ve moved several times, so I don’t think I have it any more.

1xRun: What was the last piece of art that you bought?

Dan May:  I have a nice collection of Colin Johnson artworks, if you’re not familiar with him, I highly suggest checking out his amazing work.

Colin Johnson

1xRun: What else do you have in  the works?

Dan May:   At the moment I have a few upcoming group shows, some top secret projects, and a slue of private commissions. I’m also continuing to build my personal body of work.

1xRun: Where can people find you on the internette?

Dan May:  Website – Facebook – Twitter –Tumblr – Flickr

-1xRUN

Shark Toof Sinks Into Tigers & Girls

“I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. I started painting graffiti in 1985 eventually graduating from Art center college of Design.  The content of my work is pronounced by my travels and continuing exploration of animal spirits, nature, and the struggle of predator vs prey in male and female roles.” – Shark Toof

Shark Toof

Here for his debut RUN, Shark Toof, brings us a cutting psychedelic detail laden print Two Girls & Three Tigers. Read on as Shark Toof gives us the RUN Thru on his debut RUN, his past influences and more.

 1xRUN Thru Interview

Two Girls & Three Tigers Show by  Shark Toof

1xRun: Is the original still for sale?

Shark Toof:   The piece recently sold at a group show at Thinkspace Gallery titled Wild At Heart.  It is 24″ x 24″ framed in thin pine and is $3000. The inspiration behind the piece and continuing inspiration is from my recent travels to Southeast Asia, specifically Thailand.

1xRun: When was the piece drawn/created?

Shark Toof:  5/17/2012

1xRun: Anything immediate you would like us to highlight?

Shark Toof:  This piece is significant in the journey towards my solo show in October titled “Ping Pong Show.”  Two Girls And Three Tigers illuminates the contemplation of nature, culture, predator vs. prey,  and recent travels to Thailand and the middle east.

Shark Toof – Art Basel Miami

1xRun: Tell us how the idea and execution came about?

Shark Toof:  The idea is a culmination of seduction, animal spirit, philosophy of culture and its roll in the idea of predator vs. prey.

1xRun: How long did the piece take?

Shark Toof:   2 weeks.

1xRun: What is unique about this piece?

Shark Toof:  1 square inch could take 1 – 5 days depending on how it’s working with the painting as a whole. My process can be masochistic.  It’s a chess match.  My roots as an illustrator is that everything is planned out.  I’m going against the grain in more of a fine art direction by allowing the painting to guide me, to ask me questions.  There are very small to very large details to this piece from color, to shape, and form.  These details were in large part not preplanned and a manifestation of content. Also, each print will have a completely unique spraypaint stencil hand embellishment.

1xRun: Why should people buy this print?

Shark Toof:  It’s an investment in feeling alive.

1xRun: Describe the piece in one gut reaction word.

Shark Toof:  Sexy.

Run #00249 // Two Girls & Three Tigers Show by Shark Toof

1xRun: When did you first start making art?

Shark Toof:  Since my early kinder years. I didn’t have all the toys other kids had so you are left to be supremely resourceful.  A stick was a rocket ship. A rock was a planet.  A pencil, I could create any toy I ever wanted.

1xRun: What was your first piece?

Shark Toof:  I would always draw space vehicles and lunar battles.  My first graffiti drawing I did on the inside of a dictionary in 1985 said “PUMA”.  My parents couldn’t afford to buy me Pumas though, so I wore Vans.

1xRun: What artists inspired you early on?

Shark Toof:    Before I did graffiti, I was heavily into comic books, Stan Lee, etc.  The first graffiti black book I saw which changed my life was David Arquette’s in 1985.  My early influences include Caravagio, Richard Bunkal, Ray Turner, Victor Vasarely, Edward Kienholz, Robbie Conal, Kent Twitchell, Clayton Brothers, Manuel O Campo, and a slew of others.

Manuel Ocampo

1xRun: What artists inspire you now?

Shark Toof:  For shear bravery in his art and work ethic, David Choe.  The people who keep me in check: Ai Weiwei, Mark Jenkins, BLU, Os Gemeos, Lister, David Jien, Andrew Hem, Bast, and Devin Strother.

David Choe


1xRun: Do you listen to music while you work? If so what? If not then what is your environment like when you work?

Shark Toof:  Yes, I can go from Devendra Banhart,  MF Doom, to The Stooges on Slacker radio.  Most of the time KCRW and NPR keeps me grounded.

1xRun: If you could collaborate with any living artist who would it be and why?

Shark Toof:  David Choe.  I think it would be a perfect mixture of hilarity, mayhem, and sexy shit.

1xRun: If you could collaborate with any deceased artists who would it be and why?

Shark Toof:  Marcel Duchamp.  I think it would be a perfect mixture of hilarity, mayhem, and sexy shit.

Marcel Duchamp

1xRun: What was the first piece of art that you bought? Do you still have it?

Shark Toof:  An Andrew Schoultz painting in 2004 and yes I still have it.

Andrew Schultz

1xRun: What was the last piece of art that you bought?

Shark Toof:  A piece from Frohawk Two Feathers.

Frohawk Two Feathers

1xRun: What else do you have in the works?

Shark Toof:   I have a hardcover book to be released this fall by ZERO+ Publishing.  There will be a limited box set edition which will include an original piece, handmade box, and other items.  There will be another edition which will come with prints.  And lastly the regular edition which is just the book itself.

My solo show with The C.A.V.E. gallery in Venice Beach, titled “”Ping Pong Show”” will be in October.

1xRun: Where can people find you across the internette?

Shark Toof: Website – Facebook – Tumblr – Twitter

-1xRUN

Hand-Embellished Faces From Gregory Siff

Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Gregory officially made Los Angeles home in 2009 where he has since established himself as ‘one to watch’ in the LA art scene. He has garnered a strong following among the Hollywood community as well as holding his own in the street art scene, having recently completed a collaboration with artist RISK and others within one of LA’s most respected crews, The 7th Letter. In 2011, he was commissioned to paint The Standard Hotel in Downtown LA and De La Barracuda Wall. In New York his work was featured in The Deitch Projects Art Parades, and he has shown his work in London, Dublin, Italy and Vancouver. Siff’s work has also appeared in Andy Warhol’s Interview Magazine, Paper Mag, The LA Times, Complex and Glamour.

Gregory Siff

Here for his debut RUN, we are excited to present Be & Infamous from  Los Angeles painter Gregory Siff. Each of the 12 x 12 pieces will be uniquely hand-embellished with a variety of materials by Gregory Siff making no two the same. Read on to see past and present influences of Gregory’s, the last piece of art that he bought and more as he gives us the RUN Thru…

1xRUN Thru Interview

Be Infamous by Gregory Siff

1xRun: Is the original still for sale?

Gregory Siff:   Both of the originals are sold. Infamous is in the RISK ROCK collection.

1xRun: What materials were the originals printed on and drawn with?

Gregory Siff: The originals were spray-paint on canvas with ink and krink. It’s basically the same materials as the prints except that these prints each will be painted differently. With splats, drips and lines that give each individual face it’s own character.

1xRun: When was the piece drawn/created?

Gregory Siff:  Early 2012.

1xRun: Tell us how the idea and execution came about?

Gregory Siff:  These works are exercises in not trying, and letting go of making things perfect. I painted 100 different faces on canvas in one sitting for my show There & Back at Siren Studios. It took about 13 hours to paint them, ink and sign them. As they were created the more loose and free they became. Both of these works BE & INFAMOUS are in the later batches after 50.

1xRun: How long did the piece take?

Gregory Siff:   34 years.

1xRun: What is unique about this piece?

Gregory Siff:  That each print is different.

1xRun: Why should people buy this piece/print?

Gregory Siff:  Because it stands for freedom and doing what you love and seeing the world through the eyes of a kid, something which we forget to do as we get older.

1xRun: Describe the pieces in one gut reaction word.

Gregory Siff:  ALIVE.

Run #00254 // Be Infamous by Gregory Siff

x1xRun: When did you first start making art?

Gregory Siff:  Kindergarten. Then I took a break till 2006.

1xRun: What was your first piece?

Gregory Siff:  A portrait of my Mom and Dad and dog Peewee in front of my house made with magic markers.

1xRun: What artists inspired you early on?

Gregory Siff:   Jean-Michel Basquiat, Louis Cannizzaro, Cy Twombly, David Shillinglaw, Ray Johnson, Andy Warhol and Vincent van Gogh.

Basquait

1xRun: What artists inspire you now?

Gregory Siff:  RETNA, RISK, REVOK, Curtis Kulig, HAZE and David Choe.

Retna

1xRun: Do you listen to music while you work? If so what? If not then what is your environment like when you work?

Gregory Siff:  Wiz Khalifa, Miles Davis, Big Sean, Billy Joel, Jay Z, Yeezy, Lana Del Rey, Beastie Boys and Nirvana.


1xRun: If you could collaborate with any living artist who would it be and why?

Gregory Siff:  Revok. Because the combines he is building are unlike anything I have ever seen and I like that they come from lives that have been lost. He is bringing new life into the destroyed.  I’d like to see how he picks a piece of found material for those works.

1xRun: If you could collaborate with any deceased artists who would it be and why?

Gregory Siff:  Vincent van Gogh. Purely because we would get into a deep conversation over some absinthe and talk about love.

1xRun: What was the first piece of art that you bought? Do you still have it?

Gregory Siff:  It could be a lego portrait of Basquiat by artist Plasticgod. It hangs in my room.

Logohol & Legosquait

1xRun: What was the last piece of art that you bought?

Gregory Siff:  Your Revok 1x Sacrilege print. Can’t wait!

1xRun: What else do you have in the works?

Gregory Siff:   -The Creative Cartel Crew Inaugural show with MAR & 2WENTY is coming up on Friday July 13th. Portion of the proceeds from our sticker packs will go to BNEWATER.ORG

– SUPER LARGE Mural at Crossroads School in Santa Monica in September. Big job.

– I have my solo show in Los Angeles on October 20th, 2012 at GALLERY BROWN. A deeper body of work than usual. Tentatively titled, “What Would Jesus Paint”

– Lastly, I will be going to Art Basel in Miami with Red Bull to paint some walls and do a show.

1xRun: Where can people find you across the internette?

Gregory Siff:  – Website – Facebook – Twitter – Tumblr – Instagram @gregorysiff

-1xRUN

Kid Acne Debuts His First Prints Across The Pond

“Kid Acne began painting graffiti at the age of twelve inspired by its infinite scale, colour and immediacy. Applying the same DIY ethos to the rest of his output, he spent his teenage years creating underground fanzines and releasing limited run 7′′s on his own Invisible Spies imprint.  Nowadays, his work can be seen throughout the globe – in wheatpastes and rap-sprays from New York to Azerbaijan. His signature style of illustrations have furnished products for the world’s leading brands, while the man himself continues to paint epic slogans in sub-zero temperatures… And he still has acne. ” – via KidAcne.com

Kid Acne In Rome

Here for his debut RUN we are excited to showcase Twins available in 4 variant prints from UK artist Kid Acne.   Read on as we Kid Acne gives us the RUN Thru on his debut RUN, talks past and present influences and his upcoming show at the C.A.V.E Gallery in Los Angeles.

1xRUN Thru Interview

Twins by Kid Acne

1xRun: Is the original still for sale?

Kid Acne:  No.

1xRun: When was the piece drawn/created?

Kid Acne:  Early 2012.

1xRun: Anything immediate you would like us to highlight?

Kid Acne:  This image is part of an ongoing body of work exploring the imagined world inhabited by my STABBY WOMEN characters and their belief system.  Also, I have my next solo show coming up at C.A.V.E Gallery in Los Angeles from June 30th – July 23rd.

C.A.V.E Gallery

Read On To See More Work In Progress Shots

1xRun: Tell us how the idea and execution came about?

Kid Acne:  I was thinking about what kind of pictures the Stabby Women might have on their wall. Perhaps of their ancestors or of past expeditions or something. Somehow, this image seemed to fit the brief.

1xRun: How long did the piece take?

Kid Acne:   Not long.

1xRun: What is unique about this piece?

Kid Acne:  It’s the 1st piece of work I’ve made with an American print house + a limited run of them are hand-finished.

1xRun: Why should people buy this piece/print?

Kid Acne:  Buy it if you like it.

1xRun: Describe these prints in one gut reaction word.

Kid Acne:  raw.

Run #00199 // Twins by Kid Acne

1xRun: When did you first start making art?

Kid Acne:  I’ve made art for as long as I can remember. My brother and I used to draw comic strips when we were kids. We’d cast ourselves as superheroes fighting crime and whatnot. I started painting graffiti and making fanzines when I was 12 and learned to screenprint when I was 15. It’s been steady rolling ever since.

1xRun: What was your first piece?

Kid Acne:  My first graffiti piece was in 1991. It’s said ‘graffiti’ and had a marker pen outline. It was pretty awful. The first piece I exhibited was in a group show 1996 in a show called Graffiti Bastards. I screenprinted my artwork on tissue paper, layered and collaged with spraypaint on canvas. I still like that one in fact.

1xRun: What artists inspired you early on?

Kid Acne:    When i first got into graffiti I was most inspired by SOLO ONE, a local writer who was up everywhere. He took me to do my first tracksides and taught me a lot about painting on a larger scale. He also took me to the graf jams in Selly Oak, Birmingham where I met national and international writers such as Jon One, A One, Sharp, Part 2, Chu, She One, RCF, Stormie, Dreph. The list goes on. That really opened my eyes and by the mid 1990’s I met Mode 2, Futura, Delta and realized how important it was to have your own style. From 1995 onwards I’d say that’s what I’ve strived for most – to have my own style.

Solo One

1xRun: What artists inspire you now?

Kid Acne: I would say I’m still inspired by the same people I was back when I first started. My brother has been a big influence on me as well as my close friends.  I also admire the work of Quentin Blake, Ramm:Ell:Zee, Boris Vallejo and Frank Frazetta. I like people who have their own take on things and don’t follow trends.

Quentin Blake

1xRun: Do you listen to music while you work? If so what? If not then what is your environment like when you work?

Kid Acne:  I can’t work without music. I’ll play anything so long as it gets me in the right mind set. Compilations and mixtapes work best for me. I highly recommend anything by CHERRYSTONES. He’s always got a very good selection.

Photos by Theo Simpson

Photos by Theo Simpson

1xRun: If you could collaborate with any living artist who would it be and why?

Kid Acne:  I’m happy to paint with anyone who has their own style and a positive outlook.

1xRun: If you could collaborate with any deceased artists who would it be and why?

Kid Acne:  Same as above.

Photos by Theo Simpson

Photos by Theo Simpson

1xRun: What was the first piece of art that you bought? Do you still have it?

Kid Acne:  It was a canvas by EINE. Yes – I still have it.

1xRun: What was the last piece of art that you bought?

Kid Acne:  A piece by HORPHE.

Horphe

1xRun: What else do you have in the works?

Kid Acne:   I’m working on a short animated series due for broadcast later this year. I’m also making some music again after a 6 year hiatus. Other than that – more exhibitions, fanzines, prints etc…

1xRun: Where can people find you on the internette?

Kid Acne: Website – Facebook – Twitter  –

-1xRUN

Askew One Is Stranded

“Askew One is a multi-disciplinary artist mostly renown for his graffiti art paintings. Widely regarded as one of the New Zealand graffiti scene’s driving forces he has managed to remain at the forefront of the movement whilst working tirelessly behind the scenes in a diverse array of projects.

A restless personality, a touch of ADD mixed with a childhood amidst the 80’s sugary-diets, TV parenting and general explosion of mass pop-culture shaped Askew during his formative years. His work draws greatly from New Zealand’s geographical isolation and it’s subsequent desire to feel inclusion through pop-cultural appropriation. He is particularly intrigued in how trends mutate and break beyond being a caricature of their source. He is currently focussed on helping re-define the New Zealand graffiti aesthetic along with his main contemporaries, members of TMD, RTR and GBAK crews. Steeped in the foundation and tradition of ‘NYC Subway’ influenced graffiti, Askew wishes to see writing thrive in New Zealand, evolve past mere imitation or what he terms ‘Karaoke Painting’.” – via Askew One

Askew For The Detroit Beautification Project

Here for his 3rd RUN with us, we are excited to present a print birthed on the tables here at the 1xRUN offices from Askew, his latest Stranded, comes in 4 colorways. Read on to see tons of mural flicks, videos and the 1xRUN Thru with Askew.

The Detroit Beautification Project Preview from TheSeventhLetter on Vimeo.

1xRUN Thru Interview

Stranded by Askew

1xRun: When was the piece drawn/created?

Askew:  May 3rd, 2012

1xRun: Tell us how the idea and execution came about?

Askew:  The idea came about after being stranded in the US on this recent trip. I appreciate the way all of the most prolific aspects of American pop culture are born from completely dysfunctional influences. Usually I feel like I’m on the outside looking in – whilst in the US, I felt like I was in the dead center of it all.

Askew For The Detroit Beatification Project

1xRun: What is unique about this piece?

Askew:  This piece features my unique style of hand painted typography.

1xRun: Why should people buy this print?

Askew:  Why not?

1xRun: Describe the piece/print in one gut reaction word.

Askew:  graphic.

Run #00248 // Stranded by Askew // Jun 25, 2012 – Jul 08, 2012

1xRun: When did you first start making art?

Askew:  From as soon as I could grasp something to make a mark.

1xRun: What was your first piece?

Askew:  I really don’t know.

1xRun: What artists inspired you early on?

Askew:    I was mostly inspired by comic book artists early on, especially Batman and 2000ad artists.

1xRun: What artists inspire you now?

Askew:  Shane Cotton, Chris Knox, Takashi Murikami, John Pule, Retna, Revok, Rime, Gregor Kregar and more…

RIME x MYLA x ASKEW x DABS x REVOK from Askew One on Vimeo.

1xRun: Do you listen to music while you work? If so what? If not then what is your environment like when you work?

Askew:  I listen to a lot of music – I listen to every genre. Need music in my life.

1xRun: What was the first & last piece of art that you bought? Do you still have them?

Askew:  I have only ever bought one piece of art – a wooden fish by Kozy & Dan. It’s super awesome.

1xRun: What else do you have in the works?

Askew:   Always keeping busy. Never not doing something.

SAVAGE ‘TWERK’ from Askew One (Ed. note: Check the video Directed & Edited by AskewOne)

1xRun: Where can people find you across the internette?

Askew:  Website – Facebook – Twitter – Vimeo

-1xRUN

Jukebox Cowboys Hit Detroit – Nychos & Flying Fortress Detroit Beautification Project Mural

Here for their debut RUN, Nychos, Flying Fortress and the Jukebox Cowboys, hit Detroit in early June to participate in the ongoing Detroit Beautification Project.  Joined by REVOK and RIME, the mural takes over a huge stretch in Detroit’s Eastern Market Area. Read on to see process photos from the mural and be sure to grab your print from this extremely limited debut RUN from the Jukebox Cowboys.

-1xRUN

Give Him A Mask & He Will Tell The Truth…

Initially recognised for his multi-layer street stencils and posters, Meggs has become a well respected member of Australia’s street art culture. With a background of graffiti, skateboarding, heavy metal and graphic design Meggs has developed his painting skills from street to galleries with a mixture of aerosol based character work and stencil based expressive canvases. Read on for more on Meggs including photos of past works and our short interview where Meggs talks about early influences, the first piece of art he bought and what else he has in the works and be sure to  check out Megg’s latest print The Truth which is available exclusively on 1xRUN.com.

1xRUN Thru Interview

The Truth by Meggs

1xRun: When was the piece drawn and created?

Meggs:  It was created for my ‘Inner Demons’ exhibition in London, June 2011.

1xRun: How did this piece come about?

Meggs:  ‘Inner Demons’ is an exploration of fears, desires and obstacles which each person faces within themselves. A demon is commonly represented as an undesirable evil, however when personal challenges are overcome these ‘demons’ can become empowered as a symbol of achievement and self-reflection. Meggs continues his observation of human dualities by combining demonic and human elements in expressive layered canvas works, photographic references and illustrated symbols.

1xRun: How long did the piece take?

Meggs:   1 week

1xRun: What is unique about this piece?

Meggs:  It’s the ‘hero’ artwork created for the ‘Inner Demons’ exhibition as it strongly symbolizes the idea behind this body of work and was therefore used for all promotional material and as a large scale print for the window of the exhibition space in London.

1xRun: Why should people buy this piece ?

Meggs:  This work symbolizes a progression in my work and was an exhibition that explored my ideas on duality and self-reflection a much deeper and more personal level.

1xRun: Describe the piece in one gut reaction word.

Meggs:  Symbolic.

1xRUN: When did you first start making art?
Meggs: I’ve been making ‘art’ in different forms, on-and-off, my whole life but my street-art habits took full flight in about 2003 and my move to take art more seriously probably happened around 2007.

1xRUN: What artists inspired you early on?
Meggs: All my fellow Everfresh artists: Sync, Rone, Reka, Phibs, Prism, Maktron,Wonderlust and the Tooth, of course. And many others like Brett Whiteley, Francis Bacon, Anthony Lister, Dave Kinsey, Craola, Dave Choe, Banksy etc.

Everfresh Collaboration Wall

1xRUN:What artists inspire you now?
Meggs: That’s a hard one but right now I’m really into the works of Dave Choe, Conor Harrington, Blu, Kid Zoom.

1xRUN: Do you listen to music while you work? If so what?
Meggs: Definitely, I couldn’t work without music. Usually it’s metal or punk or something fast as well as atmospheric soundtrack stuff and 80’s style synth instrumental. So many bands but to mention a few right now I’d say Russian Circles, Tool, Zombie, Suicidal Tendencies, The Bronx etc…

1xRUN: What was the first piece of art that you bought? Do you still have it?
Meggs: Does a big print of an airbrushed Lamborghini Countach in the 80’s count?

1xRUN: What was the last piece of art that you bought?
Meggs: The Toshikazu Nozaka tattoo on my right calf. Inevitably I’ll keep that for life!

Toshikazu Nozaka

1xRUN: What else do you have in the works currently?
Meggs:  I have an upcoming solo exhibition at WhiteWalls Gallery, San Francisco, opening 14 July 2012, followed by a solo exhibition at Backwoods Gallery, Melbourne, opening 10 October 2012.  Also, I’ve had a recent tee release with AnyForty UK.

1xRUN: Where can people find you across the internette?

Meggs:   Twitter/Instagram – @houseofmeggs

-1xRUN

 

gilf! Drops Her Hand-Embellished Equality Prints

gilf! is an up and coming street artist working and living in Brooklyn. On a fast moving train to a neon-streaked unknown, the global community hangs on to the teetering semblance and imprint of a world that is crumbling. The facade that shields our awareness is something worth illuminating and discussing. At once powerful and playful, the street artist Gilf! is focused on creating positive change through her work.  Motivated by the idea of inspiring people who she will never meet, and breathing hope into many of these issues, her goal is to create art that provokes thoughtfulness and motivates a change of the zeitgeist. A portion of each sale is donated to a charity specific to that image, when applicable, which allows the collector to take an active approach to the world around us.

The Young Professional: Gilf from Stink Grenade Studios on Vimeo.

Here for her debut RUN with us New York City street artist gilf! has brought us her hand-embellished detailed Empower Equality. Read on for the exclusive 1xRUN Thru Interview with gilf! where she discusses her debut RUN, past influences and more…

1xRUN Thru Interview

Empower Equality by gilf!

1xRun: Materials printed on/drawn with?

gilf!:   This is a 5 color screen print on archival paper- I will be adding EVOLVE with water based markers.

1xRun: When was the piece drawn/created?

gilf!:  November 2011

1xRun: Tell us how the idea and execution came about?

gilf!:  It was created in response to New York state passing the Marriage Equality Act in 2011, right before Gay Pride weekend. The fist is best known for the Black Power movement of the 1960s in America. While it represented unity within the race, it originates back to 1930s Germany. This symbol was first used by the Communist Party in Germany. It was a symbol that the party members would display to one another to show their unity against Hitler.  The current tertiary rainbow colors represent all walks of life and my belief that all people should be given equal rights. It is time that all people are treated equally in this country- not just the people in power. Hence the title, Empower Equality.

gilf!  – Empower Equality

1xRun: How long did the piece take?

gilf!:   Each embellishment takes about 40 minutes. The concept took about 2 weeks to tweak to perfection. Getting it printed took about 3 weeks.

1xRun: What is unique about this piece?

gilf!:  Each piece is different with respect to the embellishments. I’ve hand drawn the word EVOLVE from left to right, and right to left. EVOLVE spelled backwards is EVLOVE- so a few people will think I’m writing LOVE over and over again. There are multiple color ways of this marker embellishment, so I estimate that EVOLVE is written around 800 times per print.

gilf! – Empower Equality

1xRun: Why should people buy this piece/print?

gilf!:  It is a symbol of our time, our future, and where we should be as a society. It represents a progressive way of thinking and being. Regardless of sexual orientation this piece shows that all should be empowered, all are equal, and that unity above all else is what creates the world we strive for.

1xRun: Describe the piece in one gut reaction word.

gilf!:  EVOLUTION.

Run #00253 // Empower Equality by gilf!

1xRun: When did you first start making art?

gilf!:  Went to art school as a way to pass the time before grad school for automotive design. Automotive design wasn’t my thing. I came back to art to make work for the streets because I felt the need to express my feelings based on all the crazy shit going on in the world. I never had a studio practice before I was cutting stencils for the streets.

1xRun: What was your first piece?

gilf!:  My first street piece was a little owl that said love life in Freeman’s Alley in New York City.

Freeman Alley

1xRun: What artists inspired you early on?

gilf!: Banksy, Swoon, Nick Walker & C215. Swoon was the reason I started making street art. There was a swoon by my apt and I walked by it everyday- it was on this gorgeous bright blue door. I was in awe of it. It caused a spark in me, I realized if her work can inspire me I could inspire others with mine.

Swoon

1xRun: What artists inspire you now?

gilf!:  Ai Weiwei, Do-ho Suh, Know Hope, Mark Jenkins, Banksy and Boxi.

Ai Wei Wei

1xRun: Do you listen to music while you work? If so what? If not then what is your environment like when you work?

gilf!:  There is always music on in the studio. It varies, but lately it’s been a lot of Brazilian samba, Elza Soares, Marcelo D2, Seu Jorge etc. I love opening all the windows and blasting happy music- keeps me focused.

1xRun: If you could collaborate with any living artist who would it be and why?

gilf!:   Maurizio Cattelan, he’s a prankster I think it would be fun to put our brains together to create something hilarious. I also look to collaborate with other creative industries like water conservations, architects, and industrial designers.

Maruizio Cattelan

1xRun: If you could collaborate with any deceased artists who would it be and why?

gilf!:  Eva Zeisel, her forms always enchant me. Alphonse Mucha, his work is so lyrical and completely opposite of mine I like to see opposite styles work together.

Eva Zeisel

1xRun: What was the first piece of art that you bought? Do you still have it?

gilf!:  I bought a black and white photograph of the Northern Lights when I was 18. I was leaving for college the next day, and wanted something to remind me of home. It’s here somewhere, buried in a box.

1xRun: What was the last piece of art that you bought?

gilf!:  A “KEEP ON GRASS” piece from Skewville. It’s nailed to my wall above my sofa, next to a few “bricks” he gave me as a parting gift, a DEKRD that was wheat pasted to my wall and my thermostat that has a sticker of Kim Jong Il slapped to it.

Skewville

1xRun: What else do you have in the works?

gilf!:   Hendershot Gallery (re)print show- open thru August 15th.  I have a solo show on June 26 at Gallerie Swanstrom in Soho. I’ll also  be working on a lot of large permission walls this summer and will continue creating 3d street art with fabric, moss, and whatever else I can play with.  I  may also be coming to Detroit to do a 3D install at a friend’s lot.

1xRun: Where can people find you across the internette?

gilf!:  Website – Facebook – Twitter – Instagram

-1xRUN

 

Queen Andrea’s Ode To The Vandal(s)

As a young adult, Queen Andrea befriended some of the most prolific old school graffiti writers, and also earned her BFA in Graphic Design from Parsons. She then began a successful career, working for worldwide brands who appreciate both the urban creative flavor of her work and her versatile and passionate knowledge of typography, branding and visual communication. Andrea has spent 18 years perfecting her graffiti and typography skills, as well as evolving her style into a burgeoning fine art career.

Back for her second RUN New York City graffiti writer Queen Andrea has brought us The Vandal.

1xRUN Thru Interview

The Vandal by Queen Andrea

 

1xRun: Is the original still for sale?

Queen Andrea:  This art was created digitally, so it only lives as this crisp limited edition print run.

1xRun: When was the piece drawn/created?

Queen Andrea:  Earlier this year, it popped into my mind and had to go for it. Such a bold and bombastic design about the vandals in my life.

1xRun: Anything immediate you would like us to highlight?

Queen Andrea: I love working in old school New York signpainter lettering style. This poster take things a step further by focusing on vandalism, in a classic signpainter style and comes with matching stickers! What’s a vandal without a surface to mark? Both the print and sticker are super crisp and the colors are bold and vibrant.

Queen Andrea

1xRun: Tell us how the idea and execution came about?

Queen Andrea:  We all know that graffiti is daring and dangerous and I somehow wanted to capture this in a typography work. “The Vandal, Too Hot to Handle” is a lyric from ‘Protect Ya Neck’ by the Wu-tang Clan. My signpainter style lettering has a New York City flavor and the usage of a bold, hot red color just pops and is really loud. I wanted to create a piece that would shout! While I’m not a dedicated bomber these days, unlike some of my friends, I’m a notable piecer with great handstyles. This poster is dedicated to all the hardcore vandals in my life. It’s meant to celebrate their hardcore struggles and triumphs as mysterious, rebellious vandals who are truly “too hot to handle”. Their marks own the streets.

1xRun: How long did the piece take?

Queen Andrea:  This piece took about 20 hours to create.

1xRun: What is unique about this piece?

Queen Andrea:  This is a super fresh ode to original hip hop lyrics, vandalism and old school signpainter typography, all in one! The matching sticker enhances the vandalism theme.

1xRun: Why should people buy this piece/print?

Queen Andrea: To celebrate vandals! Whether it’s tagging, stencils or murals, vandals are captivating.

1xRun: Describe the piece/print in one gut reaction word.

Queen Andrea:   Illegal.

1xRun: When did you first start making art?

Queen Andrea: I became involved with graffiti as a pre-teen and began writing graffiti at 14 years old. As I explored and refined my fascination with letter-forms and graffiti styles, I also developed a strong interest in graphic design and illustration, which I explored throughout college and earned a BFA in Communication Design. My design, illustration, typography, mural works and fine art practices have steadily evolved together, but my fine art has presently become my prominent focus.

1xRun: What was your first piece?

Queen Andrea: I’ve been drawing since I was a young kid and my parents are artists, but my first real graffiti piece was on a wall next to Lucky Strike on Grand Street in Soho, right near the loft where I grew up. The wall was across the street from the studios of the legendary Videograff Productions and photographer Henry Chalfant. I was 14 years old and just learning graffiti, but I was committed and dedicated to learning the art of letter style, from that early age. My passion for the spirit of graffiti and street art spawned my interest in design, poster art and illustration, which I eventually developed into a career as a recognized Graphic Designer.

1xRun: What artists inspired you early on?

Queen Andrea: Early on I was inspired by the master painters and modern art that I saw at museums and galleries, growing up in NYC. During my graffiti career I sought out new inspiration by old school graffiti artists and b-boys such as Lee, Lady Pink, Doze Green, Kase2, Sento, and later by crews such as TC5, RIS, XTC, FC, COD, AOK and TFP. In the fine art realms, I was also inspired by Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstien, Keith Haring and the entire Pop Art movement.

TC5 Crew

1xRun: What artists inspire you now?

Queen Andrea: These days I’m inspired by so many new street artists, who weren’t popularly known even in the 1990’s. Street art is really exploding these days. In terms of graffiti, I’m very inspired by The Seventh Letter and MSK crews, and as always, TFP crew and other original NYC graffiti crews. In the fine art realms I love artists such as Frank Stella, Keith Haring, Damien Hirst, Murakami, Emilio Pucci, and more contemporary artists such as Espo, Dalek, Maya Huyak, Morning Breath, the Barnstormers, Doze Green and many others…

1xRun: Do you listen to music while you work? If so what? If not then what is your environment like when you work?

Queen Andrea: I always listen to music while working, I have an amazing library of hip-hop and 70’s funk music, as well as 80’s and 90’s hip hop, and current indie hip hop. I listen to WeFunk Radio almost every day, it’s a gem.

Queen Andrea at Art Basel 2011

1xRun: If you could collaborate with any living artist who would it be and why?

Queen Andrea: A few. Shepard Fairey, members of The Seventh Letter crew, Frank Stella, or the Guerilla Girls. I deeply admire Shepard’s mastery of concept, composition, execution and the overall meaning of his works. The Seventh Letter crew includes some incredible typographers and graffiti writers such as Revok, Norm and Retna, who are masters of their craft. The Guerilla Girls are advocates and artists who fight for equal rights for women in the fine art world, and I truly resonate with their mission, as a female artist myself. Frank Stella’s incredible abstract expressionist geometry works and shaped canvases are some of the most innovative works I’ve ever seen.

1xRun: If you could collaborate with any deceased artists who would it be and why?

Queen Andrea: Andy Warhol or Roy Lichtenstein, both were incredible pioneers of major pop art styles and themes, which continue to be revered today.

1xRun: What was the first piece of art that you bought? Do you still have it?

Queen Andrea: I’m not a huge art collector, but I trade with fellow artists.

1xRun: What else do you have in the works?

Queen Andrea: So far this year I’ve released 4 limited edition posters, new stickers, debuted my online shop, and released a large custom toy collaboration with Kidrobot. Later this year, I’m debuting my new t-shirt line called SuperFresh, as well as more limited edition prints. I also have a solo show opening on July 11th, 2012 at Fuse Gallery in New York City, where I’ll be showing my new paintings, large-scale typography works, multimedia art and a large group of screenprints and giclee prints.

I will also be traveling to different cities for graffiti events and painting murals all over NYC throughout 2012.

1xRun: Where can people find you across the internette?

Queen Andrea: Website – Store – Blog

-1xRUN.com

 

A Hand-Embellished Matter With Justin Lovato

Justin Lovato is a working painter from Sacramento. He currently resides in Berkeley, California. He creates dreamlike, ethereal landscapes that reflect his thoughts on nature and our relation to it, human belief systems, the psycho-political-control system, multidimensional concepts, and esoteric symbolism.

Justin Lovato’s work has been shown throughout the world in cities including Portland, OR, San Francisco, CA, Los Angeles CA, Miami FL, Washington DC, New York and Moscow, Russia. A self taught artist, Lovato’s method is more instinctive than learned and more evolved than trained.  Through the use of visual communication Lovato applies contrasting opposites, creating an illustrative narrative that aims to capture the movement of ideas and philosophy, people and the detachment from the systems within which we are confined, exploring the ideas of passing and dissolving memory, experience, dreams and expansion of awareness through a personal image mythos mixed among archetypal esoteric symbolism that draws from our past and collective human experience.

Justin Lovato

1xRUN Thru Interview

Matter by Justin Lovato

1xRun:  What materials was the original printed on or drawn with?

Justin Lovato: The original is layered watercolors and ink, starting soft and building up until I define it further with harder line work. I will be hand embellishing each print using similar materials.

1xRun: When was the piece drawn and created?

Justin Lovato:  2012, it was created for a small show in my hometown of Sacramento. A couple friends from Heckler magazine did a video piece on the show, which features the piece briefly here:

1xRun: Tell us how the idea and execution came about?

Justin Lovato:  The piece is hinting at the contrast between the humble origins of the ever unfolding complexity of the material world. The mountain with crystals growing out of it is resting on delicate looking structures that look like proteins and micro organisms, contrasting with straight lines and geometry found between the crests of these natural curves.

1xRun: How long did this piece take?

Justin Lovato:   It took about 25 hours roughly.

1xRun: What is unique about this piece?

Justin Lovato:  It represents a new path in my imagery towards a focus on the natural world and a dissolvement of some of my previous focus on figurative representational characters.

1xRun: Why should people buy this piece?

Justin Lovato:  Money is representative of your energy. If you can spare the money to give in exchange for a piece of art that reaches out to you in a unique way, that allows me to create more of these images via your sacrificed representational energy. Only buy it if it speaks to you.

1xRun: Describe the piece in one gut reaction word.

Justin Lovato:  Matter.

Run #00250 // Matter by Justin Lovato

1xRun: When did you first start making art?

Justin Lovato:  I first started drawing as far back as I can remember, but I started doing it more consistently and pushing myself to improve at around 18.

1xRun: What was your first piece?

Justin Lovato:  My first drawing I remember was a bear from when I was 4. I used to obsessively copy super heros out of my comic books too though. Around 18 I made my first wood panel to paint on. I painted characters and words and whatever may have flowed out. I probably used ink, spray paint and house paint because that’s the materials I could scrounge up at the time.

1xRun: What artists inspired you early on?

Justin Lovato:    Todd McFarlane was a huge influence when I was a kid. The only art I really cared about was in comic books really. At about 12, I discovered writing graffiti and tagging, so my main focus was stealing markers and paint to do that, and my influences were graffiti writers. Not that I was getting up in any significant way, that’s just what really got me excited, the act of illegal art. Later it was those people who had made a transition into the art world, mainly the San Francisco 90’s mission movement that had me stoked to keep making art. I remember making pilgrimages into San Francisco at 15 years old to take as many photos as I could fit on a disposable camera of any famous bombs murals or tags I could find of KR, Amaze, or Twist, Giant, and so on.

Todd McFarlane

1xRun: What artists inspire you now?

Justin Lovato:  I am inspired by so many artists. For a while I was obsessed with medieval era esoteric paintings, alchemical paintings and things like that. I love cave art, and primitive art. Right now I’m really feeling The Further Collective. I also love psychedelic art like Alex Grey. There’s really too many inspiring artists, anybody pushing the boundaries of their own capabilities, I enjoy following. Right now the most inspiring artist to me is nature. I just got back from backpacking in desolation wilderness in the Tahoe California area.

The Further Collective

1xRun: Do you listen to music while you work? If so what? If not then what is your environment like when you work?

Justin Lovato:  I have been listening to Balam Acab, Black Moth Super Rainbow, John Coltrane, Alice Coltrane and lots of stuff. I also listen to a lot of audio books and podcasts. My favorite new podcast is Startalk radio with Neil Degrasse Tyson. I also love the Psychedelic Salon podcast. I am in the middle of a Richard Dawkins book, “The Greatest Show on Earth.”

ASS POP by BALAM ACAB

1xRun: If you could collaborate with any living artist who would it be and why?

Justin Lovato:  I would want to collaborate with Andy Goldsworthy. I think that man is a genius and I want to be in nature more.

Andy Goldsworthy

1xRun: What was the last piece of art that you bought?

Justin Lovato:  Sadly I haven’t really been able to buy a significant art piece. The only art I own have been the result of trades. I think my favorite trade has been a Jay Howell and Jason Vivona collaboration painting on paper.

1xRun: What else do you have in the works?

Justin Lovato:   I will be in Pangea Seed’s Summer 2012 art tour with a great line up of artists. It’s an art show raising environmental awareness focusing on sharks, sharking and it’s effects on the eco system. Great cause.

Later this year in September I am in a two man show at 111 Minna gallery in San Francisco with an amazing artist named Scott Greenwalt. I’m very excited about this one!

1xRun: Where can people find you across the internette?

Justin Lovato:  Website – Facebook – Twitter –

-1xRUN