Madre from Andrew Telling on Vimeo.

Sorry for all of the videos today guys, but at least they are something to watch during downtime at work. The latest features Word to Mother during his time at Fame Festival in Italy last year. Created by Andrew Telling, the video also has some guest appearances by Lucy Mclauchlan and Cypo & Kaf. Enjoy.

I discovered (and instantly fell in love with) Word To Mother when I was in London this past fall. I’m looking forward to Mallick Williams & Co.‘s upcoming Spectrum, a group show opening this Thursday, April 21, and continuing through June 3rd, 2011. Along with Word To Mother, featured artists include: Kiji McCafferty, Chor Boogie, Erik Otto,  Kate Pane and Lu Gold. The gallery — that recently featured the amazing Hueless exhibit – is located at 150 11th Avenue in Chelsea.

Image courtesy of Mallick Williams & Co.

BEST EVER X Deadleg in London

It’s been a crazy week in London. Moniker and all that. But here’s what has been going on with street art elsewhere:

• Okay, so I will mention one thing about Moniker: Graffoto seems to be the first to post a review, and what a review it is. Doubtless, Vandalog will be posting something in the coming days, but in the mean time, check out Graffoto to see all that Moniker goodness.
• Mudwig is part of the Meta Snout show opening today at High Roller Society in London.
• NYC graffiti legend Cost collaborated with the folks at Supreme on some t-shirts. They are available online now.
• Erica il Cane and Lucy McLauchlan painted a huge wall in Lisbon.
• JR is getting up at the Shanghai Biennale.
• Bumblebee’s first solo show looks really great. Way better than I had expected.
• I’ve tried twice to see Word To Mother’s solo show at Stolenspace, but they always seem to be closed when I am near the gallery. Photos look great though and I’ve only heard good things.
• Microbo is part of a two-man 2-person show at Galo Art Gallery.
• Old-school graffiti writer Duster UA has a solo show coming up in December at London Miles Gallery. Tickets are on sale now for a special event at the gallery during the show.

Photo by unusualimage

Word To Mother, an artist I enjoy as much for his tags and pieces as his completely different indoor work, has a solo show opening in a few weeks at StolenSpace Gallery in London. StolenSpace actually has a show opening this week about posters that have been in Don’t Panic packs, but WTM’s show is much more interesting to me, so I’m posting about that even though it’s not the next show at the gallery.

WTM’s Blind By Stardom opens on October 7th and runs through the 24th (so I’ll unfortunately miss the opening, but be back in town to at least see the show – more on my upcoming trip back to London soon). This will be his 4th solo show at StolenSpace, with the previous shows being very warmly received. I’d say it’s common for “street art fans” and “street art collectors” to have very different ideas of what is good, but Word To Mother seems to be one that everyone agrees about. Work at his shows sells quickly and the regular Thursday-night crowd are at the gallery for the art, not just the free beer.

I vaguely remember Word To Mother saying something to me last year at FAME Festival about how he was going to be changing things up for his next solo show. While I enjoy WTM’s work, I must admit that I kind of brushed this comment aside as the typical artist plugging himself and feigning growth, but clearly I was wrong. From what I’ve seen so far, these paintings are a step forward for Word To Mother both in style and content.

The themes behind Blind By Stardom are meant to be celebrity culture and how people consume media. This is definitely something that a lot of artists deal with, but WTM doesn’t seem to be as annoying about it as so many Banksy-wannabes (and even sometimes masters like Ron English) are. I’m looking at these paintings and getting the message, but I don’t feel like I’m beaten over the head with it.

This is one show not to miss, so make sure to stop by Stolenspace between October 7th and 24th.

Blind By Stardom opens October 7th from 6-9pm.

Photos courtesy of Stolenspace Gallery

As Fame Festival get closer, more and more work is popping up in Grottaglie. The latest are Wordtomother‘s walls and the making of an indoor piece for the gallery exhibit, as well as some pretty intricate black and white outdoor jobs by Lucy Mclauchlan. I cannot wait to see the work created for the gallery by the artists. Less than two months away guys!

Wordtomother

Wordtomother installation piece

Lucy Mclauchlan

Lucy Mclauchlan

All images by Fame Festival

A big thanks to Hooked for catching this one first. Not much of a surprise though: Word To Mother and Sickboy’s latest wall looks great.

I always love to see Word To Mother’s graffiti. Such a contrast from his gallery work (which I still tend to like).

For more like this, definitely check out the pieces that Word To Mother painted recently with Nylon.

Photos by Hooked

Finally we have pictures from the Stolenspace “Summer Group Show” in London last Thursday.  Not only was the event jam packed, but the original works were incredible. Below are just some of the photos from the opening, but you can visit Stolenspace to see all the pieces in the exhibit. Personally, I am really loving “Taking the Mickey” print by WordtoMother, O_scar (Beauty is Only Skin Deep) by D*Face, and “Rose” by Paul Alexander Thorton. I  just wish I had the opportunity to see many of these works in person, unlike RJ, who did. Jealous.

Photos by amillionpieces

Chloe Early "Rocketeers"

Shepard Fairey

All photos by amillionpieces
For other photos visit s-butterfly

Since graduating college a few months ago, I have been forced to find other ways to pregame on the weekends other than a recurring bad romance with Natural Light and terrible displays of beirut.  Now that I am an official adult, going to art openings to see some fantastic art and gulping down the free beer is a pretty appealing alternative.  I always look forward to the shows in the Summer time because so many people go to galleries on opening night (for the booze) that the shows seem to be featuring their highest caliber artists.  Or maybe I just think so because I am five feet tall and feeling woozy after a beer.

On July 1st, Stolenspace in London will be opening their Summer group show featuring some of the biggest names in the game.  When I hear “group show,” my mind jumps to art school end of the year culminations that exhibit an eclectic array of amateur art.  This show, however, is too cool for school.  Shepard Fairey, Wordtomother, D*Face, Kid Acne, Mr. Jago, Cyclops will have works hanging alongside artists (Miss Van, The London Police, and Chloe Early) who had solo shows at the gallery this past year.

Sadly, I still will not be in London until mid-August and will miss the entire show.  I swear some higher power does not want me to see Miss Van’s art in person. Sigh

Here’s the latest from Sickboy and Word To Mother. Cool stuff.

Photos by Savetheyouth

ukadapta have organized a group show in Tokyo that opens this week. Should be good. The line up is a varied of British urban art with Best Ever, D*face, Word to Mother, Luc Price/Cyclops, Matt Small and more.

Sickboy

More info from ukadapta:

Adapta Gallery’s third curated project will be held on November 12th – November 29th 2009, with a show in Tokyo called Close Encounters. The show consists of 8 British-based artists, including Best Ever, Cyclops, D*Face, David Bray, Matt Small, Sickboy, Word To Mother and Vesna Parchet.

The variety of work on show is eclectic, and that is precisely the reason why we chose them in the first place. From D*Face’s two-dimensional graphic art to the rich textures of emerging artist Vesna Parchet’s styled character-based paintings, a plethora of mediums, emotions and messages are employed for the viewer to digest.

This particular show is very close to our hearts as we are finally able to put together an amazing line up of artists to produce works for our Tokyo readers and Japanese collectors to see in person.  We have been interviewing and working on projects with so many talented British creatives over the years and to  finally curate our own show in Tokyo for our main audience is a true honour.

On the opening night, we will also have special guests: Usugrow, Jeff Soto, Shohei Takasaki, Yoshiki & Nagayama also showing their works.

Close Encounters

Exhibition venue : Time Out Gallery, Liquidroom 2/F, 3-16-6, Higashi, Shibuya-ku,Tokyo

Opening Date : 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm, 12 November, 2009

Exhibition runs  : 13 November 2009 – 3 December, 2009

In case you happen to be in Tokyo, there is a map on the show’s website.

Vensa Parchet

D*face

Best Ever

Photos courtesy of ukadapta