Fill up on some street art inspiration this holiday season with OFFSET talks from some of the masters in the industry. We’ve pulled together 5 of the most inspirational public art talks from our archive. But firstly delve into New York Street Art Collective, Faile, talking to Communication Designer at Facebook, Ji Lee, on a Second Room panel at OFFSET 2013.
1. JR | Search For Limits
French photographer and artist JR, who brought the house down with first his street art collaborative projects, and then his video work. His talk was literate, adult, captivating and altogether pretty amazing. He’s gone from strength to strength since 2013 with multiple outstanding projects including a cover of New York Times Magazine and the short film “Ellis” starring Robert De Niro.
2. Jeff Greenspan | F.Y.O.A.V.A.S.W.I.V.L.
“F.Y.O.A.V.A.S.W.I.V.L.”, in other words “Find Your Own Authentic Voice And Speak With It Very Loudly”. We guess you could say that Jeff Greenspan is an ideas man – and it’s good for Jeff that in a digital space that increasing crowded with dross and nonsense and cats, that great ideas stand out. He makes things that people love to share – things that are somehow ephemeral and meaningful at the same time (check out his Hipster Bear Traps and The World’s Most Exclusive Website and NYC Tourist Lanes, for starters). Formerly Buzzfeed’s Chief Creative Officer he now freelances with some of the world’s biggest brands and most significant creative agencies as they try to figure out what the hell people like these days. Jeff is one of the people that makes the internet not terrible.
3. Shepard Fairey | Keep pushing into the future.
OK, so some of the following might sound like hype but it’s not. We swear. An absurd sticker campaign, which began in 1989 in Rhode island, grew into a worldwide underground phenomenon, and then into a widely acclaimed body of fine art – Shepard Fairey‘s OBEY / GIANT graphic has become an icon of DIY counter-culture, punk rock and skateboarding and has changed the way that people see the relationship between art in galleries and street art. Mashing up zine- like imagery, with 1980’s wrestler André the Giant and John Carpenter’s They Live, Fairey’s images empower those who refuse to be manipulated by the machine of manufactured consent.
And then he did it again with the Obama HOPE portrait, which might end up being one of the defining visual works of the first half of this century. He’s been at the crest of Contemporary Art (Boston) recently honoured him with a full scale solo retrospective, which drew a record number of visitors for the museum.
4. Conor Harrington | It’s all about repetition.
A rare insight into Conor Harrington‘s expressive work from OFFSET 2012. Nimbly shimmying between galleries and side walks, Harrington produces astonishing, accomplished portrayals of 19th century subject matter, smashed in the face with a tin of Dulux and lashed on a wall. His work is iconic, powerful, dynamic and dramatic – and for once the adjectives aren’t hype. This Cork native has quietly become one of the hottest artists in the world. Conor is “interested in the dynamics between opposing elements”. We’re interested in Conor.
5. Steve ‘Espo’ Powers | Never say never, ever.
From Graffiti on the streets of Philadelphia and New York in the 80s and 90s to galleries in the 2000s, Powers has exhibited all over the world. He has often worked on cultural projects within urban communities – including in Dublin and Belfast – and recently returned to Philly to develop a series of murals entitled, A Love Letter For You You.