02.04.2010

Max Grundy

ART COLLABORATION: Wasteland, Koa Pocket Rocket, Fleetwood

WEBSITE: maxgrundy.com

Max Grundy has been a painter, illustrator, and graphic designer for the majority of his life and an art teacher for over a decade. His phobia and  hot rod theme artwork is shown throughout the world.

Conceptually, his work is based in America’s love affair with fear and its consequential phobias. The most effective images to motivate people and get a reaction are images of fear. Fear motivates people to do something or stop doing something. Media uses fear tactics on a daily basis to tell us a variety of fallacies; that germs threaten the lives of our children, or perhaps that our social status depends on the degree of whiteness of our teeth. The news, as well as advertising, seems to exploit human beings’ desire for shock value. In short, FEAR IS THE NEW BEAUTY.

Formally, he is interested in vintage poster design around WWII (sci- fi, B-movie, comic book covers and propaganda).  He admires its use of unusual perspective, limited color palette, dramatic text and design to create maximum effect. He believes this style has the ability to reach out and grab a viewer because of its economical graphic quality.

His purpose in creating images of fear and phobias is an attempt to defuse the power of fears that are used against the public by the media.

02.04.2010

Marka 27

ART COLLABORATION: Roundhouse, Bamboo Blunt

WEBSITE: marka27.com

Marka 27 is prolific artist who is never confined to one medium. His graffiti has been seen in high profile galleries throughtout the east and west cost and has shown along side artist such as Futura, and Sam Flores. His street murals/graffiti have ben published in several lifestyle magazine and books, most recent “Graffiti Planet”, “Burning New York” and “Graffiti LA.” Marka 27 made his mark with his original “Audio Canvas” paintings with built in speakers, also his large speaker installations with legendary hiphop icons painted on the speaker boxes. The minigods are the latest manifestation from the restless mind of Marka 27. The first indigenous urban vinyl.

02.04.2010

Jeff Soto

ART COLLABORATION: Draft, Hybrid GT

WEBSITE: jeffsoto.com

Through striking visual imagery, Jeff Soto communicates profound visions and fears, nostalgia of his youth, and themes of love, lust, and hope. Soto’s distinct color palette, subject matter, technique and bold themes resonate with a growing audience. Inspired by childhood toys, the colorful lifestyle of skateboarding and graffiti, hip-hop and popular culture, Soto’s representational work is simultaneously accessible and stimulating.

Environmental issues also take precedent for Soto, who is concerned with conflict of humans trying to harness, or take advantage of nature. His paintings exude this tension, as robotic creatures duel, organic tentacles and flower bouquets thrive, and black smog looms amidst floating, ominous skulls.

In 2002, Soto graduated with Distinction from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. He currently lives in Southern California, with his wife Jennifer and daughter Shannon.