Art Talk – PEACE aka Only Upwards aka The Man of a Thousand Names

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There are your run of the mill writers and then there are guys like PEACE.

PEACE does it all: trains, walls, canvases, stickers… hell, he’d write on anything. In any style. In any way. At any damn time. And refreshingly, he is unashamed to both follow the usual rules of graffiti and break them as he sees fit. He will paint a train one night, then host his own art show the next. He will gain major cred through one name, then drop it and move onto another to push himself.

(Picture below of some art by PEACE)

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With ole PEACE constantly moving, changing and as discussed, writing; now is the perfect time to get to know the lad, by reading the Art Talk interview below… Keep reading

Art Talk – Michael Bennett aka ‘Ink Mike’ aka ‘Inkboy’

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Michael Bennett aka ‘Ink Mike’ is a young Australian artist and designer fresh on the scene yet already gaining fans, press and a bursting at the seams portfolio. His work is technical, fun, vibrant and flowing over with Mike’s boundless personality.

(Picture below of some art by ‘Ink Mike’)

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Mike talks of creating from a very young age, specifically drawing to impress classmates at primary school. When asked for a pivotal artistic experience, Mike mentions being drawn to Alex Pardee during his teen years, and lately drawing major inspiration from Australia’s own ‘Boy Wolf’:

Alex Pardee because of his emotional rawness. His works’ insanity taught me that as long as my art was an extension of my personality then I could do no wrong.

Boywolf has taught me that a brand can be a complete extension of your personality, and to never to create something because you think other will like it or it will sell, but because its what you wanted to make; and basically just go nuts till they dig what you’re doing.”

With Mike new to the scene, yet producing art at an amazing pace – now is the perfect time to get to know the man, his art and life, by reading the Art Talk interview, below….

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Art Talk – Paul Gonsalves aka ‘Ghosts in my Ramen’

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Paul aka ‘Ghosts in my Ramen’ is an American born n based artist making major waves in the pop art and zine worlds. His politically charged art mixes tropes from manga, with soft painting, illustration and a whole lot of pastels. A self described feminist, Paul uses both his art and his Monster Girl creation as a vehicle for the ideas of self love, inclusion, community and the beauty of bodily functions.

(Picture below of Paul aka ‘Ghosts in my Ramen’)

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With Paul’s Monster Girl creation spreading throughout the pop art subconscious, now is the perfect time to get to know the man and his art, by reading the Art Talk interview, below…

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Art Talk – Dr. John Beckmann of Stampede Press

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Dr. John Beckmann is an American biochemist and artist creating highly technical and beautiful art evocative of the classic 19th century printmakers such as Otto Dix, Albrecht Durer, William Blake et al. Works that are violent, full of movement, ethereal, beautiful and wholly unique.

Interestingly John references that bastion of modern nerd culture, ‘Magic the Gathering’ as a major influence on his art as well.

(Picture below of some art by John)

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With John constantly creating and pushing himself artistically now is the perfect time to get to know the man, his love for science and his art, by reading the Art Talk below…
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 Art Talk – Russ Morland aka ‘LURK’

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Russ Morland is a Canadian based artist and tattooist who became possessed by the seemingly benign creature LURK years ago. Scientists are not sure of the origin of LURK. Or whether it brings ill will or positivity to the world. All that is known is that when under the power of LURK there is no more Russ. No more tattooing. Only LURK.

(Picture below of some art by LURK)

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With LURK showing no sign of abandoning Russ’ body and psyche any time soon, now is the perfect time to get to know this artistically prevalent entity from parts unknown, by reading the Art Talk interview, below…

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Art Talk – Dan Heyer

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Dan Heyer is an Australian born n based artist working primarily in the mediums of illustration, comic and sculpture. His art sitting within the underground comic realm of R.Crumb, Gary Panter and Dan Clowes and the Australasian influences of people such as Murray Ball (of ‘Footrot Flats’ fame), Reg Mombassa and Norman Lindsay – It’s gloopy, smelly, wild and can veer between an almost photographic realism to complete cartoon absurdity

When asked to describe the reasons for his art, Dan states that it is an undeniable autobiographical drive:

“Inasmuch as it’s the reason I can’t live without it now, I assume I started into it as a little dingus because I’ve forever been in constant conversation with myself. If the output amounts to that same conversation for anyone receiving it, the less people I need to get around to explaining myself to.”

(Picture below of some art by Dan)

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With Dan only just at the beginning of what we are sure will be a promising career, now is the perfect time to get to know the man and his art, by reading the Art Talk interview below…

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Art Talk – Headache Stencil artist and owner of ‘Street of the Third World’

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Headache Stencil is a Thai born street artist and owner of apparel brand ‘Street of the Third World’.

Headache first came to Art Whore’s attention back in 2014. He was in town and working with ole YT on a mural in St Peters and we got a chatting. His energy, drive and boundless creativity being quickly evident. We have been following his blossoming career ever since.

(Picture below of some of Headache’s art in the wild)

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With Headache constantly travelling and working on his art and nascent apparel brand, now is the perfect time to get to know the man, by reading the Art Talk interview below…

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Art Talk – Mike Diana

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Mike Diana is an underground comics legend. Starting out in the underground mail order zine scene in the 80’s, Mike rose to worldwide prominence in the mid 1990’s thanks, in no part, to being convicted and gaoled for obscenity for his art – the first and so far only comic artist to befall such a fate!

Since then he has moved to New York and continued creating – exploring painting, developing his art and collaborating with people such as Kembra Pfahler, Bruce La Bruce, Richard Kern, Mike Kuchar and many others.

Interestingly, Mike references Dali, an early proponent of outrage and artistic freedom as a major inspiration. With Mike remembering childhood trips to the Dali museum in Florida as pivotal artistic moments:

“I enjoyed the nightmare like paintings, strange jewelry and even a hologram Dali made of singer Alice Cooper. I felt it inspired me to continue with my art, take it to new levels.”

(Picture below of some art by Mike)

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With Mike constantly working, and with a documentary about him in the works, now is the perfect time to get to know the man + his world, by reading the Art Talk below…

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Art Talk – Corinne Halbert

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Corinne Halbert is an American artist hailing from Chicago who first came to Art Whore’s attention thanks to her ‘Hate Baby’ comic. ‘Hate Baby’ has been published at a steady pace sine 2009 slowly building an ever increasing readership and fan base.

Corinne’s art traverses many styles and mediums – from paintings, to stickers, prints, zines and comics – with themes of violence, sex, perversion, the body and humor found throughout. Creepy meets cute.

Interestingly, Corinne hails outre legend Mike Diana as a pivotal influence – with Corinne stating:

Seeing Mike Diana’s comics for the first time made me realize you can really say whatever you want with your art. I had at times felt like maybe my stuff was too dark or disturbing for anyone to like it.

It was a really awesome feeling to look at drawings that were so incredibly awesome and so fucked up, it helped me to feel ok with the things that I was drawing.

(Picture of Corinne below)

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With Corinne constantly pushing her art at a furious pace, and her first solo show just behind her, now is the perfect time to get to know Corinne and her art, by reading the Art Talk interview below…

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Art Talk – Spider Death

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(Picture above of Spider tattooing by @rol_or_die)

James aka ‘Spider Death’ is an Australian artist, tattooist and musician. A self described vagabond, Spider travels constantly around the globe: Russia, Japan, America and all over his native country of Australia to name a few. He is a soft and considered speaker, who explodes into a fireball of rage and energy when on stage singing. Attributes which are evident in his art.

Working primarily in black and white – Spider’s tattoos and art involve themes of violence, bondage and criminality. With references from classic illustration, Russian criminal tattoo, Japanese art and wood block printing.

(Picture below of a tattoo by James)

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With Spider only recently unveiling his most recent band ‘Death Church’ and constantly pushing his art and tattooing, now is the perfect time to get to know the man, by reading the Art Talk below…

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