Nov 13, 2024

ABOUT THE CiTY...

URBAN ART, AND iT'S PLACE IN YOUR HOME...

Working from, with and about the city is the focus of the contemporary Urban Art movement. Arising in urban areas and made by city dwellers, urban art is concerned with architecture, pop culture and city lifestyle. While it crosses over with graffiti and street art, the Urban art movement aims to engage in a dialogue with the viewer, often using pop culture to encourage humorous conversations. An accessible art form, urban art communicates and provokes ideas among a range of audiences. Although traditionally associated with subcultures and rebellion, urban art has evolved to be more diverse - blurring the lines between street culture and contemporary art.

Join us as we explore the roots of the Urban Art movement and how it finds it's place in your home.

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About the Urban Art Movement

Artists like Banksy and Shepard Fairey have brought urban art to a global audience and expanded the meaning of what it can be, helping to grow the urban art movement into a respected and influential form of artistic expression. Famously, artists such as Jean Michael Basquiat and Keith Haring helped to bridge the gap between urban art and fine art spaces when they began showcasing their artworks in galleries.

Urban art has grown to challenge the exclusivity of traditional art scenes. Many artists don't follow conventional art career paths; instead, they come from diverse backgrounds and bring fresh perspectives and ideas (something we are always happy to see here at EDiT. Gallery!).

Scroll down to have a look at some of our most exciting artists who work from and with their urban environments...

NATHAN BOWEN

London-born and bred street artist Nathan Bowen transforms urban spaces into vibrant displays of creativity with his signature characters. Nathan’s “demon” characters, often painted on construction boards and other temporary surfaces, will be instantly recognisable to urban dwellers. Nathan extends his street art practice into originals that we sell here at EDiT. Gallery. You can see his demons come alive as well known icons. Check out this wicked Spice Girls original drawing.

Nathan's creative style is loose and energetic, reflecting the intensity of his urban surroundings. Rough pen marks and brushstrokes create a sense of urgency, and the rawness of his technique resonates with the chaotic and lively environment of London. Nathan embraces rebellion in his art practice, resisting constraints of traditional gallery norms. We have a series of No Loading signs from Nathan where he has used acrylic and ink on reflective road signs.

We love working with Nathan, and are delighted that our customers are able to take away his work for their own homes!

DAVE BUONAGUiDi

Another of our artists with his roots in urban art is the brilliant Dave Buonaguidi. Often working on found materials such as vintage maps, old photos and currency, Dave breathes new life into objects that are part of everyday urban experiences. Have a look at our latest NORF SARF release - a gold lettered edition. Dave’s work often involves screen printing bold messages and phrases that make social, political and humorous statements. Looking at Dave’s work, we are encouraged to think critically about modern life, consumerism, nostalgia and personal and collective identity. Dave’s work has a strong sense of rebellion and challenges us to consider the impact of urban culture.

jAYSON LILLEY

Jayson Lilley pushes the limits of printmaking with his cityscapes and object-based compositions. Jayson creates intimate depictions of urban life, often using culturally significant objects in his work; Monopoly boards, AZs and currency. This Hammersmith piece is a beautiful example of Jayson's silk screen printing onto original material - in this case an old £1 bank note.

Jayson’s work draws heavily on the visual language, culture, and landscapes of cities, particularly focusing on iconic urban landmarks and skylines.

Jayson works to take familiar urban icons and recontextualize them - often isolating them against new backgrounds. This reinvention is in line with the urban art movement’s tendency to transform familiar urban elements, encouraging viewers to see them from a new perspective.

KATE GiBB

The wonderful artist Kate Gibb works out of her print studio in Paddington and is a silk screen obsessive. Commercially renowned for her music sleeve artworks, including her long-standing relationship with The Chemical Brothers, Kate has most certainly got her finger on the pulse of cultural and urban developments. Her Hacienda screen prints pay homage to the iconic Hacienda nightclub in Manchester, capturing the culture, aesthetic and energy of British music and nightlife in the 1980’s. Her imagery speaks to the cultural and artistic identity of the Hacienda which, alongside being a club, became a cultural landmark for a generation of music lovers.

We love collaborating with such a variety of talented artists here at EDiT. Gallery - the artists included in this article are just a handful of the incredible people we work with. Pop into the gallery or have a browse online to get a feel of the work we offer.

OUR ARTiSTS