Greg Mike is a contemporary artist identified for his distinctive characters, daring avenue artwork, mural work, and Loudmouf icon, which blends vibrant designs with popular culture. Numerous murals have been painted by him in Atlanta, Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, and the Swiss Alps. To speak about his work and his upcoming solo present on the new ABV Gallery, Greg Mike joined us for an interview.
Are you able to inform us what guests can count on on the new ABV Gallery in East Atlanta this fall and the way it will differ out of your unique gallery within the Outdated 4th Ward?
Over the previous 4 years, I’ve been designing and growing the house to be like one thing by no means seen earlier than. The probabilities are countless. From large sculptures to murals to installations, something is feasible. Our previous house was solely 1500 sq. ft and the brand new house is 8500. With that being stated, bigger partitions for larger canvases, extra space for multi-sensory exhibitions and occasions and extra. We liked the final 15 years in our first location, however we’ve simply unlocked a brand new stage to satisfy and push our inventive goals. The house will function a retail store, a bar, an enormous gallery room, annex galleries, my non-public portray studio, our design studio for ABV AGENCY, and exterior partitions for murals. Be taught extra about it right here.
Your upcoming solo present on the new ABV Gallery is a retrospective of 15 years of your work. How did you choose the items to be featured, and what story do you goal to inform by means of this exhibition?
All of the items for the present will probably be new unreleased work. When it comes to a retrospective, it’s extra from a stylistic standpoint, the place I’m impressed by completely different types and moments from the final 15 years of my profession. It would function work, sculptures, restricted version prints, vinyl figures, merch, and extra. I’m using numerous completely different mediums and types to create this new physique of labor. The story is ongoing and I’m always constructing off the items I’ve created earlier than it. My work is at all times pushing positivity and expressions of ideas and feelings by means of colours and characters.
You’ve labored on some implausible mural items. What has been your most difficult mural challenge to this point, and the way did you overcome its challenges?
I feel one of the crucial difficult items was after I painted a 6 story constructing in Midtown Atlanta. The peak of the constructing wasn’t the one problem. Probably the most tough facet of the constructing was that it was solely accessible by a 60ft increase carry that wanted to be threaded by means of an alleyway. One improper transfer of the management switches and I’d have smashed into the neighboring constructing. There was solely about an 8ft hole between the buildings to string carry between. I used to be terrified and shaking the entire time whereas portray and imaging a automobile slamming into the carry to ship me flying within the air. I feel attributable to being tense and confused whereas portray I threw my again out whereas selecting up a can off the basket flooring. I needed to take a couple of days off as I may hardly stroll, not to mention paint. I pushed by means of and acquired it accomplished, however undoubtedly one of the crucial difficult installations to this point.
Concerning avenue artwork, what do you see because the position of avenue artwork and public artwork in as we speak’s society, notably in city environments?
Road artwork has essentially the most unbelievable manner of positively reworking a metropolis. Artwork makes individuals pleased, it makes individuals assume and may actually beautify clean and boring concrete brick partitions. I’ve typically heard individuals inform me they stay up for hopping of their vehicles on the best way dwelling from work and passing a mural because it places a smile on their face when seeing the brilliant colours and optimistic messages. I feel there’s a number of developments that each one look the identical and including the aspect of public artwork actually offers it character and provides a ton of worth to the panorama of a neighborhood. It’s nice seeing industrial builders incorporate murals into their initiatives. Over the previous few years we’ve seen a shift with the architects designing areas made for murals from the infancy levels of a challenge. That is actually particular and one thing I’d like to see extra of worldwide.
Your work typically incorporates daring colors and energetic characters. What conjures up the aesthetic selections in your artwork?
It’s all based mostly on emotions, a number of these which can be in my thoughts and I can’t talk simply with phrases alone. They should come out and the best manner for me to convey them is thru my colours and characters. I like including a contact of nostalgic components to my work that folks can relate to, which brings them again to a spot and time of happiness of their lives. On the finish of the day I need to create optimistic artwork that conjures up and makes individuals pleased. If I can encourage only one particular person or change somebody’s temper for a second then it’s a win in my guide.
Lastly, for those who may give some phrases of recommendation to aspiring artists, what would it not be?
I feel the largest factor I can say is to maintain going. There’s no secret components and it’ll take a decade to develop into an in a single day success. Create work every day, put it on the market and be a part of the artwork neighborhood. So long as you place within the hours to develop your fashion it should all work out. The timing proper now couldn’t be higher for artists and commissions with murals, collaboration initiatives, and the web. You simply want to start out and be relentless and hold creating. Don’t fear about your fashion or what you’re identified for as it will simply include time. You’ll hold belongings you like that work and stray away from issues that don’t. I’ve had tons of hurtles or occasions after I may have thrown within the towel and thought I’d by no means make it, however I knew I used to be doing what I liked and saved pushing ahead. Work exhausting, Keep Humble and most significantly, benefit from the trip.
