Street Art

Once again on my search for new and innovative art, I found something that peaked my interest. I came across a video interview with a NY artist named Joshua Allen Harris. The video is about how we got started doing what he does. In is work he creates these fairly large, inflatable creatures that fill up with air from the subway vents. It was something he just thought would be cool to try and has quickly became quite popular via the internet.

When making his work, he uses materials that are appear to be just trash (garbage bags and tape mostly) and shapes them into strange creatures. The work becomes interesting when the air fills up the creatures inconsistently, giving them life and animation. Each piece started out fairly simple, but as his popularity begins to grow he starts to create more and more complex pieces. In video, he unveils his newest piece, a large black monster made of trash bags.

It is interesting to see how art like this gets started. He has begun his road to fame with art without ever being hired, commissioned or getting in a gallery. He utilizes the street as his gallery space. It is only a matter of time before he starts getting grants and begins to create much more elaborate pieces. It will be interesting to see his work in a year or 2 and see what he is doing then.

It is amazing how the internet can shape an artists career. He never even put his work up himself, but some random people taking pictures and videos have caused his popularity to skyrocket. Perhaps this will inspire artists to really put their work out there. Although the internet is filled with a lot of crap art as well, it really can be an incredibly useful tool in getting yourself recognized. Joshua Allen Harris is certainly a name that I will remember now and I know I will show this to other people.