retna

Modern Hieroglyphs

Man has been painting on walls, clothing, artifacts, and himself (or herself) since the beginning of time. Kids and grownups alike can’t resist the idea of a big blank wall and a crayon, even though their moms or the law have threatened consequences if they dare use those walls as big canvases. But these days, using almost everything as a potential canvas has not only become permissible; it’s become downright respectable.

Graffiti’s moment has come and designers are recruiting street taggers to customize even unexpected objects, turning them into functional works of art. Take a peek at how On Madison has paired ancient scripts with modern day items that are referencing these ancient languages in a fresh way.

Handwritten Japanese Katakanakatakana

Porter Teleo‘s “Signs and Signifiers” Hand Painted Wallpaperporter-teleo

Robert Loughlin‘s “The Brute” Chair via Casa Moderno

Laughlin-The-Brute-ChairPorter Teleo‘s “Tangled” Handpainted Wallcovering

Porter-Teleo-Tangled 1Ancient Pallava Script

Ancient-Pallava-Script

Kelly Wearstler & Shantell Martin Collaborationkelly-wearstler-+-shantell-martinEgyptian Hieroglyphs

Hieroglyphs

Los Angeles graffiti artist RETNA paints the Pasadena Museum of California ArtRetna-Pasadena

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In keeping on trend with the graffiti craze, On Madison has commissioned local graffiti artist Peter Lloyd Jones (aka GUTS) to customize a late 19th century Asian scroll table as well as a pair of mid-century French Bergere chairs. We’ll unveil the smashing results in a future blog post a few weeks from now. Stay tuned!

French-BergereScroll

 

 

THE WRITING’S ON THE WALL

Cave paintings, hieroglyphics, Renaissance frescoes.  Whatever the millennium, it seems humans have always loved drawing on walls.  There is something liberating about turning a blank, structural necessity into a visually stunning work of art.  The modern day canvas of choice has been any accessible side of a building or subway train, but graffiti artists are going uptown and taking their show indoors.

retna wall artphoto via W Magazine

Graffiti art has come into its own with a newly discovered popularity. Many artists are “tagging” everything from sculpture and skateboards to the most elegant of indoor spaces.  Here are few samples of graffiti that, for us, answers the question, is it graffiti or is it art?  Undoubtedly, it is both.

Keith HaringKeith Haring was best known for his graffiti-inspired drawings, which were first made in subway stations.  Influenced by the colorful graffiti art of the N.Y. city streets, Haring began filling in empty advertising panels on the subway station walls with quickly drawn pictures.

keith haring

Jean-Michel Basquiat was best known for his primitive style and his collaboration with pop artist Andy Warhol.  He first attracted attention for his graffiti in N.Y. City in the late 70’s, under the name “SAMO”.  He Tagged subway trains and Manhattan buildings with cryptic aphorisms.

Jean-michele-basquiatSantos CortezS.Cortes Basquiat Inspired Abstract Head Print II, Available at On Madison

Graffiti artist Retna creates work that blends photography with painted graffiti styling, taking influences from ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics as well as Arabic, Hebrew and Asian calligraphy.

retna

Angel Ortiz goes by the street name LAII.  During the early 1980’s he collaborated with Keith Haring on a number of works including canvases, sculpture and street arts.  Haring was greatly influenced by
LAII’s distinctive style.

Angel-Ortiz-Keith-HaringLAII pictured with Keith Haring.

Angel OrtizLa Roc, LAII (Angel Ortiz), Available at On Madison

Angel OrtizChillin’ LAII (Angel Ortiz), Available at On Madison

For art inquiries please contact On Madison

101 S. Madison Ave
Pasadena, CA 91101