My friends, I am buying this right now and you should too…

For those lucky enough to be able to attend Kris Lewis’ opening this friday in Denver… please… go!

“Kris Lewis studied at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, before relocating to Los Angeles where he lives and works today. His work has been exhibited in galleries throughout the world, including exhibitions in San Francisco, New York, Miami, London and Hong Kong. His works have been featured in numerous publications and art magazines, and his painting, Sprung, is currently on the cover of American Art Collector Magazine, May 2011 issue.”

As a young man, I used to practice the art of graffiti. After a couple of arrests in high school & college I accepted I couldn’t run fast enough not to get caught and switched my focus from walls to paper. That being said, due to my upbringing, I’ve always had a super soft spot in my heart for graffiti. I still drive around town excitedly and anxiously looking for new throw-ups and murals in Toledo.

Along the way, I’ve put together a short list of my favorite graff artists. I’m not going to put them all down here, but I will say CYCLE is absolutely one of them. What’s funny is… while i’ve followed his work during visits to NY, and in magazine pages for YEARS… i’ve never thought to look him up online.

And what do you fucking know… he of course has a website of some of his latest and greatest works.

“Artists are themselves often as unique in their own looks and aesthetics, as their creations.  What better way to celebrate the beauty of artists, and their talents, then to have portraits of artists done by other artists!  We took twenty artists, gave them each an artist partner with the assignment of creating the other’s portrait.  The result: Twenty portraits of amazing artists, each done by another favorite artist, in a completely different style of art.”

Opening tonight at the Benjamin Benjamin gallery in Portland… this looks to be an amazing show!

Above, you’ll see Johnny Acurso‘s portrait of me, and my portrait of him!

… with Jesse Balmer

awesomely eclectic editorial & commercial work from Romania.

I like She‘s style… very reminiscent of a young, female, brazilian Bwana Spoons.