This month sees urban art fever return stronger than ever as the world descends upon London for the twice annual urban art auctions held by Bonhams and Dreweatts.
As with past auctions, these offer a serious leg-up to any emerging artist that is featured.
In previous years we’ve seen the likes of Banksy’s reputation as protagonist to the urban art movement cemented and the names of Nick Walker, D*Face and Blek le Rat brought to a mainstream audience, but the big question is who’s next. Here’s a glimpse into a couple of the rising stars set to feature.
Mau Mau’s been producing work for over a decade now with his artworks produced on everything from shipwrecks to surfboards to billboards to the street artists preferred choice, the wall. Over the last decade he has established a reputation from the environmental and politically astute threads that run through his work. His art is described as bitterly topical with a tongue-in-cheek sweetener. Both the petrol signs are executed on genuine retro petrol station signs (collectable in their own right) and feature spray paint and gloss paint. They are all signed on the reverse and are unique.
Eelus is another artist that has been turning heads and is widely credited as one of the early artists to introduce many to mainstream urban art. He has a darkly twisted and humorous outlook on life and pumps this into his art. He has a background in design and illustration and has street pieces dotted all over the world. Additionally he has exhibited at all of the famous Santa’s Ghetto’s of the past and featured strongly at the Cans Festival, London. ‘Sinner’ and ‘I Said I’m Happy (What More Do You Want)’ are both signed limited edition silkscreens and both are editions of 200.
