Urban Camouflage
Martin Whatson
Painting - 207 x 147.3 x 2.54 cm Painting - 81.5 x 58 x 1 inch
$45,000
Painting : aerosol paint, acrylic
132.08 x 132.08 x 2.54 cm 52 x 52 x 1 inch
Free returns within 14 days
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Type
Unique work
Signature
Hand-signed by artist
Authenticity
Sold with certificate of Authenticity from the gallery
Invoice from the gallery
Medium
Painting: aerosol paint, acrylic
Dimensions cm • inch
132.08 x 132.08 x 2.54 cm 52 x 52 x 1 inch Height x Width x Depth
Support
Framing
Not framed
Artwork sold in perfect condition
Artwork location: United States
Notes: Hand Signed and Dated on Verso.
Martin Whatson, born in 1984, is a renowned Norwegian street artist celebrated for his distinctive style characterized by calligraphic scribbles set within grayscale voids. Over the past decade, Martin has crafted an unmistakable artistic aesthetic that seamlessly blends abstract motion with figurative stenciled compositions. His works serve as a visual metaphor for the ebb and flow of urban life, symbolically recreating the cityscape only to then 'vandalize' it with his vibrant transformations.
Hailing from Oslo, Norway, Martin emerged as an active participant in the burgeoning graffiti scene of the early 1990s—a period marked by a stringent zero-tolerance stance on street art. The physical tapestry of the city served as an enduring wellspring of inspiration, with each generation's elaboration and deconstruction of urban spaces contributing to the city's ever-evolving infrastructure. This parallel between creative influences and the cityscape's organic evolution is evident in his work, inspired by artists like Jose Parla and Cy Twombly.
In the early 2000s, Martin's fascination with layers took on a more literal form with the introduction of stencils into his repertoire. This evolution brought him closer to an aesthetic that he believed could harmoniously marry the passion and spontaneity of graffiti with the delicate and transient qualities of nature—an equilibrium that came to define his artistic approach.
With an equal presence on both walls and traditional canvases, Martin's art consistently explores the intersection of vulnerability and strength. His compositions often feature delicate and organic subjects, including butterflies, ballerinas, and animals, all set against empty grayscale backgrounds. These minimalist figures are constructed using a few meticulously hand-cut stencils. The monochromatic tones and vacant spaces of his creations pay homage to the artist's alternative canvases—the concrete jungle itself. True to his signature style, no grayscale space remains untouched in Martin's presence. Whether immersing entirely or accentuating a specific detail, these images soon vanish beneath expressive layers of spray-painted strokes, bursting with a medley of colors and textures.
Martin's work has left an indelible mark on festivals, collaborative projects, and urban walls across the globe. His original artworks grace private collections and institutional holdings, while solo exhibitions have taken center stage in cities spanning from Tokyo to Los Angeles and London to New York.
About the seller
End To End Gallery • United States
Artsper seller since 2020
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Collector’s Guide
Young Norwegian Martin Whatson is an
unmissable figure in the contemporary street art scene. Born in 1984, he
studied art and graphic design at the school of communications in Westerdals,
Oslo.
He has been collaborating with big names and winning
over collectors from all over the world for the last ten years, thanks to his
incomparable and instantly recognisable style. His universe is full of contradictions
and anomalies, all demanding a moment of reflection from viewers both in galleries
and on the streets.
Growing up in the 1990s in Oslo, Whatson quickly
joined the emerging local graffiti scene. The local politicians were very
against street art, making the work of the young artists very difficult, but
they never let this slow them down – far from it. Each wall and every building became
their playground.
Now, Whatson's main sources of inspiration are the brilliant
Jose Parle and Cy Twomby, whose creative processes he particularly admires. In
the early 2000s he discovered stencilling and quickly adopted it into his
works.
Bit by bit, following market demand, street artists
began to move into galleries. Whatson was not exempt from this, and he started
creating as much work on canvas and paper as he did frescoes outdoors.
He seeks out subjects which are largely overlooked by society and brings
them back to our attention with to his strikingly colourful graffiti. He finds
his inspiration everywhere: in architecture, landscapes, patterns, and with
that decides whether he will establish order or chaos. To do this, he builds up
the base of his works in black and white, then adds an unexpected twist of
colour.
Discover this emerging talent and the big names he collaborates with –
such as JR – all on Artsper…
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