Life Is Beautiful

This past weekend was truly one for the books. Central park hangs, my favorite German boy (and my favorite German beer), rooftop BBQs, bike rides, Bikram yoga, Bloody Marys, pop-up art, a walk on the Highline, a picnic in Tompkins Square Park and a movie date to see Inside Out. All worthy of praise and adoration, but I’d like to focus on the pop-up art because it was fascinating and beautiful and all of you New Yorkers should have a look while it’s still there.

Mr. Brainwash (aka Thierry Guetta) is a French ex-pat based in Los Angeles. He started as an amateur filmmaker shooting L.A. streets artists, and in 2006, took to the streets himself and emerged as a key player in the underground urban art scene. Guetta's moniker, Mr. Brainwash, really came to life after starring in Banksy's famed documentary, "Exit Through the Giftshop". Mr. Brainwash brings an urban style to traditional pop art, and the result is a sort of hybrid "streetpop". His work is a clever fusion of historic pop imagery and contemporary culture, with distinct influences from both pop and contemporary artists like Andy Warhol, Roy Leichtenstein, Basquiat, Shephard Fairey and, most notably, Banksy.

The pop-up is located under the High Line in an 8,500 square foot space at 450 W 14th street. Paintings, prints and mixed media works plaster the walls, and sculptures and installations stand scattered across the floor. All of the work is undeniably Mr. Brainwash and undeniably street pop with its vibrant colors, clashing media and juxtaposition of past and present iconography. I have a few pics to share, but for the really great ones, you'll have to go see for yourself.

There’s also an interactive installation on the High Line that I highly recommend checking out. The Collectivity Project is the work of Danish-Icelandic artist, Olafur Eliasson, who has created a cityscape of Legos that is built and continuously rebuilt by the public. Before coming to the High Line, The Collectivity Project was previously installed in Tirana, Oslo and Copenhagen.