Los Angeles local street artist Phobik, and Arizona transplant Madman recently were granted the wall owned by fellow artist Kai Aspire on Spaulding, just north of Melrose. The duo have moved along the streets of LA together and separately with each individual’s respectful work for the past year. From pasteups to stickers and murals, both of these artists have taken your attention without asking. Are you angry about it? As the iconic image of the “Phobik God” 3-eye-devil, and the variety of characters from the Mad world have permeated our line of sight practically all throughout the city, it didn’t come as a surprise that the two artists would take the opportunity of such a big wall to show Melrose, let alone LA, that they had more in store. We agree, when you’ve got an audience, don’t let go. That “more” that they had in stock transformed from a window looking in, to a door-wide invitation, entering directly into a world undoubtedly recognizable of both artists’ styles and mindsets. Developed to an extent of fantastic scenes, and enticing,dramatic visual dialogue, this new mural speaks. As the caption “Let’s Get Weird” suggests, the art is not something to comfort the average spectator, but to console the urges of the strange, the uncomfortable, the weird.
Check out our photos of the artists at work as the wall developed and was completed. To see examples of both artists’ gallery work, check out our coverage of the LA Woman art show from the July Downtown Artwalk.
