Los Angeles based Bandit quietly appeared in the San Francisco Bay Area last week sleuthing out locations to challenge the pedestrians powers of observation. He used various techniques and props to convey his messages. Some of the art disappeared as quickly as it appeared and others like the painted Alice in Wonderland mural will linger longer on the street.
We caught the Bandit and asked him to share a few thoughts about his art.
My inspiration comes from anything and everything from simple conversations I encounter with people throughout the day to listening to music to being out in nature. I usually will get an idea in my head and brainstorm or process the best way to effectively execute that message I’m trying to get across through an illustration. I am inspired by the streets and the people and characters that make them what they are.
I got started displaying my work in the street about five years ago although I have graffiti background which dates back about ten years ago. I have been an artist since I was drawing pumpkins or doodles on my parents closet walls. I guess it has been in my blood to share my art publicly. I have zero motivation when it comes to painting on canvas. I find it boring and dull. The streets offer so much opportunity for public interaction with my art. I am yet to find a good reason to stop displaying my work in the public.
Some of the locations are obvious. Others you will have to seek out pretty much like he did.
“Harvey Milk” wheat paste showing the late Harvey Milk on the side of a milk carton. Those piece was removed within minutes of it going up.
“The Phantom of the Opera” installation placed in front of the San Francisco Opera House in downtown. Idea was to have my art blend in with the rest of the opera posters they have displayed outside the opera house.
“A reverse game of cat and mouse” stencil image shows a cat being chased by mice.
“If you’re going to San Francisco be sure to wear some flowers in your hair”
“Mirror child” image depicts a young girl holding a people magazine which sells sex, plastic surgery, money, power. She draws on plastic surgery lines with lipstick on her reflection in the mirror.
“Ballerina girl”
“Alice in Wonderland” classic Alice in Wonderland mural painted on the corner of Haight and Central street. The writing within the sign Alice is looking at is written in pig Latin with the hopes some will translate or understand its meaning.
“Fair Weather Friends” image depicts two friend, one holding an umbrella while the other is left out illustrating the statement or feeling we all have once had towards certain friendships.
“I left my heart in San Francisco” installation I made and placed on the corner of Haight and Ashbury. Idea and hope was to create an installation that would force interaction with the people of San Francisco. I left a marker attached to the heart so people could add a talley mark if they feel they left their heart in San Francisco. Within a day the entire installation was tagged up in a different way…
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