A Moment...with Madman

One of the best parts of living in NYC is playing host to visiting artists from around the world: everyone wants to paint here. Recently, LA Artist, MDMN (Madman) became the latest to add his work to the streets of New York, creating pieces in Brooklyn and Manhattan ahead of his group show, Vibrant, which had a very successful opening May 10th.

“An artist is a person who has the gift of seeing his art work done and is able to accurately depict that vision in a way that ordinary people can value it.....an expression from the soul”.

Born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, MDMN has been living in Los Angeles for the last five years becoming the man he is today. Combining a love of superheroes with a sharp, illustrative, pop aesthetic he is filling the streets with strong characters and clean, crisp work. He attributes his love of art to his earliest influences, his parents, who allowed him to explore his creativity from a very young age. When asked what his personal definition of an artist is he says, “An artist is a person who has the gift of seeing his art work done and is able to accurately depict that vision in a way that ordinary people can value it.....an expression from the soul”. He never considered labelling himself an “artist” until he started showing his work in galleries around Los Angeles, starting in 2012.

Recently, his work has shifted towards more grounded figures, real, rather than fantasy. “People and shapes are more on the same page," he states when asked about his current influences. “I surround myself with the best people I know and push to build the team that will take us further.” It is part of that taking things further that led him to paint in New York. “I worked my fuckin' ass off, haha.” The difference between painting in New York vs. LA? “New York’s art scene has a heartbeat.”

What of Madman’s future? "I am working with a lot of quality artists right now and i am going to enjoy anything produced from that. The raddest of times are ahead of us!”

And if you could go back ten years and give yourself one piece of advice?

“Start right now!” - MDMN

contact: @mdmnart