My Dog Sighs in Miami

With only two weeks to go, UK artist My Dog Sighs had to plan a huge mural with a Climate Change theme for Big Walls, Big Dreams in Miami.

A collection of walls and events curated by UP Art Studio during Art Basel Week, Big Walls Big Dreams includes work by internationally-renowned artists with an environmental purpose. This year's crew included El Pez, Risk, Los Otros Murals, Denial, JC Rivera and Jay 'Muzik' Mack.

On the challenge, My Dog Sighs states, 'I was asked to follow a theme of the environment for this piece painted as part of Basel in Miami... I did some research on environmental issues across America and found a large number of species of animal and insect that have become extinct in Florida in the last 50 years; Florida Spectacled Bear, Banks Island Wolf, Keys Zarucco Skipper, Pallid Beach Mouse, Rockland Meske's Skipper [butterfly] Goff's Pocket Gopher, Miami Blue, Nickerbean Blue ...all gone forever.

Within the wild background I hid tags and throw ups made up of the names of the now extinct creatures. The reflection mirrors the despair and cause of this sad state of affairs. The artist signs his mural, December 6, 2017.

UP Art Studio is a Houston, Texas-based organization that facilitates projects for urban and contemporary artists, communities and corporations, locally and globally. They specialize in public art projects, mural and art commissions, gallery art shows, event planning and artist collaborations.

The detail and layers are intense!

The iris features a despairing man against an industrial skyline:

Since spying his trademark glassy eye murals in London, I've been a huge fan the artist. I've hunted for his work in cities including Chicago, Miami and New York, and was thrilled to meet him during his group NY show last year.

Famous for starting #FreeArtFriday 15 years ago, My Dog Sighs created a Wynwood scavenger hunt of mini murals, almost eighty wheat pastes, and stickers for our enjoyment:

The artist with his finished mural, titled The Blame Game, at 2233 NW 1st Ct, Miami

Four of five unofficial eye bombs hidden around Wynwood:

What's Next? The artists first solo show in two years, Days and Nights and the Places in-between at Chicago's Vertical Gallery explores the human condition in unique ways.

“My life this past year has thrown huge highs and lows. The comfort of being surrounded by those I love contrasting with the loss of those I held dear; creative achievements and moments of melancholy.” says the artist, “I’ve been higher than I could imagine and experienced loss that cuts deep. This exhibition brings together all of these feelings.”

Days and Nights and the Places in-between:

February 2 - 24, 2018

Opening reception Friday, February 2, 5:00 - 9:00 pm

Artist talk, Saturday, February 3rd, 3:00 – 4:00 pm

1016 N Western Ave, Chicago, Illinois 60622

Check out UP Art Studio's latest Houston public mural project here