Image via Complex Original
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It's kind of crazy to see where street art has gone in the last decade. We've witnessed an explosion of interest, resulting in exhibitions, festivals, and (of course) websites dedicated to the subject. Obviously, street art has also tickled the fancy of the mainstream. Five years ago it would have seemed insane to suggest a street artist would work a campaign poster for the president. Or, sell big at auction.
Times have changed.
And, as the mainstream embraces street art and some artists grow to receive great recognition (for example, JR), the underground continues to bubble.
We linked with RJ Rushmore, the man behind Vandalog, to get a sense of where the street art scene is heading in 2012. He ably offered up a few names and talked us through the folks he thinks are next.
10 Street Artists To Watch In 2012.
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Anthony Lister
RJ says, "At least in terms of energy levels, Anthony Lister is Australia's answer to Shepard Fairey. Talented and prolific, he lives up to his description as an "action painter." Already a favorite among those following street art closely, 2012 could be Lister's year to impress an even larger audience."
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El Mac
RJ says, "Although El Mac is probably best-known for his collaborations with Retna, he has shown time and time again over the last year that his touching and larger than life portraits can stand on their own."
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Stinkfish
RJ says, "If you like messy vandalism, Stinkfish has that covered. If you like stenciled portraits with a bit more mass-appeal, he's your man for that too. And of course there's always a bit of Columbian flavor thrown in for good measure."
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Jaz
RJ says, "Anyone who has seen Jaz paint will tell you that this man is the future. While his work is a staple in Buenos Aires, the last few months have seen the start of his inevitable American takeover. Even at crowded mural festivals in Atlanta and Miami, Jaz stood out as the rising star."
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Enzo/Nio
RJ says, "This duo seemed to have come out of nowhere to make some of the most tumblr-friendly street art of 2011. It's difficult to be a funny or clever street artist without being written off as another Banksy clone, but Enzo and Nio are pulling it off."
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Leon Reid IV
RJ says, "With plans in the works to put a giant sculpture of a spider on the Brooklyn Bridge, Leon dreams big and has the skills to back it up. Last year he successfully used Kickstarter and social media to fund and lobby the city for a one-day modification to a statue in Union Square, so his spider idea might not be as far-fetched as it sounds."
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Paul Insect
RJ says, "Paul Insect has sold work to Damien Hirst, but that doesn't mean he has left the streets behind. On the contrary, he painted some of the best murals visible in London today. Unlike too many street artists, Paul Insect manages to succeed in galleries and on the street."
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Lush
RJ says, "Lush holds up a mirror to 21st century street art and graffiti and amplifies the best and worst parts of the cultures to absurd levels. He paints his tweets and calls out supposed toys left and right, while his own gallery openings prominently feature strippers and cage fighting. If a line needs crossing, Lush and his (by his estimate) massive dick will gladly leap over it."
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Isaac Cordal
RJ says, "With just one or two well-places tiny sculptures, Isaac Cordal can tell a story and evoke the depressing anonymity of modern urban living. His work is the perfect companion to seasonal affective disorder."
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Bom.k
RJ says, "This Frenchman combines photorealistic graffiti with a style reminiscent of Ralph Steadman. If you thought Steadman could be a bit creepy, Bom.k bring that to a new level. As a member of the Da Mental Vaporz crew, he paints with a diverse range of France's top artists from street art and graffiti."
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(Bonus) Workhorse and Pac of The Underbelly Project
RJ says, "In 2010, The Underbelly Project organized scores of artists to paint an abandoned subway station in NYC. In 2011, they took a smaller crew on a similar mission in Paris and crashed the party at Basel Miami with their hit pop-up show. In 2012, a book documenting the NYC missions will be published, and that's all that can be said for sure."