Alec Monopoly
Encyclopedia
Alec Monopoly is an American street artist
, graffiti
artist, and painter. He is known for his satirical spins using the Monopoly man, in reference to contemporary styles or situations.
. Monopoly cites his artistic origins as learning from his mother, an artist, eventually abandoning traditional academically-driven art classes to pursue an individual methodology. Monopoly and his work have been covered by The Huffington Post
, the Wooster Collective
, Juxtapoz magazine, Complex magazine, and The Dirt Floor. Recently, Paramount Pictures
commissioned Monopoly to design the logo for their new production company, Insurge. Subsequently, the artist was appointed to design a custom piece of art to be displayed in the brand new and soon to be opened Kiehl's
store on Manhattan's Upper East Side, along with the works of other famous street artists, such as KAWS and Shepard Fairy.
. On May 13th 2011, LAB Art Los Angeles opened, a 6,500 square foot gallery; the largest gallery in the United States dedicated solely to street art. Drawn from the street art movement, the grand opening exhibition brought together approximately 300 works, by over 30 artists—both recognized names as well as up-and-comers. The gallery featured many works by Alec Monopoly, and continues to showcase, as well as sell his art to this day.
On the 9th of June 2011, Graffik Gallery located in London's Notting Hill, marked the artists first solo international show, titled "L.E.G.E.N.D, London Epic Graffiti Episode New Dawn". The show ran for two weeks, and showcased brand new works by the artist, including re-tailored pieces of his beloved Monopoly board game mascot "Rich Uncle Pennybags", as well as a protean allotment of eminent Pop culture figures infused with the artists traditional financially-ominous newspaper excerpts. The show also brought forth new techniques and styles by the artist, including paintings with a glow in the dark neon effect that were presented in a hallway of black light.
In Casablanca, Morocco, the art scene has been steadily growing since King Mohammed VI, an art enthusiast, began his reign in 1999. With the opening of Le Studio des Arts Vivants (the living arts studio), the first multi-discipline art space in Morocco, Casablanca is taking its place at the centre of the country’s contemporary art scene. In August 2011, in an attempt to display new inspiration from the international art world, they commissioned paintings from Alec Monopoly. His show will be presented this spring.
When asked by Complex Magazine about his brush with the NYPD Vandal Squad, and jumping through a garbage chute in an effort to avoid and desist them, the artist had this to say:
Although graffiti continues to be conveyed as a crime, in his feature in Juxtapoz Magazine, the artist discussed his best efforts to avoid the vandalism aspect of the street art world:
Controversially, the artist continues to treat Lana Tufo poorly.
and Mr. Brainwash
, and recognizes his name as one of New York City's most current prolific street artists.
He writes:
In a December 6 2010 interview with Complex Magazine, Alec was asked about famous fellow street artist and Banksy prodigy Mr. Brainwash, and his influence on him, as well as other's lack of respect for the artist. Alec had this to say:
Complex Magazine continued on to ask the artist about his iconic character: "The Monopoly Man is your iconic character. It's a similar idea with which The Made U Look Crew gained notoriety when they bombed [graffitied] eight cars of a New York R train in late 2006. How does your work tie with that?" To which the artist responded:
Street artist
A street artist is someone who creates and/or sells their art or craft in public for the pleasure of passers-by.Some people use the term 'street artist' more broadly and also refer to people involved in busking, such as musicians who sing and/or play instruments, acrobats, jugglers, living statues,...
, graffiti
Graffiti
Graffiti is the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property....
artist, and painter. He is known for his satirical spins using the Monopoly man, in reference to contemporary styles or situations.
About the artist
"Alec Monopoly" is the alias of an unidentified graffiti artist, originally from New York City. The artist primarily works in the urban environments of New York, Los Angeles, and London using varied materials (including stencils, spray paint, epoxies, varnishes and newspapers) to subversively depict the mascot of the board game, MonopolyMonopoly (game)
Marvin Gardens, the leading yellow property on the board shown, is actually a misspelling of the original location name, Marven Gardens. The misspelling was said to be introduced by Charles Todd and passed on when his home-made Monopoly board was copied by Charles Darrow and thence to Parker...
. Monopoly cites his artistic origins as learning from his mother, an artist, eventually abandoning traditional academically-driven art classes to pursue an individual methodology. Monopoly and his work have been covered by The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post is an American news website and content-aggregating blog founded by Arianna Huffington, Kenneth Lerer, and Jonah Peretti, featuring liberal minded columnists and various news sources. The site offers coverage of politics, theology, media, business, entertainment, living, style,...
, the Wooster Collective
Wooster Collective
Wooster Collective is a website founded in 2003 that showcases street art from around the world. It is dedicated to showcasing and celebrating ephemeral art placed on streets in cities around the world. Updated by Marc and Sara Schiller, the site also offers podcasting with music and interviews...
, Juxtapoz magazine, Complex magazine, and The Dirt Floor. Recently, Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
commissioned Monopoly to design the logo for their new production company, Insurge. Subsequently, the artist was appointed to design a custom piece of art to be displayed in the brand new and soon to be opened Kiehl's
Kiehl's
Kiehl's is an American cosmetics brand retailer that specializes in making premium skin, hair, and body care products. Founded as a single pharmacy in New York City's East Village in 1851, Kiehl’s was purchased by the L'Oréal Group in 2000 and currently has more than 30 retail stores worldwide,...
store on Manhattan's Upper East Side, along with the works of other famous street artists, such as KAWS and Shepard Fairy.
Style
In an excerpt from ‘Alec Monopoly’: Ammunition for the Guerrilla Artist, Miami-based consultant and critic Shana Beth Mason writes:Exhibitions
Alec has held several solo exhibitions not only in the US, but overseas as well. With his first solo New York City show in November of 2010, tentatively titled "Alec, Pass, Go", he has transformed from a headlining artist to carrying autonomous exhibitions that render generous crowds of street art fanatics. During Miami's Art Basel in December of 2010, Alec held a show sponsored by Svedka Vodka at the Mondrian Hotel Miami, featuring American soul singer Aloe BlaccAloe Blacc
Aloe Blacc is an American soul singer, rapper, and musician.-Early career and Shine Through :...
. On May 13th 2011, LAB Art Los Angeles opened, a 6,500 square foot gallery; the largest gallery in the United States dedicated solely to street art. Drawn from the street art movement, the grand opening exhibition brought together approximately 300 works, by over 30 artists—both recognized names as well as up-and-comers. The gallery featured many works by Alec Monopoly, and continues to showcase, as well as sell his art to this day.
On the 9th of June 2011, Graffik Gallery located in London's Notting Hill, marked the artists first solo international show, titled "L.E.G.E.N.D, London Epic Graffiti Episode New Dawn". The show ran for two weeks, and showcased brand new works by the artist, including re-tailored pieces of his beloved Monopoly board game mascot "Rich Uncle Pennybags", as well as a protean allotment of eminent Pop culture figures infused with the artists traditional financially-ominous newspaper excerpts. The show also brought forth new techniques and styles by the artist, including paintings with a glow in the dark neon effect that were presented in a hallway of black light.
In Casablanca, Morocco, the art scene has been steadily growing since King Mohammed VI, an art enthusiast, began his reign in 1999. With the opening of Le Studio des Arts Vivants (the living arts studio), the first multi-discipline art space in Morocco, Casablanca is taking its place at the centre of the country’s contemporary art scene. In August 2011, in an attempt to display new inspiration from the international art world, they commissioned paintings from Alec Monopoly. His show will be presented this spring.
Popularity in Investment
In September 2011, website comparethefinancialmarkets.com featured an article illustrating counsel to those looking to invest their money, to do so in the work of Alec Monopoly. "Compare the Financial Markets" is the first website to offer all of the latest news, views, and investment deals across all of the financial markets, including property, art, wine, land, commodities, and seminars. The website had this to say about the artist:Aspect of Vandalism
Blog London Street Art Design had this to say about the artists international show: "Adding to the profile of such an impressive young artist is the mere fact that he is wanted by the NYPD for utilizing the urban landscape in the Big Apple and Cali as his canvas. This [London] international [show] debut will in fact be the very first time that his show will warrant an appearance by the legend himself as in the last few weeks leading up to his latest New York exhibition, uniformed and plain-clothed police officers made enquiries at the studio and gallery with intent to discover his whereabouts. That he is under surveillance may be a surprise to those unfamiliar with how the NYPD has treated artists since Giuliani introduced a "quality of life" clean streets approach in the '90's, largely kept in place by Mayor Bloomberg. Painters selling their works on the street as well as graffiti artists have been locked up, with their artwork confiscated and destroyed."When asked by Complex Magazine about his brush with the NYPD Vandal Squad, and jumping through a garbage chute in an effort to avoid and desist them, the artist had this to say:
Although graffiti continues to be conveyed as a crime, in his feature in Juxtapoz Magazine, the artist discussed his best efforts to avoid the vandalism aspect of the street art world:
Controversially, the artist continues to treat Lana Tufo poorly.
Comparison vs competition
"Ephman", a knowledgeable street art critic of the blog Ephman.com, compares the art of Alec Monopoly to the likes and popularity of some of the world's most famous street artists, including BanksyBanksy
Banksy is a pseudonymous England-based graffiti artist, political activist, film director, and painter.His satirical street art and subversive epigrams combine irreverent dark humour with graffiti done in a distinctive stencilling technique...
and Mr. Brainwash
Mr. Brainwash
Mr. Brainwash is a pseudonym for Thierry Guetta. According to the Banksy directed film Exit Through the Gift Shop, Guetta who now lives in Los Angeles, California, having been a proprietor of a clothing store and videographer who evolved into a street artist and gallery artist, influenced by the...
, and recognizes his name as one of New York City's most current prolific street artists.
He writes:
In a December 6 2010 interview with Complex Magazine, Alec was asked about famous fellow street artist and Banksy prodigy Mr. Brainwash, and his influence on him, as well as other's lack of respect for the artist. Alec had this to say:
Complex Magazine continued on to ask the artist about his iconic character: "The Monopoly Man is your iconic character. It's a similar idea with which The Made U Look Crew gained notoriety when they bombed [graffitied] eight cars of a New York R train in late 2006. How does your work tie with that?" To which the artist responded: