BLK/MRKT One

by Kinsey DesForges, Blk/Mrkt

BLK/MRKT ONE In 2001 the BLK/MRKT Gallery was created as a way present emerging design talent as well as compelling urban art and fine art. BLK/MRKT’s remarkable selection of artists and its professional approach have largely contributed to the increased reputation of Street Art, its transition into museums and galleries and the global acceptance of Urban Art as a leading contemporary art form. BLK/MRKT ONE presents the gallery’s artists and their work, including both up and coming and established urban and contemporary artists such as Deanne Cheuk, WK Interact, Dave Kinsey, Bask, Evan Hecox, Marioni Lane and many more. This book is a “who’s who” of the scene and is characterized by the rich variety of styles and visual idioms, its celebration of rising masters and the promise of discovery. BLK/MRKT Gallery branched out from BLK/MRKT which was founded by contemporary artist and accomplished designer Dave Kinsey in 1996 in order to bring alternative art to the public and to help close the gap between visual communication, marketing and youth culture. Both BLK/MRKT and BLK/MRKT Gallery’s strength and success lie in their understanding and dedication in continuing to bring alternative works of art to the public.

Genres: Art

208 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 2006

Reviews

[Becki Tovey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection reads as nostalgia in 2026. It’s so of its age: a lot of talented people creating mostly pretty but bizarre horror-esque, anthropomorphic, body gore characters. The oversized heads and tragedy of them all. Painting on all surfaces: walls, clipboards, pillows, pieces of masking tape. Often street art inspired. Sploshy, drippy, downward glances and an all together uncomfortable feeling.

I’m trying to properly read as many art books as I can, and be more present with them, so spent time with this on recommendation at my friend’s workshop. It’s a large book with a plush embossed cover. There’s a few pages dedicated to each artist. Good quality photographs of the works. I found a fair bit to comment and share with my friend.

This book really highlighted to me how popular art goes in phases and trends, as with everything. Most of this feels wholly off-trend right now.

In 2006 I would have been all over this. Now it feels familiar, dated, less interesting. Everything had a kind of weird, gross, kind of dirty sadness to it at that time and I’m not mad we’ve moved to a more bright and hopeful aesthetic on the whole.

I never wanted to follow the crowd, but this does leave me questioning where my work would stand among trends, and if I should be more savvy about that, if I was to look into selling and not practicing purely for my own indulgence.

There are certainly some skilled and imaginative artists featured here.
Works that stood out to me were:
The disproportionate bodies of Doze Green,
The elephant with human hands by Tra Shelthrow,
Travis Millard’s silly and humorous line drawings,
Cody Blake Thompson’s cute but creepy puppets.

Worth a look through, and I’m sure that these works will have their moment again!

[brian tanabe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am glad I read Volume 2 first as this premier compilation seemed more like a rather expensive copy of Juxtapoz. I chuckled at the whimsy of Elaine Bradford, admired again Doze Green, intrigued by Marion Lane, wowed by Mars-1 again, smiled at Brendan Monroe, haunted by Scott Radke, and mesmerized by Yuri Shimojo.