NEKST Tribute from Alynn, Mags and Jurne

This week was a hard one.  The graffiti community lost an incredible force: NEKST. We are deeply hurt by this loss.

Our love and thoughts go out to those who knew and loved him, his family, his friends, his siblings, his crew.

Tribute by Amanda Lynn

Nekst by Mags

Nekst by Jurne

In the yards

In the yards

Alynn-Mags hit MIA Art Basel 2012

Coming down off another amazing trip to Miami Art Basel, would have to say, the first thoughts that come to mind are exhaustion, inspiration, and a thirst to do it all again!!  We, Lady Mags and Amandalynn ( Alynn-Mags ),  teamed up with Ironlak spray paint company to create a very large scale piece in Miami's Wynwood District during Art Basel Miami 2012.

photo by NewTimes Miami - see article HERE

Inspired by classic 1950's Miami beach postcards, the Alynn-Mags duo went to Miami to outdo themselves. Instead of adorning pieces with Characters, the two really integrated their styles. Alynn used spray paint and brush to create the 'fill' of the 'A' in the Mags piece, while Mags was busy trying to avoid getting stung by wasps nesting in the daunting shrub below, and painting a piece three times her height....

And though it was a lot of work, there was definitely time to play and visit with friends, fellow writers, muralists, and artists alike.

Amandalynn / whiskey / Miami

CAVE 04 (our youngest writer friend)

Tatiana Suarez - Alynn's inspiration in the flesh!! 

Many, Many thanks to all the wonderful people who supported and helped make all of this happen! 

MadC at 1AMSF Gallery: Over The Edge

1AM has a new show featuring world-renowned mural and aerosol artist MadC- this is just the beginning of her art career taking root in the US. Here is a note from 1AM Gallery:

1AM is pleased to present, “Over The Edge”, a solo exhibition featuring new works from German artist, MadC aka Claudia Walde. With the constant evolution and argument of graffiti as an art form, 1AM's upcoming show aims to keep the energy of this form alive on canvas without taking it directly from the street. MadC is not only challenging the line between graffiti and fine art, but is also charging forth as a female artist in an art form that is primarily male-dominated. Arguably the top aerosol artist in the world, she is renowned for her talent, tenacity, and ambition. Opening December 7th, 6:30-9:30pm, “Over The Edge” will showcase a collection of mixed media paintings on canvas and paper that will highlight her 1AM Gallery inspired installation.

MadC’s work is influenced by graffiti and the perfect connection of letters, foreground, and background. Claudia Walde aka ”MadC”, was born in 1980 in Germany and studied at the University of Art and Design Burg Giebichenstein in Halle, Germany, as well as the world-renowned Central Saint Martins College in London. In 1998, Claudia started spray-painting the walls of her hometown and in a few short years, her murals have spanned Lebanon, Mexico, Colombia, Russia, USA, Hawaii, South Africa and most of Europe. This video montage of her Jurassic Park themed mural in Berlin, one of her most recent murals to go viral, showcases her immaculate skills. Already one of the best mural artists and successful with her recently sold-out Paris show, MadC's burgeoning art career now begins in the west. GO TO: 1000 Howard Street San Francisco, CA 94103 (415) 861-5089 www.1AMSF.com

Alynn-Mags Fine Art

Alynn-Mags Fine Art

Alynn-Mags , consisting of Amandalynn and Lady Mags, are recognized for their street art compilations. However, they have started experimenting in a new realm of art, combining their fine art talents, and creating a whole new look for the artistic duo. Amandalynn is normally noted for her alluring female illustrations and fine art paintings, while Lady Mags' fine art tends to be more abstract, relying on color and shape to depict her intentions. These two new pieces are an exciting new step for both Amandalynn and Lady Mags, and they are excited on creating a series of similar work.

'Desire', watercolor and acrylic on water color paper, 16"x20", by Alynn-Mags

'Becoming Kisaeng', watercolor, guache, and acrylic on watercolor paper, 30"x40", by Alynn-Mags

Klughaus Gallery presents: JURNE "Keys To The City" Solo Show Nov. 10th NYC

On November 10th, JURNE will have a solo exhibition in NYC.  Come support artists and storm relief!

MORE HERE:http://klughaus.net/

Fine Art Collaborations

AmandaLynn and Lady Mags are  gearing up for a fine art show.  Here are some preview shots. More details to come!

 Process shots of collaboration pieces

Cats and Collaborations: Alynn-Mags, Lea Bruno, UPSF-- Collaborations update

Recently, AmandaLynn and Lady Mags were invited to participate in San Francisco's Urban Protoype Festival.  Architects and young designers were showing their new ideas amidst graffiti artists, musicians, and tasty food stands.  Amanda and Mags decided to collaborate on a canvas with a cat theme, homage to Amanda's late awesome black cat : Morgana.

We were fortunate to paint next to Apex, Agana, and Jan Swayze.

The incredibly talented Nicholas Lea Bruno also complete a B and W photo series of Lady Mags and AmandaLynn during our anniversary wall (featured HERE on IronLak Blog). 

Glow, Erin Yoshi, Amanda Lynn, Lady Mags: Updates, stories, interviews, book covers and more

It has been another busy month for the Alynn-Mags team: Amanda Lynn partnered up with GLOW to paint a beautiful truck for her friend Stella's birthday. Erin Yoshi invited us to show work at the Dunk The Junk show, which featured some work from Lady Mags, Erin herself, Amanda Lynn, Glow and Agana. In the midst of all this Amanda Lynn gave an excellent interview for Street Art SF that featured her work, as well as the most recent productions by Alynn-Mags. This Same Month Lady Mags designed a book cover for a new series. Also, BIG news: Alynn-Mags had their anniversary of the first wall they ever painted together. The Anniversary wall is featured here, but was also supported by IRONLAK, and they gave us love on their blog too. What is in store next month? Alynn-Mags have a few collaborations coming up, 2 new walls and who knows what more might be in store!!! 

Book Cover Lady Mags

ZES by STEEL, ALYNN-GLOW (SF)

ALYNN-GLOW Truck SF

FRUITY WALL

ALYNN

The ladies

ALYNN by MAGS

Erin Yoshi

Amanda Lynn

Erin Yoshi

Glow, Lady Mags, Erin Yoshi, Amanda Lynn, Erin Yoshi

AmandaLynn shares her spotlight: Inked magazine visits ALYNN-MAGS in NYC

A few months ago, Inked Magazine contacted AmandaLynn. The magazine wanted to d an interview with her for Inked People. She generously reached out to Lady Mags. Together they created a mural for the feature. Here, Amanda Lynn shares her perspective, and Mags chimes in: Together the two artists are featured in this October's issue of Inked - Art and Culture Magazine. Both ladies had a great time creating the mural and are honored to be featured!! Many thanks to the whole Inked crew, and Laura Crosta, the photographer. Read article below...

I'm watching paint dry-actually bake in the sun-and I haven't been this awestruck by an edifice in New York City since I first saw the American Radiator Building. A few weeks ago Amandalynn and Lady Mags promised to paint an INKED mural, but now, looking at the completed scape, I don't think the duo are street artists-they are actually street magicians. Partners in legal graffiti, Amandalynn and Mags are two emerging talents in the street art scene. After an excursion to Los Angeles, the two met each other during a shared ride back to their respected residences in San Francisco and Oakland. "It was around Halloween last year," Amandalynn recalls. "We talked for five and a half straight hours, and Mags invited me to a paint a wall with her in Oakland. From then on we have painted together almost every weekend." On this particular Sunday, the tandem has transformed a wall behind dope Lower East Side boutique Community 54 into a kaleidoscope of colors and angles punctuated by a portrait of INKED Girl Jesse Lee Denning. "I met Jesse about six years ago, we partied, and my sister dropped a shot glass on her toe," Amandalynn says. "But she was cool about it and we've been friends ever since. This is the fifth time I've painted her." Amandalynn is even using Jesse in a clothing line she's doing for Goorin Bros. that drops next month. Amandalynn's current muse will be on the inside of hats and ties. When picking up a brush, Amandalynn's tendency is toward voluptuous women. "I like the sexy allure of girls," she says. "I like to leave a little bit of them hidden for the imagination." Along with murals and fashion, she works on motorcycle pinstriping and outdoor sculpture restoration but leaves the tattooing to the professionals. "People ask me to draw tattoos for them, but I assure them that tattooers are good at what they do,"she says. Her own personal collection of ink is impressive, with pieces by Grime, Norm, Marcus Pacheco, Luke Stewart, Bert Krak, Jason Kundell, Phil Holt, Shawn Barber, and Regino Gonzales.

Mags has less ink, but in no way are her pieces less impactful. On her arm sits a symbol incorporating the moon, sun, compass directions, yin and yang, and Lakota turtle. "I taught on a Lakota reservation for a little while," she says. "It was awesome. We actually painted the community's athletic center in graffiti. I did the lettering but the kids filled them in. Because it wasn't illegal graffiti where you just sneak in and put something up, I didn't want to fuck their wall up." Mags grew up in New York City during the explosion of graffiti and hip-hop and was influenced by the messages she saw around her, specifically how they looked. "It is kind of nerdy but I love doing letters," she says. "I study graffiti fonts. On this wall, because of the mood and where we are in New York City, I went with bright colors because of where the wall is. And I added some arrows for style, grace, and a feeling of movement." While the two women quickly but thoughtfully work on finishing touches, I ask them about the difference between graffiti art and tattoo art. "There are a lot of tattooists who are graffiti writers," Mags says. "Now that I think about it, it makes sense because they are [inclined] to mark territory or a space. But graffiti is totally impermanent. You put up a mural and then in days or months somebody paints over it." Weeks later I walk by Community 54, and see a cartoonish turtle in a bowler hat where I had once marveled at the details of Jesse's tattoos. I can't wait for the next artist to come by. -Rocky Rakovic