Kyle Mosher
Encyclopedia
Kyle Mosher, also known as (I'm not a crook) (born 1985) is a Canadian born Boston based artist
and designer
known for his collage
and cut-paper style. His enigmatic artwork combines lyrical epigrams from famous musicians most often in the hip-hop genre. His distinctive collage and cut-paper style is executed by combining found imagery with digital as well as more traditional fine art and print making techniques. His work has been featured in streets, galleries and editorials both domestically and internationally. He often goes by the pseudonym, “i'm not a crook,” which, ironically aside from being a famous political and lyrical reference is a response to critics who say he steals his images and lyrics.
The ideas and style for Mosher's work were conceived from studying and observing modern artists like Cezanne, Picasso, and Rauschenberg. Fellow artists have noted that his style is somewhat similar to more contemporary Brazilian artist Eduardo Recife
also known as Misprinted Type. He studied and attainted his B.F.A at the New Hampshire Institute of Art
under his mentor and New York based illustrator, Lynn Pauley. Mosher has gone on record to state that he is more inspired by “the hustle of emerging musicians” then by other contemporary visual artists often jokingly admitting he missed his true calling of being a musician and performer. Before becoming enthralled with art and design Mosher was a competitive athlete who was plagued by injuries before leaving college and transferring to an art school. He played hockey and attended Nashua High School
in Nashua, NH.
, began as an illustrator
in Manchester, NH. He was inspired by Cezanne's observations of simple forms, Picasso's synthetic cubism as well as Rauschenberg's mixed media collages. From the start he was a freehand illustrator drawing the world around him as interpreted through the combination of traditional simple forms, loose illustrative styles and the use of more modern graphic imagery. In 2007 he studied in Florence, Italy at which point he turned to combining cut-paper techniques into his illustrations. He claims he stole old books from the Italian home that was hosting him and experimented with cutting up the pages to use under his pen and ink illustrations. In 2008 one of his illustrations was sponsored by his teacher and mentor at the time, Lynn Pauley to be entered into the prestigious Society of Illustrators
student competition in New York City. The illustration, “Audubon 2” was a late night classroom experiment in which Mosher was furthering his attempts to combine cut-paper techniques and a more traditional illustration style. There was a total of 5,700 entries and his illustration was eventually one of the winners. “Audubon 2” was chosen to be one of ninety-six entries to be a representation of winning student works from around the country at the Society of Illustrators
Gallery in New York City.
His commercial work is visually more literal. He has recently done a series of portraits entitled, "The Portrait Series" in which intimate portraits of musicians are created using his cut-paper and collage style.
He frequently takes part in guerrilla marketing campaigns to promote his work. He has openly noted graffiti artist, Banksy
, and his campaigns as the inspiration for his own marketing tactics. He has been featured in numerous online editorials which include: the Proteus Mag, the Phase Collective, bit FUUL mag, peculiar bliss, notofu, notpaper and get a candy.
Most recently his piece, “'cause they know me” was chosen as one of the winning pieces for the Brush's Gallery open submission contest themed, “For the Birds.”
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
and designer
Designer
A designer is a person who designs. More formally, a designer is an agent that "specifies the structural properties of a design object". In practice, anyone who creates tangible or intangible objects, such as consumer products, processes, laws, games and graphics, is referred to as a...
known for his collage
Collage
A collage is a work of formal art, primarily in the visual arts, made from an assemblage of different forms, thus creating a new whole....
and cut-paper style. His enigmatic artwork combines lyrical epigrams from famous musicians most often in the hip-hop genre. His distinctive collage and cut-paper style is executed by combining found imagery with digital as well as more traditional fine art and print making techniques. His work has been featured in streets, galleries and editorials both domestically and internationally. He often goes by the pseudonym, “i'm not a crook,” which, ironically aside from being a famous political and lyrical reference is a response to critics who say he steals his images and lyrics.
The ideas and style for Mosher's work were conceived from studying and observing modern artists like Cezanne, Picasso, and Rauschenberg. Fellow artists have noted that his style is somewhat similar to more contemporary Brazilian artist Eduardo Recife
Eduardo Recife
Eduardo Recife is an artist, illustrator, graphic designer, and typographer from Brazil. He is creator of Misprinted Type, a website featuring his personal works, collages, drawings, and typefaces. Recife's clients include The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, HBO, and Showtime...
also known as Misprinted Type. He studied and attainted his B.F.A at the New Hampshire Institute of Art
New Hampshire Institute of Art
The New Hampshire Institute of Art is a bachelor's degree-granting college that provides an undergraduate education in the fine arts, complemented by majors in the professional arts. It is the only independent college of art in the state of New Hampshire...
under his mentor and New York based illustrator, Lynn Pauley. Mosher has gone on record to state that he is more inspired by “the hustle of emerging musicians” then by other contemporary visual artists often jokingly admitting he missed his true calling of being a musician and performer. Before becoming enthralled with art and design Mosher was a competitive athlete who was plagued by injuries before leaving college and transferring to an art school. He played hockey and attended Nashua High School
Nashua High School
Nashua High School may refer to a school in Nashua, New Hampshire:*Nashua High School South, formerly known as Nashua High School*Nashua High School North...
in Nashua, NH.
Scholarly years (2006–2009)
Kyle Mosher, at the time enrolled at the New Hampshire Institute of ArtNew Hampshire Institute of Art
The New Hampshire Institute of Art is a bachelor's degree-granting college that provides an undergraduate education in the fine arts, complemented by majors in the professional arts. It is the only independent college of art in the state of New Hampshire...
, began as an illustrator
Illustrator
An Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text...
in Manchester, NH. He was inspired by Cezanne's observations of simple forms, Picasso's synthetic cubism as well as Rauschenberg's mixed media collages. From the start he was a freehand illustrator drawing the world around him as interpreted through the combination of traditional simple forms, loose illustrative styles and the use of more modern graphic imagery. In 2007 he studied in Florence, Italy at which point he turned to combining cut-paper techniques into his illustrations. He claims he stole old books from the Italian home that was hosting him and experimented with cutting up the pages to use under his pen and ink illustrations. In 2008 one of his illustrations was sponsored by his teacher and mentor at the time, Lynn Pauley to be entered into the prestigious Society of Illustrators
Society of Illustrators
The Society of Illustrators is a professional society based in New York City. Founded in 1901, the mission of the Society is to promote the art and appreciation of illustration, as well as its history...
student competition in New York City. The illustration, “Audubon 2” was a late night classroom experiment in which Mosher was furthering his attempts to combine cut-paper techniques and a more traditional illustration style. There was a total of 5,700 entries and his illustration was eventually one of the winners. “Audubon 2” was chosen to be one of ninety-six entries to be a representation of winning student works from around the country at the Society of Illustrators
Society of Illustrators
The Society of Illustrators is a professional society based in New York City. Founded in 1901, the mission of the Society is to promote the art and appreciation of illustration, as well as its history...
Gallery in New York City.
Professional career (2009–present)
Kyle Mosher currently resides in Boston, MA. His personal work is intended to be enigmatic and often vague in subject matter. It contains graphic images which are worn, used, or made to feel vintage in nature. Mosher has compared his artwork to music. Stating that it is not only intended to make a statement, but it is a “visual performance” intended to stimulate the viewers brain. Just as a song or lyric would create an emotional response for the listener so too he wishes the same response, but visually. His work is most often combined with lyrics from hip-hop artists. He believes writing lyrics is in itself a significant form of art. Asked, “Why do you use lyrics from famous musicians?” He sarcastically responded with, “I would use my own lyrics, but no one has heard them.” He believes the viewer has a stronger connection and the work has a greater impact when they recognize the lyrics. The lyrics are usually intended to motivate, inspire, make a statement or invoke thought. He is influenced by the musician lifestyle; fascinated with creating a form of symphonic art and hustling it as a self sustaining means of income and indulgence. Subjects in his artwork are often, but not limited to: birds, flowers, vintage cars, small children, the elderly, fire hydrants, fans, pillow cases, and various other images that seem to be visual conundrums.His commercial work is visually more literal. He has recently done a series of portraits entitled, "The Portrait Series" in which intimate portraits of musicians are created using his cut-paper and collage style.
He frequently takes part in guerrilla marketing campaigns to promote his work. He has openly noted graffiti artist, Banksy
Banksy
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 his campaigns as the inspiration for his own marketing tactics. He has been featured in numerous online editorials which include: the Proteus Mag, the Phase Collective, bit FUUL mag, peculiar bliss, notofu, notpaper and get a candy.
Most recently his piece, “'cause they know me” was chosen as one of the winning pieces for the Brush's Gallery open submission contest themed, “For the Birds.”
External links
- kylemosher.com Kyle Mosher's official website
- Notpaper.net
- Society of Illustrators, New York City
- The Phase Collective
- Proteus Mag
- get a candy