Michael Tewz, a Supplementary Biography

Michael Tewz, Image via Poptower

Why would a street artist join a reality TV series?  Three reasons: A) to mock it, B) to present alternatives to the mainstream through the mainstream, or C) to get famous like everyone else. Michael Tewz doesn’t have a hint of sarcasm, so that eliminates A.  A few of his works display an increment of social consciousness, but they’re prefabricated for the secondary pop culture market.  There’s nothing wrong with that – in fact, we think the Sucklord does that pretty well – but did we all just agree that “street art” is free public advertising?

ART WORLD CRED

He was the winner of the Cut & Paste Digital Design Tournament for Chicago in 2007 and the Mary Koga Award from the Japan America Society of Chicago.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Tewz hasn't shown in any major galleries, but he's been respectably active in festivals, teaching, and general art activity.  What he lacks in stylistic or conceptual versatility, he makes up for with variety: he's a painter, printmaker, musician, and experimental filmmaker.

Michael Tewz, imPOSTer (ANDY KAUFMAN AS TONY CLIFTON), counterfeit postage stamp on paper, 2007

CHARACTER ASSESSMENT

Tewz synthesizes street art and marketability. While his claims to redefining public space are admirable, the art doesn't function as much more than a brand, which appears on his homepage, in his murals, and on his album cover.

TYPECAST

The Sellout Street Artist.

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{ 1 comment }

Jon_saul November 3, 2011 at 1:01 am

HE’S SO CUTE…. LOVE THOSE LIPS!!

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