Peyton Scott Russell

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Peyton Scott Russell was residence in the gallery from December 13th 2021- February 18th 2022. 

Statement from the artist:

Exploring the abstract aesthetics of graffiti art, and the elimination of it, as an installation & on canvas. "I enjoy looking at public walls that have been painted repeatedly with mis-matched paint to cover unwanted graffiti markings. We call this “The Buff”, a term coined in the 1983 documentary film, Style Wars (Tony Silver and Henry Chalfant). I find this resembles abstract paintings by artists like Hofmann, Rothko, Newman, Reinhardt, Still. The flat simple shapes in what appears to be random placements are dictated by where graffiti tags used to be is a dialogue between Graffiti Writers and city workers/property owners/vigilantes.

As a practicing graffiti artist of 35+ years, The Buff idea has taken me back to studying my favorite fine art movement - Abstract Expressionism. By using concepts of The Buff, I feel I can participate within the abstract movement and continue practicing the craft of graffiti as a personal collaboration. The Buff is another form of graffiti marking adding to the overall contemporary language of graffiti culture and its history. This language is created by the action of graffiti writing and the action of erasing or removing it - highlighting the push and pull dynamic of human interaction with surfaces."

Peyton Scott Russell 

 He discovered art as a small child, and much of his inspiration came from such youthful passions as dinosaurs, comic strips, fishing, and the great outdoors. He was first introduced to graffiti art in 1984 as a high-school student through the film Style Wars, which he says had a profound effect on him. From that point forward, Peyton devoted his time and energy to graffiti art.Peyton’s portfolio of high school art, images of nature, and graffiti-influenced works earned him acceptance to the prestigious School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), from which he graduated in 1991. He became a professional artist and art instructor, founding arts organizations such as My House Gallery, House of Daskarone, Juxtaposition Arts, and Art House Education. Through these organizations, he taught and directed classical visual fine arts with non-traditional art to youth, and he encouraged students to be professional artists by focusing on portfolio development, artistic interpretation, and exhibition.Today, with the help of the Bush Foundation Fellowship Program (2012-2014), Peyton is focused on his new arts project, SPRAYFINGER. He is dedicated to teaching, studying, and practicing Graffiti: The Art of Creative Lettering. His mission is to increase awareness of graffiti as a teachable art form by working with schools, teachers, and artists on curriculum design, outlines, and lesson plans to deepen the understanding of a long-misunderstood art form.Via NE Sculpture, Peyton was commissioned to do a mural, "DAESKSON" at Hook & Ladder Apartments. He collaborated on the mural with his son Daesk.