Draft:Punkmetender

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Punkmetender
Born
Romain Lefebvre

Paris, France
NationalityFrench
Known forstreet art, muralism, contemporary art
Movementstreet art, contemporary art
Websitepunkmetender.com

Romain Lefebvre best known by his moniker "Punkmetender," is a Los Angeles-based visual artist celebrated for creating vibrantly colored indoor and outdoor work that explores shared themes of beauty, love, transformation and desire.[1] The butterfly has become the artist's signature motif which he uses to create innovative canvases and immersive installations for his viewers.[2]

Career[edit]

Early Work[edit]

When Lefebvre was 18 years old, he met urban artist Mr. Brainwash, who introduced him to the world of street art.[1] The two artists worked together for over 15 years, including on Banksy's 2010 benchmark documentary film, Exit Through the Gift Shop.[3][4] In 2016, Lefebvre began making art on his own, using the moniker Punkmetender, which is a reference to Elvis Presley and Daft Punk.[5][6] For years, the artist remained anonymous, concealing his identity to protect him from graffiti work done without permission.[7] During the COVID-19 pandemic, Lefebvre realized the increasing importance of connection and community, and he decided to stop making art anonymously and use his real name to better connect with his viewers.[8]

Style and Subject Matter[edit]

Punkmetender draws inspiration from graffiti culture, street art, photography, high fashion, and the beauty of the female form.[8][9] The artist sees desire as a universal sensation that everyone experiences, and desire is a central motif of his work across media.[10] In both his outdoor murals and indoor canvas work, Punkmetender's style is edgy and raw, often incorporating his distinctive handwriting.[11] The butterfly has become his most signature and repeated form, as butterflies represent transformation, beauty and freedom.[6] Punkmetender also identifies with the butterfly's transformation and says his story and artistic road is a similar one.[12]

Outdoor Murals[edit]

In his early outdoor work, Punkmetender blurs the distinctions between two-dimensional painting and three-dimensional sculpture by painting silhouettes of figures on walls and dressing them in actual fabric.[13] An amalgam of street art and high fashion, this series celebrates haute couture and the elegance of the female body.[14]

Continuing the theme of two-dimensional painting playing with three-dimensional execution, his recent mural work incorporates plywood, aluminum and plexiglass, in addition to traditional painting.[15] One large-scale mural, Human After All, is outside of the iconic Amoeba Music store in Hollywood, Los Angeles and was created during the Black Lives Matter protests.[16][17] Another large-scale work is in the Wynwood Art District in Miami and wraps the entire outside of the Astra Rooftop Garden.[18] Punkmetender has also created murals for the Ovolo Hotel in Sydney, Australia, and its MAMAKA by Ovolo resort in Bali, Indonesia.[19][20][21]

Work on Canvas[edit]

For his multimedia work on canvas, Punkmetender begins with his original photography, which he embellishes and alters with various colors of paint using a spin technique.[22] Next, he completes the work with embellishments including diamond dust, silk flowers, Swarovski crystals, and glossy acrylic coatings.[8][23] Finally, the works are encased in plexiglass, creating a distance between the sensuality and desire of the image and the space of the viewer.[24]

In many of his paintings on canvas that feature butterflies, the wings of aluminum butterflies lift off the surface of the canvas, creating a three-dimensionality that symbolizes the freedom of the subject.[25]

Digital Work[edit]

Punkmetender launched an NFT collection and platform, entitled The Punk Angels, that included the artist's work in addition to the promotion of work by emerging artists.[26]

Solo Exhibitions[edit]

Punkmetender's work has been the subject of solo exhibitions at galleries around the world. In 2016, Punkmetender created an immersive art experience in Los Angeles at the Historic Beckett Mansion designed by architect John C. Austin.[27] This was the artist's first solo show and included three-stories of canvas art, indoor murals and live performances.[28] In 2021, Samuel Lynne Galleries in Dallas, Texas hosted a solo exhibition entitled Together, we rise, we love, we share the moon. In this show, the artist introduced the concept of destruction into his oeuvre by partially burning the artwork and symbolizing the fragility of life.[29] The Pellas Gallery in Boston hosted a solo exhibition for the artist in 2022, including the live painting of a motorcycle on opening night.[30] In 2023, The White Room Gallery in Bridgehampton mounted a solo exhibition of Punkmetender's work, featuring a live art performance.[31][32] Also in 2023, Gullotti Galleries in Perth, Australia hosted a solo exhibit of Punkmetender's multimedia work, including original photography and white dresses the artist spray painted throughout the opening reception.[33][11] Laura Rathe Fine Art hosted a solo exhibition of Punkmetender's art in Houston, Texas in 2023. [34]

Collections[edit]

Private Collections[edit]

Punkmetender's work is featured in private collections across the United States and Europe. In 2019, Khloe Kardashian hosted a butterfly-themed first birthday party for her daughter True and commissioned the artist to create a butterfly art installation for the event.[35][36] In 2020, Kylie Jenner commissioned a large-scale butterfly work for the launch of her cosmetics line collection, Stormi.[24] Mr. Brainwash, Mariah Carey, Paris Hilton, Sofia Vergara and Dave Navarro are also private collectors of Punkmetender's art.[22][33][4]

Public Collections[edit]

The artist's work is in the public collections of luxury hotel brands including Miami South Beach, SLS, Nobu, and in 2023, one of the artist's butterfly sculptures is featured in the lobby of the boutique Daxton Hotel outside of Detroit, Michigan.[37][23]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "The White Room Transformed in 'Metamorphosis'". 27 East. 2024-03-17. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  2. ^ Chance, Jane (2023-04-07). "Exclusive Interview With Beloved Artist PUNK ME TENDER". Beverly Hills Magazine. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  3. ^ Association, Urban Art. "Mr Brainwash Show ICONS New York 2010 | Urban Art Association". urbanartassociation.com. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  4. ^ a b Bakian, Amir (2022-04-04). "The Inspiring Vision Behind Artist Punkmetender's Work". Daily Front Row. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
  5. ^ "Punk Me Tender | Samuel Lynne Galleries". www.samuellynne.com. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  6. ^ a b "Punk Me Tender". Belvedere Art Space. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  7. ^ Staggs, Valerie (2022-01-05). "Trends to Watch in Art Collecting". Jupiter Magazine. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  8. ^ a b c "PUNKMETENDER | Artist | Art Angels". www.artangels.net. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  9. ^ "PunkMeTender – Fillin Global". Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  10. ^ "Punk Me Tender – Eternity Gallery". www.eternitygallery.com. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  11. ^ a b "LA artist Punk Me Tender to make a splash with debut Perth exhibition". X-Press Magazine - Entertainment in Perth. 2023-09-14. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  12. ^ "LA artist gets lucky with Cottesloe gallery". PerthNow. 2023-09-12. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  13. ^ Lombard, Patricia (July 24, 2015). "Punk Me Tender Makes Art on Larchmont". Larchmont Buzz. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  14. ^ "L.A. STREET ART TOUR ~ OCTOBER 2015 ~ L.A. TACO". lataco.com. 2015-11-06. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  15. ^ White, Nicholas (March 4, 2021). "From Another Dimension: AR Street Art and 3D Graffiti". LA Weekly. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  16. ^ Nys Dambrot, Shana (May 27, 2021). "Influencers and Co-Creators at the Punkmetender Studio". LA Weekly. Retrieved April 29, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ^ White, Nicholas (November 5, 2020). "L.A. Street Artists Vs. Taggers". LA Weekly. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  18. ^ Fowler, Olee (2019-01-10). "A Greek-Inspired Rooftoop Lounge Sets Up Shop in Wynwood". Eater Miami. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  19. ^ "Punk Me Tender Brings His Art to Alibi Sydney | Blog". Ovolo Hotels. 2023-09-18. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  20. ^ Russo, Rebecca (2021-03-19). "First look: The new Ovolo hotel brings a little rockstar energy to South Yarra". Time Out Melbourne. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  21. ^ Team, NOW Bali Editorial (2021-09-30). "The Vibrant Urban Resort MAMAKA by Ovolo is Now Fully Open". NOW! Bali. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  22. ^ a b Andrews, David (2023-06-08). "Exhibit Opens with Live Art Performance at The White Room Gallery". Hamptons.com. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  23. ^ a b "Laura Rathe Fine Art - Punk Me Tender Exhibition Opening". PaperCity Magazine. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  24. ^ a b "house of baron". House of Baron. 2020-01-29. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  25. ^ "Punk Me Tender | Laura Rathe Fine Art". laurarathe.com. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  26. ^ "Punk Angels by World-Renowned Artist PunkMeTender Debuts NFT Collection, Incubator and Social Change Movement". Cryptonews. 2022-02-16. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
  27. ^ "Punk Me Tender Solo Art Show, LA". Average Socialite. 2016-09-08. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  28. ^ Mills, Cristen M. (2016-09-16). "Punk Me Tender Feature on Heart of Cool". HeartofCool. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  29. ^ "Punk Me Tender: Together, we rise, we love, we share the moon | Samuel Lynne Galleries". www.samuellynne.com. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  30. ^ "Artist PunkMeTender shows in Boston's Pellas Gallery". Boston.com. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
  31. ^ Network, Artnet Gallery (2023-04-28). "7 Questions for Gallerists Andrea McCafferty and Kat O'Neill on Bringing 'Red Hot' Art to the Hamptons". Artnet News. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  32. ^ O'Neill, Kat (2023-03-26). "Blank Wall or Blank Canvas?". Hamptons.com. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  33. ^ a b "Celebrated artist touches down from LA". PerthNow. 2023-10-07. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  34. ^ "Punk Me Tender - Punk Me Tender at LRFA Houston | Laura Rathe Fine Art". www.laurarathe.com. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  35. ^ "See Inside the Insanely Gorgeous Birthday Party Khloe Kardashian Threw Her Daughter True". Bravo TV Official Site. 2019-04-17. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  36. ^ "Every Sweet Detail About True Thompson's First Birthday Party, Including A Khloé Kardashian And Tristan Reunion". BET. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  37. ^ Kester, Jennifer. "A Hidden Art And Design Hub In Metro Detroit". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
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