Since 2002 (updated often), your independent website for all things stencils. Photo, video, links, and exhibit info submissions always welcome. Ad-free, no pop-ups, and FREE SPEECH forever!! Enjoy, and stay curious.
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New works today, mostly from artists on three different continents:
Here we are! At long last, all the USA Artist stencil archives have been updated. We've actually moved onto the final archives over in the European zones, but more on that later. Today, we zip through the letters S-Z, starting with Zakku, our only artist with that letter. Xavi lost many of his cut outs in a fire a short time ago, but we have pics of some old ones. Xsacto always loved mashing up stencils to make strange monsters, as well as messages that made us think. We first saw Victor Gastelum's work on a Calexico cd cover. Back during our Stencil Nation book tour, Atlanta's Transmit Device showed us some great secret agent style spraying methods. Enjoyed going through Tiago's archive, as well as upgrading Swoon's photos. Shiro's work was on here years ago, and we rediscovered serf's political work. Click through and enjoy!
USA Artists in the letters P to R range have been updated. Pulser rocks the handmade cut outs. The legend Peter Kuper shows up. Punch70 asks what is criminal. Ray "Cro" Noland mixed pop styles with politics. Reksix is also using handmade drawings. We'll feature Ryan Winchell last, with his tight style.
Is it worth it to watermark our own photos? We ran into issues with our watermarking app, spent some time trying to figure out why, and then realized that the jpg photo files were somehow corrupted. Took too much time to deal with, and the fix took out the keywords. Techology.... sigh.
Fear not! New pics from IRL flesh zones are here via the Stencil Archive.
Co-Working Witch Wives: Swoon and Monica Canilao at Chandran Gallery
The artistic pair collaborate on a site-specific dreamscape for their new show at Chandran Gallery.
By Sarah Burke Feb 17, 2016
East Bay Express
On Friday of last week, internationally famous street artist Caledonia Curry, better known as Swoon, and Oakland-based installation artist Monica Canilao hoisted a crown-like sculpture up toward the high ceilings of Chandran Gallery in San Francisco (459 Geary St.). Streams of lace and cloth draped down from the rounded framework, making it look more like an elaborate skirt or a dolled-up specter. In preparation for their joint show, Witch-Wife, opening on Friday, the two artists had entirely transformed the sprawling, white-wall gallery into an eclectic den, with heaps of fabric and paints strewn about the floor.
The Mission’s Beloved Swoon, Parts I & II
by Molly Oleson January 11, 2012
Mission Local
A red Dodge Ram truck pulls up to the curb on Hampshire Street at the corner of 24th, and Chicken John and three other guys jump out. Their eyes quickly scan the coffee-with-extra-cream-colored brick wall of Tony’s Market. And then, on Wednesday, Jan. 4, they get down to business.
From the back of the truck they unload a folding table, buckets, paint rollers, brushes, latex gloves and the most anticipated item of all: a black cardboard box containing two large rolled-up prints by Caledonia Dance Curry, the Brooklyn street artist known as Swoon.
Chicken John, a good friend of Swoon’s who has collaborated with her in the past, has agreed to wheatpaste the contents of the box the artist has sent; agreed to do so in the very spot where she had wheatpasted a piece more than three years ago. That piece had survived the elements and the taggers; it had captured hearts in the Mission with its intricate beauty. Then, more than four months ago, it disappeared. Mission Local logo, with blue and orange lines on the shape of the Mission District Want the latest on the Mission and San Francisco? Sign up for our free daily newsletter below. Email address Sign up
“I was walking down the street a few weeks ago, and when I noticed the blank wall it was like a hole in the heart of the neighborhood,” says Annice Jacoby, editor of “Street Art San Francisco: Mission Muralismo” and a fan of Swoon’s work.
Progress! Moving along and getting close to the finish of the USA Artists Stencil Archive updates. This means we are once again behind in reminding you of all of the amazing photos that this project has collected over the years. For the letters M-O, there are the likes of early-contributor Mathew Curran, cut out paper art from MOR, the manic legend Mr. Brainwash, Nathan Phaneuf, Niz, and classics from Omega Man in Berkeley, CA; the only artist we have whose name starts with the letter "O".
Random new images uploaded today, based solely on how long they have been in the queue! Music by Ron Carter; thanks goes to Josiah, Amanda, Stephen, Gerry, and folks on the socials.
We have continued reviewing and revising the Stencil Archives, still in the USA Artists zones. Today, we feature artists in the K to L part of the alphabet. 1980s work from K Ruby, a large revision for Kim Ubransoule, the CMYK work of John Koleszar, 2003 work from my hometown via Krime, Left of 88 and M Covenant's stencils, Louie Valentine's political stencils, and career-spanning pics from the legend, Logan Hicks.
Does this stencil offend you? How about one with an incel message? A burning car? Trump as a clown? Pornographic images? Anti-Christian?
The Stencil Archive has images that may offend, and that's okay. Why? Because free speech is important to us. So important, that we do not always agree with the stencils that people feel compelled to make and paint in public. But we will post them here on the site.
Having the freedom to stencil what one believes seems like a given, but remember that Iranian street artists were held and persecuted for their public protest stencils. Our research for the "Stencil Nation" book pulled up examples of people who risked their lives to oppose Nazi occupation and Soviet oppression. Monty Python's humorous riff on protest graffiti in "Life of Brian" is real. And that movie stands out as offensive to some, but hilarious to others. Freedom of speech and protest can feel tenuous, which is why it should be deeply held as an inalienable right for everyone.
Whenever freedom of speech (and press) issues come up in mainstream media, Rush's less-known song "Witch Hunt" comes to mind:
Quick to judge
Quick to anger
Slow to understand
Ignorance and prejudice
And fear, walk hand in hand
We note this on our Submit FAQ, but it is worth repeating that few stencils do not make it on this site. They are most likely too pornographic or directly racist and derogatory. Right-wing icons? Yes. An incel stencil that is directly derogatory towards a certain population? No. Left-wing anti-police messages? Yes. Direct messages inciting copycat Luigi Magione actions? No.
We cannot always appease everyone, and that's fine. Once again, free speech doesn't equal total appeasement. Unlike the current atmosphere here in the U.S., different opinions should be allowed. Let's hope this current chill coming out of Washington, DC thaws.
As for those who are thin-skinned and have closed minds:
The righteous rise
With burning eyes
Of hatred and ill-will
Madmen fed on fear and lies
To beat and burn and kill
(Neil Peart, 1980)
