ARTIST SPOTLIGHT RUDY MEYER
I grew up in the French Riviera, a region with a rich history in art. But for the past 15 years, I traveled to 122 countries including many on the french government’s Red Travel List. I explored art galleries, studios and museums in almost every one of these countries. This is where my art obsession and education come from. Along the journey, I developed my own painting and printmaking practice learning with artists, printmakers and street artists worldwide. Since 2019, my art career has been my only focus.
Tell us about your greatest inspirations or influences, please.
My greatest inspirations in art were the ones I could experience in person in museums in the south of France: Picasso, Miro, Giacometti, Matisse and Chagall. I used to spend my Sundays at the Fondation Maeght in Saint Paul de Vence. This is such an inspiring place with an incredible art collection. These days, I feel more connected with the works of Urs Fisher, Richard Prince, Jean Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg and Daniel Arsham.
My influence doesn't stop with artists. I have always been deeply inspired by rebellious visionaries, world icons and risk-takers from different cultures and backgrounds like Bruce Lee, Nelson Mandela, Elon Musk, Dr Dre, Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan,... They taught me ways of non-conformity, bravery and resilience even in the darkest times.
We’d love to hear more about your creative process.
Concerning the Game Changers series, I first choose an iconic figure who deeply inspires me. It takes a few days to select the photography and edit it.
I sketch on my iPad with Procreate to test ideas, compositions, colors... It doesn't mean my end result will look like the sketch but it gives me the first direction.
Then, the manual process starts. On a flat canvas, I use acrylic, spray paint and ink to create abstract backgrounds where I can express my freedom. Then, using a large stencil, I start applying the different colors of the character. To finish, I apply multiple layers of hand-pulled silkscreen printing above to deliver powerful images.
I love the silk screen printing process as it reminds me of the excitement you get waiting for the Polaroid film to dry. The result surprises me every time I remove the screen. Contrary to usual practice, I use the screen as a brush. I want each print to have a different emotion.
The iconic characters are often hand printed multiple times as the multiple layers of the personalities in each individual, the failures and the successes, the dark and the bright sides. Each work is created through a process of destruction and re-shaping that follows an intuitive journey to create a darker and deeper approach of pop art.
Anything coming up that we should know about?
I recently revealed a collection of iconic portraits titled “Game Changers.” These dark, yet poetic, artworks feature icons such as Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, Frida Kahlo, Mao Zedong, Elon Musk, Bruce Lee, Nelson Mandela, and other global revolutionaries who have altered the landscape of human history.
My process of destruction and re-shaping conveys a darker vision of popular art, transforming it into visual poetry. This neo-pop art series fuses acrylics, ink, spray paint, and multiple layers of hand-pulled silk screen printing to deliver impactful imagery.
What does wellbeing mean to you and anything in particular that you practice?
To be happy, I need Freedom and peace of mind. I worked very hard and very well to achieve these, and thankfully I now have the luxury to do what I love every single day. Creativity is important in my daily routine so I always have to paint, draw, plan, sketch, etc.
Traveling is how I express my physical freedom - mobility is like oxygen. Changing location, culture, and experiencing the world has been part of my life for the past decade or so.
To keep my mind at peace, I practice daily meditation and journaling. I also work out or go boxing 6 days a week.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
The life of an artist is a beautiful life worth living. It has ebbs and flows that help make you feel more alive every day. Every young artist needs the fortitude and resilience to to pursue their dreams. For anyone who needs extra motivation or wants to connect, don't hesitate to send me a message on Instagram @rudymeyerstudio. I read and reply to all of them.