10 | LUXlife Magazine orn in Fort Lauderdale but raised in New Jersey, Tysen Knight’s creative journey began in high school when he started painting on jeans for other kids. Having grown up during the peak of the Street Art Movement, he found inspiration in the works of renowned street artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring. At the same time, he was also significantly influenced by fine artist Pablo Picasso and pop artist Andy Warhol. Tysen’s interest in a variety of mediums shaped his current artistic style, which uniquely blends street art and fine art. His work boasts bold hues that create striking contrasts and effortlessly catch the eye. Each brush stroke and colour choice tells a tale, evoking emotions that resonate with the viewer at full volume. Tysen’s work also pays homage to his African American lineage and urban upbringing. With his inspiration, influence, and talents lying in the styles of fine art, pop art, and graffiti art, he came up with a new phrase to describe his niche: pop urban art. Today, Tysen is based in Palm Springs, California, where his distinct and colourful work brings life to the local area and is showcased in a number of galleries. It is clear that, for him, art cannot be confined to a canvas. Creating commissioned murals across the city, he tackles a variety of urban surfaces with enthusiasm. For example, in 2022, Tysen took to transforming benches around Palm Springs into bold, eye-catching conversation pieces, utilising an array of electric colours to invigorate and enhance the city’s iconic landscapes. He chose to depict famous figures like Elvis, Marilyn, and Judy Garland, whilst also featuring some of his personal inspirations, including Warhol, Basquiat, and Haring. Tysen found that, whilst many people recognised Warhol, fewer were familiar with Basquiat and Haring. He was pleased that, through his work, he was able to bring these inspirational artists to their attention. Interestingly, Tysen’s passion for creation extends to other forms of visual art, including film. With a love for acting that can be traced back to his time spent dancing, singing, and recreating movie scenes in childhood, he has been known to venture into the world of Hollywood. Over the years, Tysen has featured in films like ‘Epic Movie’, ‘Nora's Hair Salon 2: A Cut Above’, and ‘House Arrest’. Furthermore, his creative pursuits onscreen have landed him on billboards as part of the Meth PSA Drug Awareness Campaign in Los Angeles, California. Having gained a wealth of experience in the world of film, Tysen was later inspired to try his hand at filmmaking. He set out to create ‘The Art of Hustle: Street Art Documentary’, a full-length documentary that Best International Artist & Mentor (USA): Tysen Knight Striving to encourage people to “Be inspired!”, Tysen Knight is an international artist, muralist, and award-winning filmmaker whose colourful public art can be seen all over downtown Palm Springs. Here, we explore his impressive career, during which he has not only made a mark on his local area in California but also positively influenced the next generation of artists. B
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUyMDQwMA==