Artista: Soho Takeover, 17 January 2017
A couple of weeks ago, on a Tuesday in January, the artist Artista put on a solo show for one day only. And I was free to pop along!
She had recently painted the outside wall of her studio with her signature image of a flying toast. On 31st December, she announced on Instagram, “My last collaboration marked 100 public pieces this year, 62 of them a flying toast. 2016 has been one of my best years years without a doubt.”
Mural by Artista. Red pill or button image by Miles Khan. Soho London. (photographed 17 January 2017)
Artista: The Seven Deadly Sins series
It was via another exhibition in 2014 at Monty’s Bar on Brick Lane, that I first came across Artista’s work. I wasn’t aware of her presence on the streets yet. And I fell in love with a series of paintings called the Seven Deadly Sins. And two from this series were on display at the Soho Takeover show.
“Envy” by Artista. painted in 2014. (photographed 17th January 2017)
So what is this work about? Artista explained to me that the one eyed pyramid is a 3D letter A for Artista. And this was her first signature tag on the streets. In 2014, she came up with the flying toast concept because it was typically British. Everybody loves toast and the demand for flying toast murals rapidly grew. She painted 62 public works in 2016 alone.
Wrath (left) and Lust (right) paintings by Artista, exhibition at Monty’s Bar on Brick Lane. (photographed 2 October 2014)
The Seven Deadly Sins series show how the A creature feels threatened by the success of the flying toast. I love all the details. In the painting Lust, toast love is everywhere and the Pyramid is so enthral to toast. I think they would make a great picture book.
Artista’s one day show, A Soho Takeover on 17th January 2017
Fast forward two years later and the current show is all about toast.
View as you walk into the gallery
There were four different coloured versions of the toast lying in a bed of leaves for each of the four seasons. Blue (below) is winter, pale greens (spring) greens (summer), and reds (autumn). You can glimpse the others in the larger photograph above.
“Sloth” from Seven Deadly Sins series. Also an homage to Charlie Brown and Snoopy.
A batch of Flying Toast prints by Artista
On a table in the recreated studio area by the window were more toast prints, cork mats and miniature prints.
Here is the Flying Toast and the Pyramid on holiday together. An uneasy truce. The Toast is still flying high.
“Wish You Were Here”
Flying Toast murals spotted around London
Blackall Street, Shoreditch. This spot is regularly repainted in new colour-ways. Image also includes a Noriaki creature and pink design by Autone. (photographed 22 Nov 2016)
Shoreditch. (photographed 3rd August 2016)
Brockley, South London (photographed 21st August 2016)
Croydon, London (photographed 6th August 2016)
But the Pyramid A creature is not forgotten. This was painted last summer in Penge.
Penge, South London. Couple under umbrella by Dope (photographed 9th July 2016)
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