Splashes of Graffiti Colorize Classic Grey Artworks

Norway-based stencil artist Martin Whatson recently celebrated a sold out show, The Beauty of Grey, at MSA Gallery in Paris, France. The show featured a collection of large canvas paintings and a statue of an angel—a prominent display of Whatson's signature style in which he combines urban street art with classic paintings.

Using gorgeous black and white stencil art as the base, Whatson spray-painted sections of each piece with bright splashes of color. The visually energizing graffiti covered the wings of an angel or the tutu of a ballet dancer, and viewers were invited to appreciate the strikingly detailed "beauty of grey" as it visually compared to the bold colors and modern style.

According to Whatson's bio, "He looks for inspirations in city landscapes and old soon to be demolished buildings. This interest for decay has helped develop his style, motives, and composition, and he enjoys creating either unity or conflict between materials and motives." He finds beauty in what others might define as ugly, and in these pieces in particular, he perfectly blended two styles of art together into a unique and captivating presentation.

Martin Whatson's website
MSA Gallery website
via [Street Art News]