Steve Lazarides
| Steve Lazarides | |
|---|---|
| Born |
1969 (age 44–45) Bristol, United Kingdom |
| Occupation | Art promoter |
| Known for | Agent for the graffiti artist Banksy and promoter of street art |
| Website | |
| www.lazinc.com | |
Steve Lazarides (born c. 1969)[1] is an English art gallery owner best known for his role as agent for the graffiti artist, Banksy. He became known as the person who helped popularise street art and the 'go-to' person for his knowledge about the latest trends in underground art.[2]
Early life
Steve Lazarides grew up in Bristol, England. He worked variously as a chicken processor, builder, and photographer,[3] having studied photography at Newcastle University.[1]
Art career
While in his twenties, Lazarides was working on a photograph shoot for Sleaze Nation magazine when he met Banksy.[4] He then began selling the graffiti artist's work to friends.[3] Lazarides became Banksy's agent, some sources claim he "launched Banksy's career".[5] He launched the 'Pictures on Walls' website to promote graffiti art.[4] The market in street art took off in 2007 only shortly before the 2008 Recession, with Banksy's work, "Laugh Now", selling for £228,000 at auction in early 2008.[4] According to the Financial Times, "If there had been one individual responsible for whipping up and sustaining the fever around urban art, and who stood to lose most from its demise, it was Steve Lazarides."[4]
Lazarides later opened up his first gallery in London, holding "spectacular"[6] shows of work by artist Jonathan Yeo and French street artist JR.[6]
By 2009 Lazarides had opened his third permanent gallery space, Lazarides Rathbone, near Oxford Street, the first exhibition being of the Portuguese graffiti artist Vhils.[7] Lazarides Rathbone now forming the flagship Lazarides space alongside sister galleries, The Outsiders London, based in nearby Soho, and The Outsiders Newcastle..[1]
Post-Banksy
Lazarides and Banksy parted ways in 2009 in unexplained circumstances.[4] Lazarides began to broaden his scope to organise shows of art that "would not look out of place on a Turner Prize shortlist".[4]
Since the split, Lazarides has organised several ambitious 'pop-up' shows, including Hell's Half Acre in October 2010, held in The Old Vic Tunnels beneath Waterloo Station, London.[4][8] He returned to the tunnels in 2011 and 2012, with shows titled "Minotaur" and Bedlam. The most recent Lazarides off-site venture was in collaboration with The Vinyl Factory in October 2013, titled BRUTAL and taking place at London's 180 The Strand[9]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Mikhailova, Anna (13 October 2013). "Steve Lazarides, the gallery owner who backed the street artist, is looking to profit from communist posters". The Sunday Times.(subscription required)
- ↑ "Live Nation, Tribeca Film Festival and Banksy's Ex-dealer Plan to Challenge Miami Art Basel". PaperMag.com (The Huffington Post). 31 January 2011. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Sooke, Alastair (4 August 2007). "A shop window for outsiders". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 Child, Andrew (28 January 2011). "Urban renewal:Steve Lazarides continues to expand his street art empire". The Financial Times. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
- ↑ Michals, Susan (11 October 2010). "Banksy's Ex-Gallerist Talks About Their Breakup, Depictions of Hell". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Steinmetz, Jacqueline (3 November 2012). "Lazarides: A Street Art Empire". Trebuchet Magazine. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
- ↑ Leitch, Luke (11 July 2008). "Steve Lazarides: Graffiti’s ?ber-dealer". The Times.(subscription required)
- ↑ "Artistic Installations to be Shown in Recently Discovered Labyrinth Beneath London's Waterloo Station". ArtDaily.org. 11 October 2010. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
- ↑ "Bedlam? You don't have to be mad to work in the arts, but it helps". Independent.co.uk. 9 October 2012. Retrieved 6 November 2013.