Alec Monopoly

Alec Andon,[1] known professionally as Alec Monopoly, is a graffiti artist, originally from New York City. The artist has worked in the urban environments of New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Europe, Mexico and throughout Asia using varied materials (including stencils, spray paint, epoxies, varnishes and newspapers) to subversively depict various iconic pop culture characters. He also is a brand ambassador with Swiss watchmaker TAG Heuer and created a mural live, on red carpet for the 2013 film, Justin Bieber's Believe. Monopoly's work has been purchased by Miley Cyrus, Robin Thicke, Snoop Dogg, Seth Rogen, Adrien Brody and Iggy Azalea.[2]

Life and work

Monopoly grew up in Westhampton Beach, NY, the son of wealthy financiers. He moved to Los Angeles in 2006. He found working there was easier because of the many billboards in the city, and because of New York's more discerning art world[3]

Monopoly is best known for his tuxedoed, monocle and top-hatted graffiti character of Monopoly Man,[4] an idea originally inspired by the stockbroker Bernie Madoff.[3] According to John Wellington Ennis writing for the Huffington Post, "In an era of billion dollar bailouts for banks that already own the country and moguls decrying regulation as un-American, the re-contextualization of the childhood symbol of success and wealth almost needed no explanation."[4] Monopoly also pastes up images of Jack Nicholson.[5]

Although graffiti continues to be conveyed as a crime, in his feature in Juxtapoz Magazine, the artist discussed his best efforts to avoid the vandalism aspect of the street art world:

"I stay away from mailboxes, highways, freeways, and basically any federal and government property. I like warehouses and abandoned buildings. For example I would never hit a coffee shop like the one we’re in: they [the owners] are trying to make it just like I am. I try to be as positive as I can about what I put out there and I try to do it with imagery everyone can identify with. Most people walking by my stuff are not graffiti people or art people, so figuring out a way that everyone can identify with my work is important."[6]

In November 2010 he had his first solo gallery show in New York.[6] In December 2010 he took part in an exhibition at the Mondrian Hotel as part of Art Basel Miami Beach.[6] In 2013 he hosted a yacht party at Art Basel Miami Beach, sponsored by Samsung.[7]


In December 2013 Monopoly created a piece of work, painted 'live' on a piece of red carpet, to publicise Justin Bieber's concert documentary, Justin Bieber's Believe.[7]

Artnet included Alec Monopoly in the Top 10 Most Searched Artists on its website in 2014.[8]

In 2016, Swiss watch company TAG Heuer announced a collaboration with Monopoly at Miami Art Basel, naming him the company's "art provocateur". Monopoly reportedly arrived at the event in a Lamborghini he painted. The collaboration is part of TAG Heuer CEO Jean-Claude Biver's entry into markets that may not necessarily be traditional markets for the company, an idea Biver calls "universes", which include sport, heritage, lifestyle and art and music. Other brand ambassadors in the program include David Guetta, OneRepublic, Martin Garrix, Cara Delevingne, Chris Hemsworth, Red Bull Racing, Manchester United F.C. and Muhammad Ali.[9][10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Don’t Pass Go: Unpacking the Feud Between Mike Mozart and Alec Monopoly". Bowery Boogie. 10 December 2015. Archived from the original on 29 May 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  2. ↑ Tucker, Matthew (23 January 2014). "Alec Monopoly Interview: American Street Artist Takes On ‘Extreme Capitalism’". Huffington Post. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
  3. 1 2 Carbone, Bradley (6 December 2010). "Art Interview: Alec Monopoly Talks Evading Arrest, Aloe Blacc, and the Mr. Brainwash Hoax". Complex Media. Archived from the original on 14 April 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  4. 1 2 Ennis, John (25 May 2011). "The Blog: Who Is Alec Monopoly?". Huffington Post. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  5. ↑ Perez, Pablo (25 April 2010). "Monopoly Man: Interview with Street Artist Alec". The Dirt Floor. Archived from the original on 4 May 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  6. 1 2 3 Fetch, Brock (16 Nov 2010). "Feature: Interview with Alec Monopoly". Juxtapoz: The Art & Culture Magazine. Archived from the original on 4 May 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  7. 1 2 Trinh, Jean (16 November 2010). "Street Artist Alec Monopoly Is Painting The Mural For Justin Bieber's Movie Premiere". LAist. Archived from the original on 20 May 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  8. ↑ Daniel, Darla (10 January 2015). "The Top 10 Most Searched Artists on artnet in 2014". Artnet. Archived from the original on 9 January 2017. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  9. ↑ Doerr, Elizabeth (13 December 2016). "Alec Monopoly Joins The TAG Heuer Universe: A (Street) Artist In Swiss Residence". Quill & Pad. Archived from the original on 3 January 2017. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
  10. ↑ "ALEC MONOPOLY IS NOW TAG HEUER'S ART PROVOCATEUR". TAG Heuer. 30 November 2016. Archived from the original on 4 January 2017. Retrieved 3 January 2017.

Filmography

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