Phibs’ solo exhibition at Oh Really Gallery

Phibs at work on 'Project Ugly' in Leichhardt

ICONIC GRAFFITI ARTIST ‘PHIBS’ SOLO EXHIBITION
23 – 29 April, 2009
Oh Really Gallery (Newtown)

Phibs will launch his solo exhibition of mixed media artworks at Oh Really Gallery in Newtown on 23 April – 29 April. The exhibition will include a mix of media including aerosol, acrylic, watercolour, paint, canvas, board, steel and masonite boxes.

To help promote his upcoming show, Phibs has painted a new wall at Leichhardt on the corner of Catherine and Albion Streets (pictured above). The wall is part of the ‘Project Ugly’ partnership between Oh Really Gallery and the local graphic design business Look Print. The Project is designed to give Gallery artists a 6m x 3m outdoor space to showcase their work.

“An old lady walked past the wall which had a new artwork going up and she said ‘that’s ugly’,” says Oh Really Gallery Director, Dan O’Toole. “The name stuck.”

Fans of Phibs can find the location of his other inner city walls from the Oh Really Gallery website www.ohreallymagazine.com

An example of a recent work

Phibs is a graphic designer originally from Sydney, who now works full time as an artist in Melbourne. His recognisable graffiti style has a tribal feel with an intricate exploration of bold characters and patterning. Phibs is a traditional graffiti artist who has been commissioned by corporations to do large signs and murals.

Previous Phibs works can be viewed at www.phibs.com

However Phibs also enjoys doing character work which he describes as being more people friendly. “It’s about nature, animals and fantasy creatures that I make up in my head. Whereas my straight graffiti work or tags is often threatening to people because they don’t understand it.”

Phibs’ work is held in many collections and he has done walls in New York, Berlin, India and many cities in Australia. Phibs left Sydney five years ago, disgruntled by the dwindling art scene. “Things are starting to happen again in Sydney,” says Phibs.

Oh Really Gallery is located at 55 Enmore Road, Newtown 2042 and is open Thursdays to Sundays, 11am – 6pm.

For more info, artist interview or images please contact Jacinta Walpole on 0422 033 055 or ohreallypromo@gmail.com