Gary John has been a street artist since 1985. Originally from Seattle, Washington, he moved to Venice Beach, California in 2003 and began selling his drawings on the Venice Boardwalk.
After almost ten years selling his work on the boardwalk and experiencing “a bout with homelessness,” John first exploded onto the international art scene during Art Basel Miami in 2013. John’s playfully bold work quickly gained attention and he was named one of 20 standout artists at the 2014 New York Affordable Art Fair. His artworks continue to be exhibited at galleries and major international art fairs in the United States, Asia, and Europe. Notable collectors include Kelly Clarkson.
John cites Pablo Picasso, Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat as his artistic inspirations. Other influences are comic books and American Pop Culture, which he infuses with emotional and impulsive gestures. His mixed media works blur the boundaries between Pop Art and Abstract Expressionism with Street Art elements.