Artist: Matthew Ryan Sharp

If you're in Chicago I highly recommend stopping by A.OKAY OFFICIAL in Lake View to see Matt Sharp's new exhibit 'Weapons of Mass Construction' with Project Detonate, it is more than worth your while. Matt's work has really interested me for a few years now, and it was a real pleasure to see his show in person and get to meet him. Matt's work is gritty, depressing, and full of character. His trademark characters are the Midwest Ghosteez, which is what originally caught my eye, and they have been produced in every form from paintings, wheat pastes, and even a plush figure of them was made last year. Matt has a very unique and controlled almost scribble style to his figures with heavily distressed and splattered background. His work can be found on everything from traditional canvases to pieces of wood to street signs and newspaper boxes, as long as it is remotely flat it seems that Matt will paint on it.
Matthew Ryan Sharp on MySpace


Various Midwest Ghosteez, 2008


Can You Count Suckas?, 2008


Ghosteez roaming around Chicago


Drown Your Sorrows, 2008


Dirtbag, 2008 . . . sorry kids this one is SOLD!

Music: Justice

Hailing from France, the duo of Xavier de Rosnay and Gaspard Auge have created the most revolutionizing dance music since Daft Punk. Pulling influences from everything from Michael Jackson to heavy metal; Justice uses heavy cut up bass lines, and distorted synth leads to forge their signature sound. Even beyond their music, Justice, in my opinion, has the best music videos in the business. The videos for "D.A.N.C.E." and "DVNO" have a very heavy typographic and illustration focus while the video for "Stress" feels more like a modern day Clockwork Orange. Justice recently released the DVD/CD 'A Cross The Universe' which features a live set as well as a documentary following Justice around on tour.
Justice on MySpace


"D.A.N.C.E."


"Stress"