Hanksy has been a popular name in the New York City urban culture since 2011, when the incognito street artist superimposed Tom Hank’s face on wheatpaste in NYC’s NoLlta neighborhood. The artist’s name and street art are both inspired by Banksy, as he has been producing similarly humorous, playful and punny work to subvert pop culture and politics, troll personality-cults, and express the unique urban life and culture in America.
In 2016, Hanksy came out of the dark, or at least shifted under a new light, and under the artist’s other name – Adam Lucas. Lucas’ work is both on the streets and off the streets, but is always inspired by them. His use of brazen yet elegant color chords, somewhat cubist influences, mixed media by layering images, text, and designs, and ever-present references to contemporary culture, make his style recognizable throughout his path between realms.
His work, in both style and content, always seems to vibrate with the sound of the city and reflect its multi-cultural spirit, from niche underground scenes to subjects that weigh heavy on its population. With inventive designs and rich subtext, Lucas’ work shapes the cultural zeitgeist of the streets of NYC.
Check out some of his work.
