Our latest collaboration with Stickymonger was born out of the impact the pandemic had on everyday life. The major elements featured show the artist’s desire to explore the contradictions of life that were highlighted during this time. She aims to combine contradictory objects for an unpredictable outcome. Immediately noticeable is how working out is juxtaposed with eating unhealthy. The subject in her work is depicted playing tennis while also indulging in eating junk food. “Selfcare vs guilty pleasure” as the artist puts it.

Another interesting contradiction can be seen in the two bags. The duffle bag featuring the PAN AM logo, the airline which was once the epitomy of luxury travel. In contrast is the plastic bag next to it, disposable and relatively worthless but featuring a global icon that easily surpasses that of the airline and whose creator famously only earned $45. It’s exactly this complicated mixture of these contrasting elements in her work that Stickymonger believes reflect “what life is”. Something that became even more apparent in times of a global pandemic when we're all limited in ways we can engage in both selfcare and guilty pleasure. Curious to hear what personal selfcare practices and guilty pleasure this makes you think off! 🥰

I don't know for sure but my guess would be because the two bag symbols are contemporarries, the smiley which was invented in 1963. This is around the same time that Pan Am was experiencing the height of its success.

@acc_22ddcjJZLQ8MLIrq13wclUBr8Ba Do you know why she chose the Pan Am logo as opposed to something current like designer labels? 

🔎UP CLOSE: Sweet Junkfood 

Last September @Christianluiten went to visit Stickymonger at her studio in New York and wrote about it on our Discord. Read below about his visit to her amazingly located studio!

Hands down, this studio probably has the best view of any studio I’ve been to. It’s on one of the top floors of the world trade centre. She actually got the space cause the owner is a big fan of her work and has been working out of there for a couple years now. Not everyone might now but she used to work a corporate 9-5 job for years before going full-time artist.

When we started working with her in 2018 she was moving away from acrylic & vinyl and into water-based spray painting. She really worked to perfect the technique and spray paint is very much her signature now. Initially it was all black & white, she says this comes from her childhood in South Korea. Her family owned a gas station and she remembers the world being reflected in dark petroleum puddles.

Over the years she has become more and more popular and right now the demand is high. Looks like the market is catching up. This is amazing but also brings her a lot of pressure. During covid she was working so much, sometimes even sleeping in the studio. She was close to a burnout but couldn’t go on holiday because of covid. So she kinda went on holiday through the character, you can see this in the work where she’s depicted playing tennis, reading a book or enjoying a cup of tea.

such a cool space to work and be inspired everyday!

I didn't realize she was based in NYC!  Does she try to remain anonymous? 

Thank you for sharing this wonderful experience AA and @acc_20GZFQQ8iZZ7xWWX9GDEz5JmzuHto be able to see how see works and the way her thinking process went through for each artwork. Im astonish to see her thinking process from Black & White to the her newest style, on how the story of character went on a holiday with much pop color and pastel tone feel. Not to mention such a awesome studio overlooking the city!!. Hope i can get a chance to collect her beutiful work with AA and maybe someday be able to see her in person.❤️ 

🌍STICKYMONGER STUDIOVISIT🌍

Stickymonger

Sweet Junkfood is the latest edition to come out of Stickymonger’s internal cinema. Created during the pandemic the work focuses on “what life is about”, enjoying precious moments of self-care and guilty pleasure. The artist imagines herself learning to play tennis and enjoying fast food in this handmade 16-layer screenprint embellished with neon yellow holographic sparkles and pearl white detailing.

A total of 7 editions will be available exclusively to members of the Collective through randomised draw. Entry will close on March 8 at 1400 GMT, immediately after we will start the live drawing process. Enter the draw below and make sure to be here when we announce the winners live!

See the edition on Avant Arte: https://avantarte.co/3hSLfO5