Richard Hambleton, a street artist who came to prominence in the 1980s East Village, died on Sunday. He was 65. (A cause of death was not mentioned in published reports.)
Here's more from artnet News:
The enigmatic artist burst on the scene alongside a group of confidants and collaborators that included Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, and Kenny Scharf. Hambleton soon became known for his signature “shadowman” motif, a splotched, black, leering figure that appeared on the walls of buildings in downtown Manhattan.
Just as Hambleton’s career took off he started using drugs, including heroin and crack. He relied on the drugs, particularly the heroin, to reach a mental state that he felt helped him depict the sublime. A long battle with addiction would plague him throughout his life.
Hambleton, who most recently was living in an East Village studio, had enjoyed a revival this year. "Shadowman," Oren Jacoby's documentary about his life and work, debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival back in the spring.
Hambleton's work is also part of "Club 57: Film, Performance and Art in the East Village, 1978-1983," an exhibit that opened yesterday at MoMa.
"Right up to his death he was painting," Kristine Woodward of Woodward Gallery told artnet News. "We'd never known anybody who lived to paint the way Richard did, he was just such a dedicated artist, it's all he cared about, he was not a careerist, he just wanted to paint."
There were many tributes to Hambleton on Twitter...
Unfortunatly one of the most influencial artists of our time passed away this week, r.i.p. #richardhambleton #shadowman
— VroomandVarossieau (@vanv_streetart) October 31, 2017
Photo Søren Solkær pic.twitter.com/6LT0xjAUH1
Richard Hambleton (1952-2017) is remembered for his profound contribution to ART history. A true visionary genius who lived to create. pic.twitter.com/yarcyhVsth
— Woodward Gallery (@WoodwardGallNYC) October 31, 2017
R.I.P. Artist Richard Hambleton ( my 2014 portrait of him) #richardhambleton #shadowman pic.twitter.com/TBSLJZP47N
— Curt Hoppe (@curthoppe) October 30, 2017
Rest in peace, Richard Hambleton, godfather of NY street art. His life and work were chronicled in the 2017 Tribeca docu-portrait SHADOWMAN. pic.twitter.com/VRatDYExvF
— Tribeca (@Tribeca) October 31, 2017
RIP Richard Hambleton, the great street artist. and creator of #shadowmen. He died last night in NYC at the age of 65. pic.twitter.com/9ETa1sC2jk
— Shadowman Film (@shadowman_film) October 30, 2017
RIP Richard Hambleton, one of the greatest street artists of all time. #ShadowMan pic.twitter.com/WelGZZyBi7
— Bucky Turco (@buckyturco) October 31, 2017
RIP to the Shadowman 🖤
— Max Furr (@Maxarius) October 31, 2017
The Godfather of street art, Richard Hambleton pic.twitter.com/CkYzm9bAym
#art #shadownman #streetart #graffiti once upon a time in new york... peace to richard hambleton pic.twitter.com/td60CCYSHA
— John Fekner (@johnfekner) October 30, 2017
6 comments:
I remember those figures, always eerie, compelling, and darkly beautiful. Never knew who did them, but they always added an interesting visual component to the landscape. God, how I miss that New York...
Loved the guys work. Startling. Ultimately haunting. Twilight art- it lived between the here and now and out there. RIP.
I miss that New York, too. The Shadowmen were fantastic, disturbing, amusing, and unforgettable. Miss them.
So sad..he was a great artist..rip
Deeply sad to learn of his death. I first met him in Vancouver (where he was from) many years ago at the Western Front Art Center (founded by Michael Morris among others). His inability to get control of his addiction robbed us all of the challenge to follow his art.
Richard was a dear friend and truly great artist, interesting, intellectual soft spoken with a dry humor. Here it is years later and thru his art I bought he still connects me to him and difficult as he was I still think of him with a smile but oh what a “hard edged life” he lived ( that was one of his dedications on an art work he sold me. I knew his golden years of beauty and great art creations, lucky me! Loved you Richard and still do even tho he cut me loose for no apparent reason. He was an accolight to the ART GOD
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