Art You Should Like: Matt Leines

Last week I stumbled across a book of illustrations authored by Matt Leines (You Are Forgiven). After standing there in the store and looking in awe at every image in the book, I can now say that Matt Leines is my new favorite artist. He should be yours, too (or at the very least, you should be aware of him).

You may have seen some of Leines’ work before. He’s done designs for clothing company RVCA, and has had his artwork featured in Swindle magazine. And if you don’t live in one of the fly-over states, then maybe you’ve seen his work in a local art gallery. His art has hung on walls in Los Angeles, New York, Greece and Tokyo, among others.

Matt is often lumped in with graffiti artists and skateboard artists (such as Mark Gonzales and Ed Templeton). This makes sense, given the fact that Leines’ work boasts an unrefined, yet impeccably brilliant style that draws heavily on childhood memories and influences.

For Matt, these influences include pro wrestling, He-Man, superheroes and tigers. Throw in a mixture of more adult interests (he now watches the History Channel for inspiration) and you get artwork that’s part kid’s drawing, part Native American design and part Picasso masterpiece. Check out some of Matt Leines’ work below:

(More Matt Leines art at Swindle and Roberts and Tilton)