Thank You X - Not Art Made Worse

Thank You X has made a career out of Andy Warhol's image.  But its not really art.  After all, the image is an already famous and well recognized photo of Andy Warhol.  Thank You X just adds his name and puts the stencil somewhere in the city.  Its not really art, this is more of an activity.

But it gets worse.  Someone, assumably not Thank You X, but someone else came an 'decorated' a sidewalk stencil of Andy Warhol.  Its a simple matter of tracing lines and coloring areas in, but this piece is massacred worse than a 5-year old's coloring book after a new box of crayons.

Even if its on the streets, its not all art.  There might be some redeeming value in the act as activity, but for the viewer, there is none apparent.  This is 'not art' made worse.

Stolen Imagery

A story has been developing in Los Angeles where a store called HD Buttercup has enlarged a photo print of a street piece from Thank You X, and is now selling this print in the store for $3,000 (pictured above).

Thank You X says that he never gave the store permission to use the image, or sell it.  He is not pleased and X's lawyer has sent a cease-and-desist letter to the store to stop selling it.

There is not doubt that the image HD Buttercup is selling is the same shot as one that X stenciled on a dumpster (see pic below).  However, this situation is further complicated by the fact that the image at hand is a stencil picture of Andy Warhol.  It is based on an iconic photograph of Andy Warhol (not sure who took the original?).  Thank You X says that he drew a hand painted piece based upon the original photograph image and that his image is trademarked, but X does not have intellectual rights to the original image in the first place.

This situation has a lot of similarities to the case last year when Mr. Brainwash got sued by Glen E. Friedman when MBW used Friedman's iconic Run DMC photograph in an art piece without permission.  MBW lost the lawsuit because the judge ruled that Brainwash did not change the image enough.

So what's the moral of the story?  Its fucked up when any store appropriates imagery from any artist without permission and/or compensation.  As his lawyer advises him, if X were to sue the store, he would probably win.  However, if the original photographer chose to sue X, they might also probably win.  Perhaps, the moral of the story might be that if an artist want's to protect the intellectual property rights of their art, the way to do that is to create original art.  Pop imagery is a favorite to employ among street artists.  Because even though that image might be iconic,  that recognition also comes loaded with previous baggage.

I'm In LA, Of Course I'm Happy~

Andy Warhol: Blue

Street artist 'X' puts up a 'Thank You' Andy Warhol poster with a blue background.

X'd

X hits a Melrose rooftop.

Thank You Banksy (paste here!)

Another note from AJL saying 'Paste Here'. Not sure if its another not directed to Banksy (he paints more than pastes?) or just a little quip for the street artists of LA.

Next to a 'Thank You' Andy Warhol from X.

New Video and Website for 'X'

Rumors have been swirling that it was 'X' who showed Banksy's crew around town, and up top of the 'Livin the Dream' billboard. We still can't verify that, but what we do know for sure is that 1.) X does hang out with Demi Moore, Susan Surandon, Blake Lively, Cobra Starship and a grip more celebrities, 2.) he has hit seemingly every other rooftop and billboard in LA, and 3.) he just launched his website, 'Thank You, 'X'', which comes with the release of dope new video as well.

We enjoy most street art videos but we have a special appreciation for the ones that are well done, and this Adolfo J Lara is one of the best we have seen. It is more like a 3 minute film than a video, masterfully edited and cut, and in that short amount of time it captures the action and thrill of the streets, as well as the essence of 'X' as a person as he talks about cops, art and his 'thank you' to Andy Warhol.

It has been a thrill to watch X's street career skyrocket as high as the rooftops he climbs. Click the links to find out more about X, and join us in following his career as it shoots even higher~

X - Judgement Day

Rumors have been swirling about whether LA's own Rooftop King 'X' showed Banksy around town and up top the billboard on Sunset.

We are not sure, but X did get up some new action of his own last night with this 'Judgement Day' billboard takeover, featuring his 'Thank You, Andy Warhol' image. Click the jump below for more

Hooked Up - Thank You 'X'

X has been getting his art out to some really cool places lately, on the streets and into the homes of celebrities.

And some people are going to hate, but that just means you're doing something right . . .

Beverly Hills Gets X'd

X put up a massive, split tone Andy Warhol in Beverly Hills.

Click the jump for more

Beautiful Andy

Stickers from Beautiful Decay, Andy Warhol, X, Thank You, Fear Google, Xvala, Evil Number, Stereo and more.

Rack Em and Stack Em

Alec and X get up together on another rooftop spot.

Click the jump for more

New 'Thank You Andy Warhol' Stickers

New 'Thank You Andy Warhol' stickers from X.

Getting poled further on down by SmogCity, Expensive Taste, Lousy, Husky and a few more we can't make out.

X Saves the Day

^'X' hanging out with Demi Moore at Sundance.

X launched onto the national street art scene and rose to the top of the game in no time, both literally and figuratively. From rooftops to freeway overpasses to top tier Hollywood parties, X has been straight rocking it. And he is about to take part in his first art show this weekend . . .

Thank You, but, No Thank You

A massive Thank You Andy Warhol piece of street art from 'X' got mostly buffed atop this tremendous construction site. You can still see the top of Andy's head and 'Thank'.

Apparently the building owners wanted the spot for their own advertising. 'Who is on Piers Morgan tonight?" Shoot, we didn't even know that Piers was on! (or who the hell Piers even is!)

Gooface

In 'Exit Through the Gift Shop' Banksy says, "Before Thierry (Mr. Brainwash), I used to tell everyone that they should do art . . . I really don't do that anymore . . . "

Thank You Andy Warhol

A great spot for these Thank You Andy Warhol posters from street artist 'X'.

The Hottest at a Hot Spot

More new work popped up at this hot spot of an abandoned building on Sunset . . .

A Great XXXX-ing Story!

X staring at some rootop street art. He told us a great story that led to this piece . . .

Hooked Up- Thank You, X

'X' hooked up MELROSEandFAIRFAX with a trio of hand finished Andy Warhol prints.

We love them~

And like the way Mr. Brainwash puts a thumb print on every piece of art, the form cut head has its own stamp of authenticity from X-it has his footprint on it. Followers of the blog know that we are somewhat of sneakerheads, and we love this mark.

People always want to find out more about X-You can follow X's art more closely at the links below
THANK YOU X TWITTER
THANK YOU X FACEBOOK
THANK YOU X FLICKR

Thanks, X ~