In its exhibition format, art viewing is not that boisterous, nor is it that exhilarating, unless perhaps you are shadowing a graffiti artist, which can be risky. Secret Walls, the organizer of “The Art of Competition,” are changing that as they bring street artists to the stage (or ring?). They are part of a small number of TV shows and events that create competitive micro-environments to judge art in an entertaining setting.
Last Saturday, I—together with a band of high school boys—attended one of their battles in New York, and we were not disappointed. I was excited to be at something that had similar ingredients of a sports game—chants, camaraderie, a rowdy commentator, scorekeeping, and drinking—but was actually about art while the boys were amazed to see an artist at work (and, let’s be honest, drink a shit-ton of energy drinks and wild out). Alongside guest jurors Madsteez (Mark Paul Deren) and Ghostpaint Killa (Louis Amadeus Dain Jensen), the audience’s cheers played a large role in determining the winning team.
The competing artists were all four New York-based, in one (winning) team, L’amour Supreme and Jappy Agoncillo, both street artists and a graphic designer and illustrators, and the other Jason Naylor and Ross Pino, both painters, Naylor is also a creative director. What struck me is that Secret Walls highlighted artists that operate outside of the white box, not only through their street cred, but also having completed many brand partnerships with majors like Nike, Sponge Bob for Nickelodeon, MF Doom, The Chainsmokers, Miley Cyrus’ Bangerz Tour (L’Amour Supreme), Pepsi, Fanta, MAC x Nordstrom (Naylor), and Disney, Adobe, Red Bull New York (Jappy Agoncillo)—seriously heavy names. Except Ross Pino who has a more traditional artist career having exhibited in galleries. The two teams created one work together in 90 minutes and were judged through the loudest audience response in a gameshow meets boxing match kind of a setting. Simple, but, like during any sports game there were times when spectators were not sure what was going on.
The battle discipline was OG Paint, black and white—exactly what it sounds like, on large canvases installed in front of the audience. Although they are pretty hard to come by, Secret Walls is not the only competition art viewing experience. But has been happening since 2006 when the first battle was held in Shoreditch. East London, might be the longest-running. The others however are all on streaming: “The Exhibit: Finding the Next Great Artist” is an MTV and Smithsonian Channel co-production, a reality TV show where the winning artist won an exhibition opportunity at the Smithsonian’s Hirschhorn Museum—Baseera Khan won in 2023. And, “Work of Art: The Next Great Artist,” famously juried by Jerry Saltz the now Pulitzer-winning art critic, but it’s from 2011. Judging by its sold-out shows, “The Art of Competition” brings something that audiences want to the table.
I did notice that the whole thing was a bit of a sausage fest. There are plenty of emerging and established female graffiti artists in New York like Claw Money, Lady Aiko, Lady Pink, Sara Erenthal, or PhoebeNewYork, to name a few, include one of them next time.
What sets “The Art of Competition” apart is that it has similarities to a sports match, it is 90 minutes long and the referee is wearing a black and white striped shirt. Ex-soccer player and current TV host and soccer analyst Kyle Martino is a co-founder and has most probably advised on the structure of the battle. “The sights, sounds, and excitement were contagious as our exciting and innovative artists and amazing partners created an epic battleground.” Terry Guy, Secret Walls’ other co-founder commented.
The U.S. tour continues through the end of November, at least, and the audience in New York extended beyond the regular crew I see at art openings. I spoke to a group of guys working in advertising and a couple working in tech who were on a date (love that!). So, take your kids, your date, and your friends to “The Art of Competition” in a city near you before it’s too late.
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