Brad Downey: Spontaneous Sculptures

Brad Downey’s work over the past decade has consistently pitted itself against the sanctioned and the predictable, that’s the first sentence in Brad Downey’s Spontaneous Sculptures book and in my eyes this describes the presented series of urban interventions, transformations and occupation the best way. With this second part of my Urban Art Books & Mags Special I’d like to introduce his latest book to you…

Downey was born 1980 into a military family, studied film in Brooklyn and painting in London and lives right now in Berlin. He’s well-known around the globe for his I would say back-to-the-roots artistic works in public space, which are often almost criminal and confusing (like the burning CCTV cameras) but always simply great and inspiring. For that reason, the Spontaneous Sculptures book, with its 160 colored pages, is a great reading for urban intervention enthusiasts.

Downey’s art discourages quick glances and celebrates the double take. Using elements from film, sculpture, painting, and drawing, he creates remarkable work ranging from the spectacular and headline-making to the small, delicate, and almost hidden.

Unquestionable Brad Downey is a master of the genre and in this book brings together attractive, provocative, and clever urban interventions. I loved to thumb through all the nice actions and could find anyone who wasn’t impressed by the apparent simplicity…

Brad Downey - Spontaneous Sculptures was published by Gestalten and is available for example on Amazon. Go and get it, or write a comment until this Sunday, 8pm GMT, explaining why you need to get a copy of this dope book - I’ll give away one copy for free!