Spank the Monkey
Spank The Monkey is an international survey of recent contemporary urban art by curator Pedro Alonzo and BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art Director Peter Doroshenko. Starring artists that are working at the burgeoning interface of the established art arena with the “street art” scene, the book addresses the parallels between these two functioning art worlds.
Spank The Monkey presents new and recent pieces by twenty-two artists who share a remarkable creative vitality and innovative spirit. In addition to showcasing their work, the book also investigates the new marketing techniques that today’s young artists are creating to bring their art to an international audience while circumventing the traditional museum and gallery circuit.
Harnessing the energy of some of the most significant artists to emerge from this new international sub-culture, Spank The Monkey features painting, sculpture, drawing, graphic design, installation, illustration and photography by heroes of the scene including Barry McGee, Miss Van, Groovisions, Shepard Fairey, Os Gemeos, Swoon, Banksy and others. Accompanying essays examine the works and place them in a broad context of urban and street art.