Roid

Roid MSK / Willis

Urban Art, Graffiti

June 23, 2014

The immediately recognizable art of British artist Roid has garnered him international fame. His unique style and exceptional technical skills can clearly be seen in his works, which the artist draws by hand with painstaking precision. Roid does not limit himself to one material but works on various canvases, including paper, walls, and wood. Interested in always pushing the boundaries of his art Roid draws inspiration from numerous sources, such as graffiti artists, computer programs, and Japanese graphic designers, to name a few.

Roid's Numerous Art Influences

Roid was born in 1982 in London. In 2008 he graduated from London's Camberwell College of Art and immediately joined the MSK, an internationally renowned graffiti crew. MSK boasts an impressive list of members, such as Retna, Revok, Sever, Saber, and Rime. For years Roid honed his skill, drawing inspiration from different sources. Yet the most significant influence comes from the famous Japanese graphic designer Tadanori Yokoo, best known for his collage screen-prints. Another important name for the artist is the creator of Akira, Katsuhiro Otomo. The artist maintains his curiosity in all things and an open mind. Thus other influences include typography, manga, visual elements from the 80s and 90s, computer generated glitches and designs. When combined all together, he does not allow them to overwhelm him. Instead, he incorporates them and makes them his own. In 2011 Roid had an exhibition of illustrations at Known Gallery in Los Angeles, which immediately caught the public's attention and was praised by critics. He was included in Forbes Magazine's "The 30 Most Important Artists and Designers under 30" list.

Unique Graffiti Style

In 2012 Roid had a solo exhibition in London entitled More than Ever. This show cemented his place in the world of fine art. What makes Roid's work stand out from the rest is his meticulous precision and attention to detail. This quality has often led people to doubt it was hand-painted, instead often assuming everything was digitized. Yet this calculating aspect of his work is perfectly in balance with the themes he explores, among them the idea of love stories between robots and computers.

However, it is important to note that no matter how much fain and success he has, Roid always goes back to the roots. The thing that gets him out of bed in the morning is the opportunity to hit the streets and create graffiti. Pushing his personal artistic boundaries and constantly evolving as an artist is something that he always strives to do. Unfortunately, the perfectionist in him knows he will never be fully satisfied with his artwork.

Featured image: Photo of Roid. Courtesy of the artist 



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