In Conversation with Lefty Out There & Maeve Doyle

Lefty Out There with Artistic Director Maeve Doyle.

Maeve Doyle: What do your polymorphs mean to you, Lefty?

Lefty Out There: My polymorphs are symbiotic with my identity. I always say that they represent life, existence, growth and vibration. Like a presence, they exist everywhere and shapeshift to mean whatever the viewer needs them to mean.

MD: When did you realise you wanted to be an artist?

Lefty Out There: Since day one, I knew I was going to be some kind of artist. I drew a lot of patterns as a child, including my polymorphs, but people didn’t understand them. They thought they were a little crazy. It felt very natural to draw these intense, organic patterns that filled the page. I never enjoyed using pens and pencils. I much preferred acrylic markers. The janitor from the building I lived in in Chicago gifted me a box of markers with a rounded tip and fatter presence. I didn’t know they existed. As soon as I had access to good materials, that really ignited my love of drawing.

The artist creating the exhibiting piece, 'Initium'.

MD: You briefly worked in the music industry. How did it help shape who you are as an artist?

Lefty Out There: Music was my first interpretation of art. For a while after graduating, I produced music for other artists and made my own music. I took it very seriously and still use the skills I acquired today. Being exposed to professionals at such a formative age showed me how hard you have to work to be successful. In the future, I would love to combine my passions for music and visual art in a single, multi-sensory piece.

MD: How important is street art to you?

Lefty Out There: It’s always been vital for me to have a street presence. I definitely feel like my art is for all, and everyone has a different interpretation of it. With street art, you don’t have to go to an art gallery or museum — anybody can see it. That’s why I create public art. My favourite part of being a street artist is the invasiveness. Everyone passing by sees the same thing.

The artist at work in his studio, Los Angeles.

MD: How does it feel to have your work compared to Keith Haring?

Lefty Out There: Keith Haring’s art always had this exciting undercurrent of energy, and I strive to achieve something similar with my works. His Radiant Baby, for example, is surrounded by marks to suggest motion. I often feel like Haring is my long lost brother. We’re certainly on the same wavelength.

MD: What can visitors expect to see at your new ‘Tempus’ exhibition in London.

Lefty Out There: Colour, light, rhythm and dimension, which is interwoven into everything. This is the first show where the work is truly three-dimensional. Some pieces are multi-layered, with the polymorphs presented on separate planes. Lots of the works are non-traditional in the sense that they trace an organic shape on the wall, with the frames custom-made to fit. Then, there are the knit works. The hand-crocheted works are a lot of fun to create.

MD: Craftsmanship is at the core of your new ‘Tempus’ exhibition. Tell us more.

Lefty Out There: Craftsmanship is something that we pay very close attention to in the studio. On my socials recently, I have been posting a picture of my hand and the tool I’m using. Every day, it’s a different tool, from airless sprayers and air brushes to laser cutting, CNC machining and flatbed digital printing. Experimenting with different techniques and mediums has always been a focal point of my practice.

In 2019, Lefty Out There made his European debut with Maddox Gallery with a solo exhibition titled ‘VIVUS’. Following its success and increased artist popularity, Lefty returned to Maddox in 2022 with ‘VIVUS II’, a new body of work that explored a visual abstract representation of the world we live in today. Lefty currently resides in LA and will exhibit a multidimensional body of work, exploring the intersection of dimension, shape and colour, exclusively with Maddox Gallery at our Berkeley Street Gallery opening 15th March 2024.

Maeve Doyle is the Artistic Director of Maddox Gallery.

Explore His Current Exhibition Here