Not Real Art

Our individual and collective histories are composed of fragments—bits of information we piece together in different ways. According to former professional athlete, multidisciplinary artist, and NOT REAL ART 2022 grant winner Kiley Ames, these fragments can be rearranged and reinterpreted to create personalized perceptions of reality...

Known for its emphasis on figuration, surrealism, and pop culture, the New Contemporary Art movement has roots in the irreverent, high-energy counterculture of the ‘90s. Largely self-supported and community-driven, the movement has slowly taken shape beyond gallery walls, incorporating “lowbrow,” accessible, and socially-activated work by artists that tend to fall outside the mainstream...

As you read this sentence, Black Rock City is preparing to welcome Burners home for another year of jaw-dropping art and all-night dancing in the desert. That’s right, Burning Man 2023 is upon us! To celebrate, we’ve invited one of the most talented artists on the playa to chat about his annual contribution to the festivities—an artist so gifted that he, like Cher, only needs one name: Alice, mirror artist...

Remote, Badir McCleary’s video series on public art, opens with an ambitious statement from the L.A.-based filmmaker: “In a world full of vibrant creativity and captivating stories, there are secrets waiting to be uncovered. From towering sculptures to interactive murals, each stroke and structure is a testament to the boundless imagination of artists who dared to dream big...

If you start an art publication from scratch with virtually no capital, prepare to get creative with your time and resources. Today’s guest, Victor Gonzalez, founded GRØSS Magazine fresh out of college with a gleam in his eye and few assets to his name. Fast forward seven years, and the once wobbly publication has blossomed into Grøss Creative Studio, a thriving media company also known as the GCS Agency...

If you’ve spent any time in Los Angeles, you’re probably familiar with WRDSMTH. The street artist’s iconic stencil of a typewriter cranking out pages of inspirational text is almost as ubiquitous as the city’s traffic.

In today’s podcast episode, host and NOT REAL ART founder Scott “Sourdough” Power sits down with WRDSMITH (aka Phil Brody) to discuss the artist’s unconventional path from Midwestern bookworm to renowned writer and street artist...

If you’re a longtime listener of our podcast, you already know NOT REAL ART strives to make art accessible to everyone—not just a privileged few. Today’s guest shares a similar mission: As the co-founder of UNREPD, a cutting-edge L.A. gallery that seeks to represent the underrepresented, Sarah Griffin offers a safe space for artists to sell their work without the pretense that comes with typical “white cube” galleries...

Greetings and salutations, creative brothers and sisters! In the midst of moving his family of four into a new home, your trusty host and Not Real Art Founder Scott “Sourdough” Power is a little less tireless than usual, which is why we’re keeping things short and sweet in today’s auditorial...

Shifting gears into an art career can be an exhilarating but challenging task. While passion is a plus, this transition also demands discipline, hard work, and the right kind of encouragement from those around you. For Miles Regis, everything fell into place once the hard-working L.A. artist found support among a steadily growing roster of clients and collectors...

Yesterday, we published our first photo essay on ICONS: A Conversation with Legendary Graffiti Artists Prime and Man One. Moderated by NOT REAL ART founder Scott “Sourdough” Power, the conversation between legendary L.A. graffiti artists Prime and Jose “Prime” Reza unfolded at Helms Bakery District in Culver City, CA, as part of the traveling exhibition Close to the Edge: The Birth of Hip-Hop Architecture...