B. L. — who is widely recognized as INKSAP— creates works of art that can be found on the streets and in galleries. His signature style, known as ARTIFACT, are collections of decommissioned street works he collects and melds with his life drawings and screen printed images of people in his life.
His debut work titled Xuanha features a young girl wearing a face mask and carrying a tree in her backpack. This image — which was burned into a silkscreen and then printed onto paper — has been installed in numerous urban settings. Installing art in the streets since 2015, he has been invited to partake in artistic events and projects around the world. Discovering that the streets provided a public platform that anyone could access, his work developed into large outdoor murals and site-specific art installations.
“I find the streets a more interesting, vital canvas than the walls of a studio,” L. says. “Art is unexpected outside: we have been taught that great work only exists in private spaces. My work bridges the gap between how art ‘should’ be presented and art accessibility.”
As his work matures, so do his theories for site-specific art. For him, artwork should not overpower an urban environment. Instead, the artwork should embrace the public space to create a seamless cohabitation.
“One of the most difficult practices as an artist is disconnecting oneself after the work has been completed,” L. points out. “Typically we commit to the work with full emotion, expecting that feeling to stay. A visual work comes alive after its completion; it has a life of its own. There comes a time when one must let go. I find myself inspired by the discomfort, and I now celebrate its presence in my process.”
Exhibitions
2022 - The Chance to Paint Each Other Gold at Helms Design Center. Los Angeles, CA (Solo Show)
2020 - Projecting Possibilities at Helms Design Center. Los Angeles, CA
2020 - Save Melrose Charity Auction. Los Angeles, CA
2020 - Works in Progress presented by Michael Masucci at 3rd St. Promenade. Santa Monica, CA
2019 - Water, Air, Earth, Fire at MAMU Gallery. Budapest, Hungary
2018 - Fear Vs Freedom at Gallery 1162. Los Angeles, CA
2018 - Dead End at All Night Diner. Los Angeles, CA
2018 - Charity Group show at National Health Foundation. Pico-Union, Los Angeles, CA
2016 - Street Art Fair at Jeff Hamilton Studio. Los Angeles, CA
2015 - Street Art Fair at Siren Studios. Los Angeles, CA
Publications
2022 - KPFK Film Club Review: INK AND LINDA
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=3148958958712642&id=1718261665115719
2022 - ‘Ink & Linda’ premiere and screenings, with related exhibits and performances
http://culturespotla.com/ink-linda-premiere-and-screenings-with-related-exhibits-and-performances/
2022 - ArtsBeatLA: Ink & Linda
https://www.artsbeatla.com/2022/03/ink-linda/
2022 - LA Art Party
https://www.laartparty.com/march-5-6-11-12-13-24-2022-ink-linda/
2022 - “INK & LINDA” – A NEW DOCUMENTARY FEATURING INKSAP AND LINDA LACK
https://www.ladancechronicle.com/ink-linda-a-new-documentary-featuring-inksap-and-linda-lack/
2022 - MEET CROSS-POLLINATING ARTIST DUO LINDA LACK & INKSAP. LA WEEKLY.
https://www.laweekly.com/meet-cross-pollinating-artist-duo-linda-lack-inksap/
2021 - Inksap - Episode 157 | Paint the Town Podcast
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3HQ0R56pkrPg0zVPC7bpOA
2019 - The Dance of the Street Art Twosome by Ilana Simone Herzig. LA Times.
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-ca-cm-inksap-linda-lack-20190314-story.html
2019 - Street artist’s graffiti on dancer’s building leads to unlikely friendship — and a documentary by Chris Welch. ABC10 News.
2019 - Seen: Swamped in Ink by Johnny Otto. Left Bank Magazine.
https://leftbankmag.com/2019/04/16/seen-swamped-in-ink/
2017 - Hollowdoubt Los Angeles by Hollowdoubt.
Awards and Honors
2022 - BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY - DOCUMENTARY FEATURE FILM -Stuart C. Paul & Pawel Pogorzelski/INK & LINDA @ Culver City Film Festival. Los Angeles, CA
2022 - “Best Documentary” award for Ink & Linda @ Dance Camera West. Los Angeles, CA.
Residencies
2019 - Artist in residence @ Hungarian Multicultural Center, Budapest, Hungary.
Teaching Experience
2019 - Visiting Artist, Luther Burbank Middle School.
2018 - Associate instructor to Rolland Berry, Nantong University, China.
2015 - Associate instructor to Rolland Berry, Xi'an Peihua University, China.