2011- The Year of Olek

Readers of the blog will remember how when New York based street artist Olek visited Los Angeles a few weeks ago, she was kind enough to leave a beautiful yarn bombed tricycle at the corner of Melrose and Fairfax.

We are extremely grateful, but we feel that we missed out because the piece got taken the very first night it went on the streets and all we had was that one lonely picture.

Fortunately, our friend G did manage to snap some pictures "from every angle" before it got taken. Click the jump for more

Even though we would have loved to have seen this in person, these pictures help soften the disappointment. (thanks for coming through with the pics, G!)

Absolutely beautiful piece. And great placement!

Thanks again, Olek!

***UPDATE: It turns out today is Olek's birthday! Happy Birthday!!! Be sure to check out According2G for a great birthday write up and to read why he calls 2011 'The Year of Olek'

MELROSEandFAIRFAX Is A Pussy (Thanks Olek)

MELROSEandFAIRFAX is a pussy, and the art theft in Los Angeles reached all time heights. Click the jump for more

New York based international street artist Olek is in LA for her The Sky Is Pink, The Room Is Green art show.

And she left a little gift for MELROSEandFAIRFAX right at the corner of Melrose and Fairfax. It is a beautiful crotched tricycle. We hear that she left it as a gift and thank you for our earlier Olek coverage .

We are flattered and are very grateful to Olek for such a kind gesture. We love her work, and wish we had got the chance to enjoy it. It was only placed there yesterday, but by the time we rolled over to snap a pic early this morning, it had been stolen and was gone!

The shop owner gave us the low down. He said some people came in the night and sawed off the top of the sign to steal the trike. It is crazy the lengths that people are going around to take street art. And it sounds like there are some people who want this art with some real power tools!

And the way that this piece went up on the street was really beautiful. Olek not only put the art up, but she also went inside the store and introduced herself to the owner. He must have been charmed because she left him a business card, and he was happy to show it to me, but he made clear that he wanted to keep it. And we think that this is a great thing, where the community embraces the art and is happy to have it.

Big thanks to TheSiteUnscene for sending us this pic of the bike before it got taken. And huge thanks to Olek for thinking of M&F! Her show is still running at the Pacific Design Center, so go check it out, as we plan to. Wanted to make the opening last night, but didn't get back from filming the film segment until after the show had started. Pics coming once we do make it!

Thanks again to Olek. We are big fans, and if knitting is for pussy's, consider us one~

UPDATE: More pics can be found at According to G

Olek - Knitting Is For Pussys

Olek has done some amazing street art with yarn. And she is coming to Los Angeles tomorrow to open her new art show. Click the jump for more

Olek's new show is called The Sky is Pink, The Room is Green, but we liked the title of her similar installation at Art Basel entitled Knitting is For Pussys.

A room is actually created out of crocheted yarn. If knitting is for pussy's, we love pussy and plan to be there~

The show is in the Green Lobby at the Pacific Design Center and the opening reception is from 5pm to 8:30.

Olek Does a Banksy Tribute

New York based Olek stiched a rooftop tribute to Banksy's Balloon Girl. Click the jump for more

The BoweryBoogie received an email from Olek saying that she did this piece as a nod to Banksy. Here are her words

After crocheting the first readymade, I decided to pay homage to Marcel Duchamp and so I crocheted the bike wheel on the stool. Recently, I was referred to as a street artist by the press and public. I wanted to pay my respect to one of the most iconic figures of the street art movement. I am placing a series of The girl with the balloons image coinciding with the Oscars as support for Banksy’s movie. What is authentic? Did he intend to do a mockery of the art world by being a Mr. BW?


Very cool how this street artist would compliment another street artist instead of capping it.

On a side note, our friend G has been stiched up by Olek himself. Check it out!