Sean Keith

Sean Keith is an American born artist. Raised in Las Vegas and Los Angeles, art runs wild in his family. For as long as he can remember the passion for art has always been a living, breathing aspect of his life.

SeanKeith solidified his artistic energies while living and working in Switzerland the past few years. Heavily influenced by UK street artist Banksy, his artwork is characterized by a cheeky brand of appropriation characterized by the use of images from popular culture. He subtly alters the picture and its context, cleverly shifting the tone to create new meaning. A common theme throughout his work is money and the insatiable desire to possess it. The familiar, nostalgic cartoon characters he employs give a playful feeling to his art. These instantly recognizable figures create a quick connection with the viewer, who can discover deeper layers on closer inspection.

Before painting his figures, Keith covers the entire canvas with newspaper. The printed text and images on the page serve as a contrast to the artist’s lushly hand-painted figures, implying the difference between reality and fantasy. The words and context also emphasize the themes he explores in his work --money, wealth, power, and their ultimate effect on society.