Stik

Art Brokerage: Stik British Artist: b. 1979. Born in 1979, Stik is famously guarded with even the most basic details of his biography. I started drawing stick people when I was old enough to pick up a pencil, and I just never really stopped,' Stik says by way of introduction. 'I've always drawn in a very simplistic style. I never went to art school but I did work as an artist's life model for many years, which gave me a good grounding in composition and anatomy. I started painting in the street in my early twenties, and that became an education in itself. I learned from my contemporaries.' The artist is keen to stress that, for him, this community relationship is central to the whole enterprise of making street art — whether in London or farther-flung environs such as New York City; Berlin; Osaka; Utsira, Norway or Amman, Jordan, where his work can now be found. 'When I make street pieces, I'm very conscious of not just taking over a surface. I would never march straight in and paint on someone's wall. I think it's really rude to do that, even if you have "official" permission [from local authorities]. I always get the endorsement of the people who actually live there. That's the most important thing.' Listings wanted.