Keith Lewis: Random Guy Art

Many people are familiar with Keith's striking creations made from polystyrene foam. He often uses different coloured layers of polystyrene to skilfully build up the image.

"Street art is my genre of choice because of the variety of people who are involved in the street art scene and the many different takes on what street art is.

"The thrill of putting up a work and then hearing others talk about it is really cool ', says Keith.

Artist Keith Lewis at work in his studio.

The photo shows Keith spraying on a clear gloss to bring out the colours in the Captain America work he completed recently. This piece was a real challenge because it used more colours and layers than he has tried previously.

When I spoke to Keith at Owen Dippie's public graffiti art demo earlier this year he explained that; ‘Random Guy’ is all about the wow factor.

"I like street art that has a thought process behind it.

"I want people to think - That's Random - how does he do that and why is it on this wall ? " 

'Four Richies' 2011.

'Four Richies' is a street art installation that Keith did for the Rugby World Cup. After being granted permission by the building owner Keith installed not one but four Richies for added impact. It's great to see this take on the repetition style of Andy Warhol and of the famous 'paste-up artist' Shepard Fairey.

In 2010 Keith entered his most ambitious work to date in the Tauranga Art Gallery's Miles Award. 

The large reproduction of a 1935 New Zealand stamp featuring a fantail took six months to complete. The image, on board, is made from 27,195 individually painted screws. This unique artwork was enthusiastically received by the public. 

Random Guy has a master-plan to make his art global. It involves smart phone technology and creating a movement where fans of his work become Random Guy installers all over the world. Watch this space.

Keith has works on show at the OD Gallery, Mount Maunganui and the For Art's Sake gallery at Ōhope Beach.

He has also exhibited at Tauranga's Gallery 59 and at the Bethlehem School art sale.

You can find out more about Keith's work on www.randomguy.co.nz and contact him at randomguyart@hotmail.co.nz

by Pete Morris (March 2012).

Pete Morris is an occasional painter and an art lover. He is a free-lance writer with a particular interest in promoting the visual arts in Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty.