Kyle Bean is a freelance illustrator, director, and set designer based out of Brighton, England. Even as a child, Bean enjoyed the artistic process of using critical thinking and tactile skills to creatively solve problems, noting that he also likes adding a whimsical element. He attended the University of Portsmouth from 2005 to 2006, earning a Foundation degree in Art and Design. Shortly thereafter, in 2009, Bean graduated from the University of Brighton with a bachelor's in illustration. He then began a career in exploring the boundaries of tactile media and animation. From April to June of 2015, Bean mentored Fashion students at the London College of Fashion during their work for a project concerning ""live visual merchandising for a well - known Fashion Brand." He provided both creative and practical support, even hosting workshops "to aid in a more hands - on approach." His projects have thus far consisted of editorial and commercial pieces, plus installations for fashion brands and events. Clients include: Wallpaper, Financial Times, Vogue, Diesel, Wired, New York Times, Selfridges, Hermes, Liberty, Rimmel, BBC, GQ Magazine, Rizzoli/Universe, Rubbish Magazine, HOW, Viewpoint Magazine, Casio, VMAN, Louis Vuitton, Scientific American, Intersection, Design Museum, CUT Magazine, Computer Arts, Peugeot, Time, Lloyds Bank, Men’s Health, Gucci, Nature, Fast Company, Eureka, AMV BBDO, Droga5, JWT, Havas Worldwide, The Guardian, Whole Living, The Atlantic, Seven, Matthew Williamson, BA Business Life Magazine, ICON, Intercontinental Hotels, MODUS, Mr Porter, EasyJet, Google, Prudential, Esquire, The Gourmand, Greensource, Moo, Rede, Emirates, Verizon, The Wellcome Trust, Wieden and Kennedy, Bloomberg, Kinfolk Bean's studio is based out of his home, but he regularly collaborates with other artists for big - name pieces, especially photographers. The conceptual imagery of his work, paired with appropriated everyday objects is both humorous and impactful to the viewer. Because he works for companies and businesses mostly, he has a keen awareness of the setting in which the artwork will be placed and its interaction with the audience and environment. Communication, in his opinion, is crucial, especially through images. Bean identifies his largest source of inspiration as the law of conservation of mass; how he can "[pair] down objects to that of a single desire." A collection of Bean's that relates specifically to my sculpture is his 2014 Forbidden Fruit collection. Forbidden Fruit was a collaboration with photographer Aaron Tilley and commissioned for The Gourmand. The works can be characterized as possessing a slightly sinister and mischievous tone; the fruits are embedded with - or, to some, protected by - devices for self - defense. This is a visualization of the widely overlooked 'dark side' of fruit. The collection explores the notion that even fruits can be harmful, therefore exaggerating even minor health risks. Furthermore, another collaboration with Tilley that I found to be particularly interesting was a collection called In Anxious Anticipation for Kinfolk magazine. This series of works is a commentary on trivially uncomfortable circumstances that, even though we conceptually understand them to be simply renditions, still make our hearts race with anxiety. I was in awe of how distressing it was for me to observe the artwork; I was entranced, frozen by my conflicting feelings of appreciation for the craftsmanship and content and of uneasiness because of what the artworks symbolize. It is a truly powerful body of art. Press and Publications: • Thread, The Station, Bristol, 22nd March 2018 • Papercraft Workshop, Haus of Victorinox, Wilderness Festival, August 2017 • London College of Fashion, London, Various Lectures, 2015-16 • The Story, Conference, Conway Hall, London, 21st February 2014 • Beacons Festival, Wood Carving Portraits Workshop, 17-18th August 2013 • BLAB, Band on the Wall, Manchester, 25th June 2013 • Meal Ticket, KK Outlet, London, 8th May 2013 • Skillswap ‘Does’, Lighthouse, Brighton, 17th April 2013 • Speaker at Design Brighton, The Old Market, Hove, 15th January 2013 • Nova Festival, Festival of Arts and Music, Craft Workshop, 6th July 2012 • Apple Store Talk, 235 Regent Street, London, 20th February 2012 • ADC Young Gun 9, Art Directors Club, New York, October 2011 • Glug Brighton, Brighton Pavillion, June 2011 • Work showcased at the BFI as part of the onedotzero festival, Sept 2009 • Shortlisted for the 2009 Penguin Design Awards for a book jacket design, June 2009 Exhibitions: • ‘Hamster - Hipster - Handy. Spellbound by the Mobile Phone. Museum Angewandte Kunst, Frankfurt April-July 2015 • ‘Save the Bees’, Forge and Co Gallery, London, September 18th-24th 2014 • ‘Paper Cut’, The Proud Archivist, London, September 2014 • ‘Motion Factory’ Curated by Yves Geleyn, La Gaîté Lyrique, Paris, April - August 2014 • ‘Materials & Messages’ An exhibition of work by Kyle Bean, Colette, Paris, July 15 - Aug 31 2013 • ‘Misuse: Creating Alternatives’, Cass Bank Gallery, London, March 2013 • ‘Then, Now, After’, University of Brighton, Brighton, Jan – Feb 2013 • dConstruct, Brighton Dome, Brighton, September 2012 • ADC Young Guns 9, ADC Gallery, New York, October 2011 • ‘Now we do Shellac’, Sassoon Gallery, London, August 2011 • THREEDEE, Jaguar Shoes, London, April 2011 • R.S.V.P.H.R.H – Exhibition of alternative royal wedding invites, The Rag Factory, London, April 2011 • International Design Biennial, St Etienne, France, Nov – Dec 2010 • ‘All connected’ Grenoble, France, Oct 2010 • Mobile Evolution project on public display, Young Creative Network, London, July 2009 • Graphic Design & Illustration Show, The Rag Factory, Brick Lane, London, July 2009 • University of Brighton Undergraduate Degree Show, Brighton, June 2009 Sources (can also be used for additional information, but you are not required to visit every website to answer the questions):
Brief biographical summary: https://www.hornetinc.com/kyle-bean.html, https://www.ba-reps.com/illustrators/kyle-bean Summation of Bean's artistic style and key works: https://popuppainting.com/2017/09/kyle-bean/ Personal website: https://kylebean.co.uk/about A delineation of Forbidden Fruit: https://www.designboom.com/art/kyle-bean-forbidden-fruit-self-defense-devices-07-02-2014/ More about Forbidden Fruit: https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/forbidden-fruit A reflective interview of Bean regarding his inspirations and aspirations: https://lectureinprogress.com/journal/kyle-bean Questions for consideration: 1. For your thumbnail, explore Bean's collection and sketch the work to which you feel the strongest instantaneous connection (no need to over - analyze!). 2. Much of Bean's work is aesthetically simplistic yet carries dense content. What about his style do you think is most effective in connecting to the viewer? How do you think this has helped him in creating commercial pieces? 3. Bean had not initially planned on making a living of creating art for companies and businesses. Would you consider being a freelance designer yourself? 4. After reflecting on Bean's oeuvre, what inspirations do you have regarding your own sculpture? Are there any aspects of his art / process that could be applied to your own? Why or why not?
1 Comment
Rylan Karjane
5/12/2019 04:40:42 pm
Great job on your awareness post! You provided lots of interesting information about Kyle Bean, and you included numerous images of his different works of art. Your questions were thought-provoking and related well to our sculpture process as well as the information provided. The only thing that I would include is the credit lines for the works of art, but I looked on his website and he didn't provide any, so I understand why you don't have them. Overall it was a nice awareness post.
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