An Interview With Urban-Expressionist
Urban Vision
36" by 48"
Marcus Antonius Jansen
36" by 48"
Marcus Antonius Jansen
Out of Town
48" by 36"
Marcus Antonius Jansen
48" by 36"
Marcus Antonius Jansen
Old Phone
30" by 40"
Marcus Antonius Jansen
30" by 40"
Marcus Antonius Jansen
Ratrace
24" by 36"
Marcus
Antonius
Jansen
24" by 36"
Marcus
Antonius
Jansen
Sunflower
24" by 36"
Marcus
Antonius
Jansen
24" by 36"
Marcus
Antonius
Jansen
Alleys
48" by 36"
Marcus Antonius Jansen
48" by 36"
Marcus Antonius Jansen
Welcome Art Lovers!
For our first ever interview, I am proud to introduce to you - Marcus Antonius Jansen - rising star in the world of art!
This award winning painter went from Gulf War Soldier - to toast of the town - by transforming ordinary grey streets into some of the most dramatic canvases ever to feel the gentle touch of an artist's brush.
Recently named "New Artist of the Year," by the Alliance for the Arts, Marcus was kind enough to join us here today and share some of his work with us.
For our first ever interview, I am proud to introduce to you - Marcus Antonius Jansen - rising star in the world of art!
This award winning painter went from Gulf War Soldier - to toast of the town - by transforming ordinary grey streets into some of the most dramatic canvases ever to feel the gentle touch of an artist's brush.
Recently named "New Artist of the Year," by the Alliance for the Arts, Marcus was kind enough to join us here today and share some of his work with us.
DamnThe.com: Thank you for joining us today Marcus. With a name like Marcus Antonius Jansen, the obvious question would be: are you a Roman Centurion?
Marcus Jansen: Mmmmmhhhh... Sure... Centurion sounds ok to me...
DamnThe.com: When you first started painting, how old were you?
Marcus Jansen: I was 4 years old and had my first piece selected in New York to hang in a Manhattan Bank when I was 6. It was my first exhibition.
DamnThe.com: You have a unique style to your work, what exactly would you call it?
Marcus Jansen: Modern Urban Expressionism a combination of the old 1900's expressionism and urban graffiti elements. Both movements were very expressive and exciting.
DamnThe.com: People often refer to you as a 'Graffiti Artist' - Why shouldn't we have you arrested for painting pictures like these?
Marcus Jansen: I'll give you three seconds to figure that one out yourself. Go!...
DamnThe.com: But, if you take graffiti, take it out of the streets, and turn it into art - doesn't that mean that you've sold out?
Marcus Jansen: I sell out entire inventories all the time...
DamnThe.com: You sell your prints and canvases through your web site - so, how exactly would that work? I'd just surf the interweb over to your site - buy a painting - and have it shipped to me? Then, once it arrived... I would - paint over it myself? Cause, that's what you're supposed to do with graffiti isn't it - you paint over it?...
Marcus Jansen: I think you are confusing things just a bit. Graffiti is what you see on walls illegally painted. If you are lucky and paint over my work, it may be considered a "collaboration". But don't count on it!
Marcus Jansen: Mmmmmhhhh... Sure... Centurion sounds ok to me...
DamnThe.com: When you first started painting, how old were you?
Marcus Jansen: I was 4 years old and had my first piece selected in New York to hang in a Manhattan Bank when I was 6. It was my first exhibition.
DamnThe.com: You have a unique style to your work, what exactly would you call it?
Marcus Jansen: Modern Urban Expressionism a combination of the old 1900's expressionism and urban graffiti elements. Both movements were very expressive and exciting.
DamnThe.com: People often refer to you as a 'Graffiti Artist' - Why shouldn't we have you arrested for painting pictures like these?
Marcus Jansen: I'll give you three seconds to figure that one out yourself. Go!...
DamnThe.com: But, if you take graffiti, take it out of the streets, and turn it into art - doesn't that mean that you've sold out?
Marcus Jansen: I sell out entire inventories all the time...
DamnThe.com: You sell your prints and canvases through your web site - so, how exactly would that work? I'd just surf the interweb over to your site - buy a painting - and have it shipped to me? Then, once it arrived... I would - paint over it myself? Cause, that's what you're supposed to do with graffiti isn't it - you paint over it?...
Marcus Jansen: I think you are confusing things just a bit. Graffiti is what you see on walls illegally painted. If you are lucky and paint over my work, it may be considered a "collaboration". But don't count on it!
DamnThe.com: If another graffiti artist were to stumble upon your gallery, for instance - would he sneak inside and 'tag' over all your canvases with a can of spray paint?
Marcus Jansen: I promise I will ask him next time I bump into one.
DamnThe.com: You often go by the acronym MEPS - does that stand for something special - or are you just being pretentious like P.Diddy?
Marcus Jansen: Who's P. Diddy?
DamnThe.com: Beats me... If you could have a painting of yours hanging in any gallery, collection or museum on Earth, which one would it be?
Marcus Jansen: The largest one I have.
Marcus Jansen: I promise I will ask him next time I bump into one.
DamnThe.com: You often go by the acronym MEPS - does that stand for something special - or are you just being pretentious like P.Diddy?
Marcus Jansen: Who's P. Diddy?
DamnThe.com: Beats me... If you could have a painting of yours hanging in any gallery, collection or museum on Earth, which one would it be?
Marcus Jansen: The largest one I have.
The Artist
DamnThe.com: Other than yourself, who's your favorite living artist? Dead artist?
Marcus Jansen: Many, but one artist that is still alive is certainly Robert Rauschenberg and perhaps Pablo Picasso.
DamnThe.com: You're a native New Yorker who recently moved to Florida - what were you fleeing from? Crime? Drugs? Or was the uber-city just slowly desecrating your soul?
Marcus Jansen: I think you are confusing me with Jean Michel Basquiat, the other "Black" guy. I am sure that can be confusing.
Marcus Jansen: Many, but one artist that is still alive is certainly Robert Rauschenberg and perhaps Pablo Picasso.
DamnThe.com: You're a native New Yorker who recently moved to Florida - what were you fleeing from? Crime? Drugs? Or was the uber-city just slowly desecrating your soul?
Marcus Jansen: I think you are confusing me with Jean Michel Basquiat, the other "Black" guy. I am sure that can be confusing.
DamnThe.com: You've been called "the greatest black painter alive today" - is that because Basquiat died and you're the only one left?
Marcus Jansen: I use a lot of colors in my work not just black.
DamnThe.com: How long did you live on the streets, selling your art for spare change?
Marcus Jansen: Once again, actually, that was Basquiat. Sorry.
DamnThe.com: And, speaking of prejudice - you married a white woman - Why do you hate black women so much???
Marcus Jansen: What I said was... that I am married to a TIGHT women and I don't hate FAT women. Get it right!
DamnThe.com: You were recently named 'Jew Artist of the Year' by the Alliance for the Arts...
Marcus Jansen: No. NEW Artist of the Year. 'New'...
Marcus Jansen: I use a lot of colors in my work not just black.
DamnThe.com: How long did you live on the streets, selling your art for spare change?
Marcus Jansen: Once again, actually, that was Basquiat. Sorry.
DamnThe.com: And, speaking of prejudice - you married a white woman - Why do you hate black women so much???
Marcus Jansen: What I said was... that I am married to a TIGHT women and I don't hate FAT women. Get it right!
DamnThe.com: You were recently named 'Jew Artist of the Year' by the Alliance for the Arts...
Marcus Jansen: No. NEW Artist of the Year. 'New'...
DamnThe.com: Oh! Then, I guess my next question about being Jewish and fighting in Iraq is kind of moot?
Marcus Jansen: No comment.
DamnThe.com: You were a Sergeant in the army, weren't you?
Marcus Jansen: Yes
DamnThe.com: And, you served during the gulf war?
Marcus Jansen: Yes I did.
DamnThe.com: In layman's terms, as someone who's been there, explain the root of the problems in the Middle East for us, and how to solve them - in 25 words or less!... Go!
Marcus Jansen: Sorry Bob...this time you are confusing me with George W. BUSH and his intelligence advisors, you can find him in Washington DC though if you need that answered...but then again you are more likely to catch him on his Ranch in Texas playing Golf. Let me know what he said when you find out...
Marcus Jansen: No comment.
DamnThe.com: You were a Sergeant in the army, weren't you?
Marcus Jansen: Yes
DamnThe.com: And, you served during the gulf war?
Marcus Jansen: Yes I did.
DamnThe.com: In layman's terms, as someone who's been there, explain the root of the problems in the Middle East for us, and how to solve them - in 25 words or less!... Go!
Marcus Jansen: Sorry Bob...this time you are confusing me with George W. BUSH and his intelligence advisors, you can find him in Washington DC though if you need that answered...but then again you are more likely to catch him on his Ranch in Texas playing Golf. Let me know what he said when you find out...
Subway 82
48" by 36"
Marcus Antonius Jansen
48" by 36"
Marcus Antonius Jansen
NOTE: All paintings on this page are copyright Marcus Antonius Jansen. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
Gas Gouging
36" by 48"
Marcus Antonius Jansen
36" by 48"
Marcus Antonius Jansen
Born: 1968
Citizenship: USA
Medium: Painting
Style:
Urban-Expressionism
Graffiti Art
Contemporary
Current Exhibition:
Tampa Museum of Art
Awards:
World of Art Award
New Artist of the Year
Ford Centennial Artist
Citizenship: USA
Medium: Painting
Style:
Urban-Expressionism
Graffiti Art
Contemporary
Current Exhibition:
Tampa Museum of Art
Awards:
World of Art Award
New Artist of the Year
Ford Centennial Artist
Suburban to Urban
36" by 48"
Marcus Antonius Jansen
36" by 48"
Marcus Antonius Jansen
DamnThe.com: I shall... Now, we've all seen Full Metal Jacket (Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: "Who said that?!? Who the fuck said that?!? Who's the slimy little Communist-shit, twinkle-toed cocksucker down there who just signed his own death warrant?!? Nobody, huh? The Fairy-fucking-Godmother said it! Out-fucking-standing! I will PT you all until you fucking die...") - Give us your best impression of yourself as a Gunnery-Sergeant training soldiers to fight in Iraq?
Marcus Jansen: Believe me...you don't really want to hear it!
Marcus Jansen: Believe me...you don't really want to hear it!
DamnThe.com: Now that you're retired from the armed forces, what do you really think of Donald Rumsfeld?
Marcus Jansen: I actually try very hard not to think of him at all. Makes me sleep better at night.
DamnThe.com: What's your all-time favorite movie?
Marcus Jansen: Don't have one. I like many.
DamnThe.com: If you could push a button and make anyone disappear from the face of the Earth forever, who would it be?
Marcus Jansen: I think I already answered that question.
DamnThe.com: What's the last book you read?
Marcus Jansen: The Bible
Marcus Jansen: I actually try very hard not to think of him at all. Makes me sleep better at night.
DamnThe.com: What's your all-time favorite movie?
Marcus Jansen: Don't have one. I like many.
DamnThe.com: If you could push a button and make anyone disappear from the face of the Earth forever, who would it be?
Marcus Jansen: I think I already answered that question.
DamnThe.com: What's the last book you read?
Marcus Jansen: The Bible
DamnThe.com: One of your recent masterpieces is this one here - Gas Gouging?
Marcus Jansen: Yes.
DamnThe.com: Very poignant, I would think... Oh, no, wait. That's not it. Wrong picture.
Marcus Jansen: No, that's the right pic.
DamnThe.com: No, that's a picture of some stupid yellow robot.
Marcus Jansen: No, it's a gas pump.
DamnThe.com: Nope. I don't know what the hell it is, but it sure ain't a gas pump! It's like some dilapidated, yellow Dalek perhaps? Maybe something from The Hitch-hiker's Guide?...
Marcus Jansen: Yeaahhh, right. Let me call a doctor Bob.
Marcus Jansen: Yes.
DamnThe.com: Very poignant, I would think... Oh, no, wait. That's not it. Wrong picture.
Marcus Jansen: No, that's the right pic.
DamnThe.com: No, that's a picture of some stupid yellow robot.
Marcus Jansen: No, it's a gas pump.
DamnThe.com: Nope. I don't know what the hell it is, but it sure ain't a gas pump! It's like some dilapidated, yellow Dalek perhaps? Maybe something from The Hitch-hiker's Guide?...
Marcus Jansen: Yeaahhh, right. Let me call a doctor Bob.
DamnThe.com: Your gallery in Paris, what's it's name?
Marcus Jansen: American Art Gallery
DamnThe.com: Yes, the American Art Gallery - does it have a drive thru then?
Marcus Jansen: No
DamnThe.com: No? Well, you should really think about adding one. Really! If there's one thing I know about people - it's that they don't give a crap about the quality of the product - as long as it's fast as shit - and there's a drive-thru!...
Marcus Jansen: It just hit me... you are a Genius!
DamnThe.com: Thank you! And, during the whole 'Freedom Fries' thing - did the Parisians start calling your gallery the 'Liberty Art Gallery?'
Marcus Jansen: Ummmm, no. Not that I'm aware of.
Marcus Jansen: American Art Gallery
DamnThe.com: Yes, the American Art Gallery - does it have a drive thru then?
Marcus Jansen: No
DamnThe.com: No? Well, you should really think about adding one. Really! If there's one thing I know about people - it's that they don't give a crap about the quality of the product - as long as it's fast as shit - and there's a drive-thru!...
Marcus Jansen: It just hit me... you are a Genius!
DamnThe.com: Thank you! And, during the whole 'Freedom Fries' thing - did the Parisians start calling your gallery the 'Liberty Art Gallery?'
Marcus Jansen: Ummmm, no. Not that I'm aware of.
DamnThe.com: And, this piece here... It's on display right now at the Tampa Museum of Art?
Marcus Jansen: Yes.
DamnThe.com: It's very nice.
Marcus Jansen: Thank you.
DamnThe.com: The day you painted that one - did you get up in the morning and say to yourself: "Today, I'm going to paint a picture - and I'm not going to use anything but the drabbest fucking grays in it!"?
Marcus Jansen: OK, look smart ass how about letting me answer the questions! You sound much better when you say less.
DamnThe.com: And, what's the deal with all this white at the top? You didn't even finish it!
Marcus Jansen: First you mocking Blacks now Whites?
DamnThe.com: Well, you wouldn't pay a gardener who only mowed half your lawn, and you wouldn't pay a whore if she didn't finish you off, would you?
Marcus Jansen: I don't know what exactly you mean about the whore...
Marcus Jansen: Yes.
DamnThe.com: It's very nice.
Marcus Jansen: Thank you.
DamnThe.com: The day you painted that one - did you get up in the morning and say to yourself: "Today, I'm going to paint a picture - and I'm not going to use anything but the drabbest fucking grays in it!"?
Marcus Jansen: OK, look smart ass how about letting me answer the questions! You sound much better when you say less.
DamnThe.com: And, what's the deal with all this white at the top? You didn't even finish it!
Marcus Jansen: First you mocking Blacks now Whites?
DamnThe.com: Well, you wouldn't pay a gardener who only mowed half your lawn, and you wouldn't pay a whore if she didn't finish you off, would you?
Marcus Jansen: I don't know what exactly you mean about the whore...
DamnThe.com: That's unfortunate... And speaking of unfortunately... That's all the time we have today. Thanks for joining us Marcus.
Marcus Jansen: Thank you. I can't say it's been a pleasure...
Members of the audience can purchase Marcus' prints and paintings through his web site: www.marcusjansen.com (or by clicking on any of the above images).
Thank you, and good night.
Marcus Jansen: Thank you. I can't say it's been a pleasure...
Members of the audience can purchase Marcus' prints and paintings through his web site: www.marcusjansen.com (or by clicking on any of the above images).
Thank you, and good night.
The Interview:
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