I think that google chrome and firefox have a browser extension that enables photobucket images to be seen?

Frank Lee Morris ( Washington DC , 1 September 1926 - missing since 11 June 1962 after his escape) was an American criminal who escaped from Alcatraz prison and was never seen again.

Thank you!

Follow up question for bast fans: is there a reason he used this motif for a lot of his early work, i.e. "Bast" on top with a silkscreened photograph? For someone who's work is intensly busy (that's putting it mildly), it seems odd that he stuck to such a simple composition for a large portion of his early work. Just curious. Thanks!

I always thought that his early paste ups were inspired by the flyers made by underground punk bands in the 70s and 80s to promote their concerts.

Correct.

Thanks for the help guys! Yup looks to be in collaboration with Agnes B, unsigned silkscreened paster, 16x22. Was hoping it was something for a bit earlier, but I'm happy to have a work with this motif and the size makes framing super easy. 

Not all of BÄST's work is busy, though it is typically loose and raw in expression.

With many earlier paste-ups especially, the compositions were indeed basic. It's also what made them distinctive or memorable in the street. And therefore effective.


If you haven't got one already, I'd recommend sourcing a copy of Revolucion De Papel, released in early 2005. Therein you'll find this Frank Morris image along with others in the same style, featuring portraits or mugshots of criminals (including fellow Alcatraz escapees, John Anglin and Clarence Anglin), politicians and famous actors.

__________


Street Art Fan mentioned old punk flyers. The artist himself has referred to these. Here's a Q&A extract from a 2008 or 2009 interview:


What led you to become an artist, and how did this develop into putting your work onto the street?

I never really became an artist. It was something that was just there. I never said I was going to do this shit. It just happened. Being a graffiti writer from Brooklyn, the idea of self-promotion through tagging was my first interest in art. I really loved the early punk flyers that were being made in London and New York—that idea of just slapping something together and pasting it up seemed like the natural thing to do. We should have taped that conversation we had earlier because there was probably some more meat there. I haven't slept in two days, and I've now had about four whiskeys and three pints.





That's right. Uneditioned, unsigned, and printed by agnès b. for shop-display purposes. The bottom-right corner of the posters state "T. SHIRTS D'ARTISTES agnès b. © BAST 2007".


Another poster (in colour) was produced at the same time, depicting the cover of Revolucion De Papel with Inspector Clouseau. That image was used for a t-shirt as well.





None of these posters are silkscreens; they're offset lithographs.

As for age, I don't know. However, given the details printed on them, it wouldn't surprise me if they were made in 2007. [The fact that corresponding t-shirts were still available to purchase last year doesn't prove otherwise.]

Both BÄST images certainly predate 2007. As already discussed, they were even published in the artist's book of 2005.

For more information, it may be worth picking up the phone and calling the head office or a large branch of agnès b. After checking the necessary records, the company should be able to confirm at least an approximate year of printing.

Excellent. Thank you for that, .dappy.

The Flickr image details state the photo was taken on 27 June 2007. Mystery solved.

Photo credit to robb meertens.
www.flickr.com/photos/beatznbobbz/708395200/

... no - this was a display within the shop itself ...

Wow haven't seen that one before. Can you provide any info about it, e.g. title, date, medium, etc.?

Very cool.

This thread gives me an erection lasting more than 4 hours

Bäst (20th century)
Untitled, n.d.
Acrylic and screenprint on paper
24 x 20-1/2 inches (61 x 52.1 cm)
Signed verso: Bäst