Studies in Isolation: Empathy

Askew One/Elliot O’Donnell is a self-taught multi-disciplinary artist hailing from the capital of the South Pacific, Auckland, New Zealand. From his roots in his city’s graffiti scene during the early 90’s, he became one of the key figures known internationally from the region. He has been an integral part of the scene through organising Auckland’s first graffiti festival, setting up multiple gallery spaces (Disrupt Gallery, Gallery With No Name and Studio 40) and publishing both a magazine (Disrupt Magazine) and book (InForm: New Zealand Graffiti Artists Discuss Their Work) showcasing New Zealand graffiti art. Additionally he has directed around 35 music videos for mostly hip hop artists.

Since 2010 Askew One has evolved his art practice into the Post-Graffiti realm, focusing on studio work and large scale outdoor murals. Askew One’s focus has progressed from text and portraiture based paintings into a style he describes as 'portraiture by alternative means' that is part still life and part abstraction. He uses a combination of analogue and digital techniques to create compositions made from 3D scans of random objects and textures from the street. He views these components as a recording of human movement through urban space - like a mass portrait versus one of an individual.

From 2016 Askew One has been based between Brooklyn and his home city of Auckland.