Tristan Manco

Tristan Manco, perhaps the worlds most influential commentator on street art, showcases the work of 38 truly innovative and inspirational artists who use low-cost, low-tech media and often totally original techniques to produce work that defies categorization and pushes the boundaries of art itself. Many of them repurpose utilitarian or scrap materials, from unglamorous items of domestic waste, found wood and even organic detritus such as skin and nails to recycled toys, books, skateboards, firecrackers and lights. Others show creative approaches to traditional or proven media such as paper, stone, concrete and steel. The ingeniously crafted and thought-provoking results range across a broad spectrum, from intimate paper collages to large public sculptures constructed from discarded wood. Anyone fascinated by the extraordinary creativity currently emerging at the raw edge of contemporary art will find this book compelling reading.

In this sequel to the worldwide bestseller Street Sketchbook, Tristan Manco continues his exploration of the secret world of sketchbooks by tracing artists creative journeys, from the initial idea to its development. The book features work by the most innovative street and graffiti artists from around the world, showcasing both established artists, such as Sam3 and Titifreak, and the extraordinary new talent that is emerging from creative hubs, from Colombia to Ukraine. Each of the featured artists pushes back the boundaries, whether working on the street or in the studio; this book enables us to join them on their creative journeys.

Scale is being taken to new extremes in art: big and bold on the one hand, intricate and intimate on the other. This book is divided into two sections big art and small art and includes profiles of forty-five contemporary artists who are revolutionizing our approach to scale with works that provoke questions, arouse emotions and offer fresh perspectives, from beautifully carved leaves (Lorenzo Manuel Duran, Spain) and micro reproductions of artists at work in their studio (Joe Fig, USA) to giant mechanical kinetic sculptures (Theo Jansen, Netherlands) and immersive galaxies of shimmering spheres (Nike Savvas, Australia).

Make your Mark is divided into three: 'Draw', 'Paint', 'Make'. It celebrates and discusses the work of forty-five urban artists, extraordinarily diverse but united by one basic principle: their work is completely fresh, original and the epitome of creativity - the perfect antidote to the jaded imagery that fills our streets and our media. The names - 44 Flavours from Germany, Bault from France, Morcky from Italy, Ricardo Cavolo from Spain, Zio Ziegler from the USA, Fuco Ueda from Japan, Raymond Lemstra from the Netherlands, Joao Ruas from Brazil and many others - will be unfamiliar to most; the talent they display, indisputable, courageous, always distinctive, is a joy.

A wave of protest is in the air and on the walls! A new generation of politicized artists, designers and communicators the world over are using stencil art as an accessible yet powerful means of giving voice to their ideas. The Stencil Graffiti Handbook sees Tristan Manco back on the streets. Through an incomparable network of street-art contacts, gained through over two decades of immersion in the scene, Manco has scoured the globe to find the most interesting street artists working today - those operating outside of the mainstream market of 'Urban Art' and beneath the radar of everyone but the true cognoscenti. Exploring the medium's applications within grassroots activism as well as the contemporary craft scene, Manco brings this thriving artform to light. Showing both process and results, The Stencil Graffiti Handbook dives into street art's essential elements - place, space, technique and subject - before taking to the streets to see how, where and why stencil graffiti is king. Also featuring studio visits with artists and practical, step-by-step guidance via artist-led projects, with specially commissioned instructional illustrations by the renowned Colombian collective Instituto Bogotano de Corte, The Stencil Graffiti Handbook is an unmissable education and inspiration for anyone with an open mind and a rebellious spirit.

From the startingly distinctive achievements of the internationally renowned twin-brother painters Os Gemeos to the visual powers of the ubiquitous daredevil pichadores, Brazil's graffiti captivates with entirely fresh ideas, techniques and messages. Whether one's taste is for the extraordinary creative extremes generated amid urban deprivation or for crafted murals at their most elaborate, Graffiti Brasil offers both stunning photography and in-depth history and insight. With graffiti worldwide becoming more homogenized, this book is a reminder of the strengths of creative independence and the rich fruits of cultural diversity.