“An artist’s impact is truly felt when their work becomes so familiar that it’s hard to remember what the world was like without it. When the Toulouse native and current Barcelona resident MISS VAN’s sultry female characters began to pop up on city center walls in the mid 1990s, they instantly possessed a timeless quality, as if women had always painted such graffiti in the streets. City residents developed relationships with their local MISS VAN characters. While MISS VAN’s work incurred the wrath of some feminists who found them offensive to women, on the whole it has a rare appeal that transcends gender-an appeal that also extends to the work that she shows in galleries.” – Swindle
Personally, as a young, urban woman & also as a street artist, I find Miss Van & her poupees (which is French for dolls) very inspirational. Something about the feminity of the dolls makes me proud to be a woman yet at the same time, empowers me to be completely kick-ass. Not to mention, she really makes me want to run out and buy some spray paint. Miss Van however, chooses to mainly use a brush and paint on her canvases, whether they be a brick wall, a canvas or a bridge. Recently, Miss Van has created a new, edgier, more “couture”, more adult group of poupees which of whom I have fallen completely in love with. Should you see them, I think you will do the same.
Here are some of the original poupees by Miss Van:
And some of Miss Van’s newer poupees:
Take a look at Miss Van’s Solo Show at Atame:
