The Moonpie Project Presents: VITUS SHELL

  

The Moonpie Project Presents: VITUS SHELL from Crosstown Arts on Vimeo.

New Mural by Vitus Shell on View in Crosstown

Louisiana native Vitus Shell is the latest artist to be featured in Crosstown Arts’ ongoing mural series, The Moonpie Project. The public can meet the artist and see his new installation at an opening reception on Friday, December 9th from 5 to 7 p.m. The mural will remain on view in the alley between Crosstown Arts and the Cleveland Street Flea Market, facing N. Cleveland Street, through early February.

The mural features a colorful pop art-inspired portrait of a African American woman alongside the words “Protect Her!,” a particularly relevant and socially aware message in an era when some would say women’s rights have come under attack.

Shell’s work combines elements of African American history with aspects of contemporary black culture. His work has been described as nontraditional, edgy, socially aware, and gutsy.

A native of the often-violent Burg Jones Lane projects in Monroe, Louisiana, young Shell sought solace through his pad and pen. His cartoon figures offered him an escape, and he was eventually able to move Memphis to attend Memphis College of Art. It was there that he met and was inspired by such acclaimed artists as Brenda Joysmith, George Hunt, and Alonzo Davis.

In 1999, Shell attended the National Black Fine Arts Show for the first time, giving him a first-hand glimpse into the inner workings of the art world. During his college days, Shell spent much time traveling and learning about other cultures and art forms, and those experiences have helped to shape and influence his art today.

Shell’s work has been exhibited at universities, museums, and private galleries across the country. He painted a mural for the National Civil Rights Museum’s NBA Pioneers exhibit, and he’s been commissioned for public art by the Memphis UrbanArt Commission.

The Moonpie Project is an ongoing, rotating mural series curated by artist Michael Roy in memory of muralist Brad Wells. Past Moonpie Project artists include Birdcap and Ninjacat from Memphis, and visiting artists Lauren Asta, Jacob Berkowitz, and Killer Napkins. Each mural is on view to the public for two months before transformation by another invited artist. The series is organized in collaboration with and sponsored by Crosstown Arts.