Aja ViaforaBody art is indeed as sexy as it sounds.
Legendary street artists gathered at Leon Lounge on Saturday night to paint live models' bodies in a competition sponsored by Girls Gone Graff. The group is an alliance of models and artists that entertain parties and put on gallery shows.
“The ultimate goal is to collaborate people, music, art [at these] events,” said Patrick Wolf, a promoter for the event.
Inside the hopping venue, models posed seductively in itsy-bitsy bikinis around the room. Artists used paint and markers to detail models' legs, arms, stomachs and backs with everything from intricate paisley designs to skulls, portraits and graffiti lettering. They were competing for a first place prize of $500, which was later won by artist Orlando.
Credit: Aja Viafora
A row of male hip-hop scenesters lined the bar and were practically drooling as they ogled the models' bodies wishing they were the artists who get to touch them. In the background an obnoxiously loud and off-key band played cover songs and one lone boy tried to create a mosh pit.
An admirer of the competition admitted that he was a friends with the band members, but was definitely there to enjoy the body painting.
“I think it's sexy,” James Hunter said.
Credit: Aja Viafora
Men not only dominated the crowd, but the artist population as well. There was only one female artist, Germ Free, whose eye-catching painting of green skulls and marijuana leaves became even more amazing once I realized she was ambidextrous. Germ Free was jazzed to be a part of the rare event that she described as artists coming to show off their work as well as to soak up inspiration from others.
“It's really great to see a lot of these people together,” Germ Free said.
These artists enhanced their art with the aid of the human form. This sexy display of art should make artists everywhere re-evaluate the use of traditional canvases for painting, because after witnessing this, 2-D wall hangings have become just a skosh dull.
Credit: Aja Viafora
Credit: Aja Viafora
Credit: Aja Viafora
Credit: Aja Viafora
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