Avenues and Alleyways is the first ever solo exhibition by the Grammy award winning musician, songwriter, record producer and now also artist Tim Armstrong. Armstrong is best known as member of the punk rock bands Operation Ivy, Rancid and The Transplants is now venturing into the visual arts. His exhibition that opened January 24th at Shepard Fairey’s Subliminal Projects in LA features never before seen artwork. The Friday night opening attracted hundreds of art fans and punk rockers to look at Armstrong’s new artistic expression. The response to his art was great and Armstrong nearly had a sell-out show (not bad for the first solo exhibit).



Avenues and Alleyways Exhibition



Avenues and Alleyways Exhibition

Avenues and Alleyways

Avenues & Alleyways featured over 80 pieces of fine art (drawings, paintings, watercolors, and mixed media works on found materials) and a series of 45 screen prints that have been collaboratively selected by Armstrong and Shepard Fairey. The range in medium, size, and subject matter provided a well-rounded presentation of Armstrong’s honest and unrefined artistic charm. The imagery included figures in Armstrong’s life, tools of his trade, album covers for deceased musicians, and poetic ruminations scrawled across simple line drawings. The raw, hard-edged spontaneity in Armstrong’s art mirrors his approach to music making, exemplifying a “passion is more important than precision” aesthetic that speaks to the creative rebellion.



Avenues and Alleyways Exhibition



Avenues and Alleyways Exhibition



Avenues and Alleyways Exhibition

Shepard Fairey on Tim Armstrong

Tim Armstrong’s art has a visceral lyricism and immediacy that screams “if you feel it in your guts…express it with your hands!” The D.I.Y. punk ethos of honesty and emphasis on raw instinct that is so integral to Tim’s music is clearly evident in his tremendous body of gestural and poetic visual art. I was amazed by the quality and diversity within Tim’s “Tim Timebomb” project for which he created a song and piece of art each day for a year. If Tim’s drive and proliferation in multiple mediums don’t inspire you to get off your ass, nothing will! – Shepard Fairey



Shepard Fairey and Tim Armstrong

Tim Armstrong on Shepard Fairey

The first time I heard of Shepard was back in 1991 at my punk house in the East Bay, when I saw his stickers on our wall, and I’ve been a fan ever since. It’s an honor to be working with him and Subliminal on this art show. As long as I can remember, I have drawn or painted pictures. I’m looking forward to sharing it with everyone. – Tim Armstrong



Tim Armstrong

Screen Prints by Armstrong

A box set (Edition of 100) containing 45 screen prints by Armstrong, modeled after the 7 inch 45 format, will be released opening night with a limit of one per person / household. All prints in the box set will be signed by Armstrong and numbered. Avenues & Alleyways will be on view through Saturday, February 22.