BRINGING A POP OF COLOUR TO THE LANDSCAPE OF THE ART WORLD

Art is emotive and can bring a brand new perspective to the everyday. Stephen Penn finds out how Israeli-born artist Yoni Alter brightens the world around him through his contemporary work.

Not everyone can seamlessly find a balance between the artistic and the commercial, but somehow Yoni Alter manages it in spectacular fashion, wonderfully blending graphic and traditional works in a unique fashion.

A clear talent from a young age, Yoni grew up creating art and being inspired by the works of the contemporary Israeli artists which adorned the walls of his childhood home. “It was art that chose me rather than the other way round, I believe that's always the case with artists,” says Yoni. “I was always surrounded by art during my childhood as my father is a great art love, and once I started creating as a child I simply never stopped.”

Then, while he was studying and practicing graphic design in Jerusalem, he gradually found his signature contemporary style – a style that has scored him a number of high-profile commissions, including crafting a best-selling merchandise range for Tate and collaborating with renowned fashion designer with Karl Lagerfeld on a collection.

“Finding my style was a matter of making work and experimenting with ideas and methods and over the years, as in doing so, you naturally adopt a certain style that you're happy with,” he explains. “With colours for example, I just use colours that I love. It's not a conscious decision, it finds you rather than the other way round.”

Inspired by the world around him, Yoni eventually relocated to London – a move he attributes to bolstering his artistic drive. Indeed, his debut London show at Kemistry Gallery was motivated by the city’s urban landscapes and architecture.

“My antennas are always open, I love exploring what other contemporary artists and designers are doing and I'm sure it feeds into my practice whether consciously or not,” he says. “Life in London is influencing my art more than anything else, with such an intense place and bursting with creativity. Not only does it inspire creativity but also it motivates and ignites with ambitions.”

His influence from architecture is clear in his work, including his ‘Shapes of Cities’ series – which scored him home of his biggest collaborations to date. The collection – comprising prints of 60 cities with their notable buildings drawn in their accurate relative scales in his iconic style - led him to collaborations with the likes of Tate and MoMA.

This also led him to develop other objects, sculptures and products, including a light sculpture and lightbox which was on display at the recent Abode2 ‘Networking in the Sky’ Summer Party at Chelsea Waterfront.

“My work keeps evolving and while working on one thing I always experiment and comes up with other ideas, so everything I make leads me to make more things,” he says.

Never one to stop doing what he loves, he is now developing a new series of wall sculptures unlike any of his previous work, and even working with Prestel Publishing on a new series of books featuring his work.”

“I make art because I enjoy it and because others enjoy too,” Yoni says. “Seeing my art in people's homes and hearing from people that they love my art is a great gratification, so until that stops, neither will I and I will continue to look for new opportunities, new inspiration and new ways to showcase my work.”

To find out more about Yoni’s work visit www.yoniishappy.com