Who is The Street Artist STIK?

If you’ve walked through the streets of London, you may have come across street art depicting stick figures. STIK, or Stik, is the artist responsible.

But who is he? Do we know his real identity? Why does he draw stick figures? Read on for all the information you need to know about street artist STIK…

What Do We Know About STIK?

Unfortunately, STIK doesn’t have much information publicly available. Much like fellow street artist Banksy, STIK prefers to remain anonymous.

Here are some facts we know about STIK:

• STIK was born in 1979 in the United Kingdom
• He has experienced homelessness
• He has No Formal Art Training
• He began creating his iconic street art in the early 2000s

He is known for painting iconic stick-figure people. He began creating his art in London, specifically Shoreditch. Fast forward to now, STIK paints murals around the world, from Europe to Asia and America.

What Inspired His Stick Figure Style?

STIK was inspired by Japanese calligraphy characters – kanji (漢字) – when he visited Japan. He spent a year in Japan as a young adult and learned about Japanese calligraphy. This inspired STIK’s later artwork, adapting elements of these kanji characters into his stick figures.

His experiences with homelessness also influenced his style. His time on the streets of London helped to shape his artistic approach. His street art ultimately became a way for him to share his work – and preserve it – whilst not having a home. His street art makes his art much more accessible – people don’t have to pay to view it, they can simply walk outside and enjoy his art. Likewise, STIK did not need to pay much money for equipment or tools to create and preserve his art, like many fine art artists do.

With no formal training and no art school background, STIK was able to develop his own style through his own experiences.

Why Stick Figures?

One of the main reasons that STIK began creating his simple stick figures, rather than more complex paintings, was because his simple six-line, two-dot figures could be done quickly… and street art that can be painted quickly is ideal if you’re trying to not get caught by the authorities!

STIK said himself: "Six lines and two dots was the quickest way to draw a human figure without getting caught".

Another reason he opted for simple stick figures is because they can easily convey emotion and human experience. His stick figure style is recognisable around the world – you can understand what his art is trying to say regardless of your culture or language.

STIK and the Wider Community

STIK paints on the streets but also runs graffiti workshops and creates work in his studio – work that is often showcased in galleries.

He believes that giving back to the community is important, and often involves the community in his artwork plans. He obtains approval from residents before he paints to ensure he respects the space and the people who live there. Although he has produced unauthorised street art, he also produces authorised art.

Another way he gives back to the community is by liaising with the Central Saint Martins Graffiti Dialogues and running graffiti workshops. He has also worked with organisations such as Amnesty International, British Waterways, the Mutoid Waste Company, Queeruption, and Reclaim the Street.

STIK also gave away some poster copies of his art in 2013, through The Big Issue, making his artwork more accessible to the public.

Where Can I View STIK’s Art?

STIK’s art has been showcased in various cities, galleries and exhibitions around the world, from London to Berlin and Tokyo.

Here are just a few places where STIK’s work has been exhibited or painted:

• Imitate Modern (2011)
• Dulwich Picture Gallery (2012)
• Brick Lane, London
• Berlin
• Tokyo
• New York City
• Shoreditch
• Hungerford Bridge, Southbank
• Homerton Hospital, Hackney
• Charles Hocking Estate, Acton

His work is instantly recognisable wherever you view it, characterised by the simple lines, large dotted eyes, full-bodied torso and parallel line legs.

How Much is STIK’s Art Worth?

Although you can view STIK’s street art for free in public, his art can sell for thousands at auction. Let’s break down the prices of his art:

• A single ‘Liberty’ print (25 edition) sold for more than £18,000 in June 2020.
• A complete set of his prints sold for £200,000 in 2019.
• One of his artist proofs sold for around £10,000 at Christie’s in New York
• His ‘Holding Hands’ sculpture sold for a record £287,500 in October 2020
• His ‘Up On The Roof’ sculpture fetched £150,000 at auction

If you’re looking to purchase artwork created by iconic STIK, you’re in the right place. You can invest in STIK’s art here at Grove Gallery. We have STIK’s Hackney’s ‘Holding Hands’ set of 5, his ‘Doodle’, and the ‘Big Issue Poster’ available.