Pref (artist)

Pref
Born	London, England, UK
Education	Chelsea College of Arts
Known for	Visual Art Conceptual Art Graffiti Street art
Movement	Contemporary Art
Website	prefprefpref.com

Pref is a British graffiti fine artist and muralist. He is known for his multi-layered typographic style graffiti, incorporating an exploration of common words and key vernacular phrases. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

Career

Pref has developed his role and reputation as a graffiti artist over 20 years, and trained initially at Chelsea College of Arts before going on to work in graphic design. His multi-layered style means that an element of deciphering is introduced, the viewer being asked to disentangle images and meanings from the artwork. ^{[4] [5]} The clear linear elements of his work and Pref's evolving interest in typography trespass across the borders of fine and graphic art in energetic and intriguing ways. ^{[6] [7]}
In 2019, he collaborated with Italian luxury fashion brand Fendi to create a capsule collection based on his designs. ^{[8] [9]}
He also participated in an exhibition and event curated by Justin Bieber. ^[10]

Selected works

• Pref Solo Exhibition, La Galerie Centrale, Liege, Belgium (2021) ^[11]
• Sway exhibition, Moberg gallery, Iowa, USA (2020) ^[12]
• Breitling Watches, Mural Commission, London, UK (2020) ^[13]
• Les Poupees Russes, Digital Artwork commission (2020)
• Mars Wrigley's, Mural Commission, London, UK (2020)
• Powow Hawaii exhibition, Thinkspace Gallery, Hawaii, USA (2020)
• The Biebers x Lift exhibition, UTA Artist Space, California, USA (2019)
• YMC clothing, Capsule collection collaboration, London, UK (2019) ^[14]
• Talking Walls Charlotte, Mural Commission, Charlotte, USA (2019) ^[15]
• Typograffic Circle exhibition, Moniker Art Far, London, UK (2019)
• London Mural Festival, Logo Design, London, UK (2019)
• Principal Insurance, Mural Commission, Iowa, USA (2019)
• LAX / ORD pt.II exhibition, Vertical Gallery, Chicago, USA (2019)
• Foundation Mesh, Mural Commission, Rotterdam, NL (2019)
• In Bloom exhibition, Moberg gallery, Iowa, USA (2019)
• LAX / SFO Pt. III, Heron arts / Thinkspace gallery, San Francisco, USA (2019)
• Fendi, Capsule Collection, Rome, Italy (2019)
• Seeing Red exhibition, Thinkspace Art Gallery, California, USA (2019) ^[16]
• What You On? exhibition, Moosey Art Gallery, London, UK (2019)
• Analogue Digital exhibition, The Other Art Fair / Saatchi Art, London, UK (2019)
• Control And Disorder exhibition, Gallery 42b, Paris, France (2018)
• Unexpected Festival, Mural Commission x 2, Arkansas, USA (2018) ^[17]
• Typograffic Circle exhibition, StolenSpace Gallery, London, UK (2018)
• Better Together store, Mural Commission, New Mexico, USA (2018)
• Heuristic exhibition, Wollongong Art Gallery, Wollongong, Australia (2017)
• Global street art, Mural Commission, London, UK (2017)
• Question and Answer, Mural Commission, Brighton, UK (2017)
• Calleganera Festival, Mural Commission x 2, Monterrey, Mexico (2016)
• Smoke and Mirrors exhibition, StolenSpace Gallery, London, UK (2016) ^[18]
• Step In the Arena, Mural commission, Eindhoven, NL (2016)
• Write Now exhibition, Hangfire Gallery, Bristol, UK (2015)
• Rule of Three exhibition, Colab gallery, Weil am Rhein, Germany (2014) ^[19]

References

1. Sierzputowski, Kate (16 May 2018). "Multi-Layered Lettering Challenges the Aesthetics of Graffiti in New Works by Pref". Colossal. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
2. yjoann (24 July 2015). "Catch Graffiti Artist Ceno2 in Action at Keepers". Female Singapore. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
3. Répondre, MILLOT CONTE depuis 6 ans (1 February 2019). "Le graffeur Pref ou l'art de l'interprétation". www.bewaremag.com (in French). Retrieved 16 November 2024.
4. "Projects | YMC | You Must Create". www.youmustcreate.com. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
5. Sauer, Jok (15 May 2018). "INTRODUCING GRAFFITI ARTIST PREF". MONTANA-CANS BLOG. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
6. "Pref - More Than Words". www.compulsivecontents.com. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
7. "Incredible Multi-Layered Lettering Murals by Pref | Inspiration Grid". theinspirationgrid.com. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
8. "Incredible Multi-Layered Lettering Murals by Pref | Inspiration Grid". theinspirationgrid.com. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
9. Johnson, Gold (14 May 2019). "Fendi Taps British Graffiti Artist Pref for New "Roma Amor" Capsule Collection". PAUSE Online | Men's Fashion, Street Style, Fashion News & Streetwear. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
10. Article, Maxwell Williams ShareShare This (5 December 2019). "What Art Would Justin Bieber Buy? A New Art Auction Curated by the Singer and His Wife Reveals His Tastes". Artnet News. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
11. "Exposition "Pref", La Galerie Centrale, Awans, 23 July 2021". stayhappening.com. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
12. "Sway | Curated by Jason Woodside". Moberg Gallery. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
13. "Home". www.globalstreetart.com. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
14. "YMC team up with graffiti artist Pref to celebrate London camaraderie". Hero. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
15. "Talking Walls | PREF" . Retrieved 16 November 2024.
16. "Booooooom x Thinkspace: "Seeing Red" Exhibition". BOOOOOOOM!. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
17. "The Best is Yet to Come by PREF". www.discoverfortsmith.com. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
18. Taggart, Emma (18 May 2018). "Street Artist Creates Multi-Layered Typography Puzzles With Hidden Messages". My Modern Met. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
19. "RULE OF THREE 2014 | Colab Gallery - Urban Art". colab-gallery.com. Retrieved 16 November 2024.