MAIN STREET
BENCH PROJECT text+photos JORGE PEREZCHICA
It’s the beginning of new decade and Tysen Knight, artist, filmmaker and mentor is standing tall and riding high. It seems like not a day goes by the the prolific artist isn’t painting a new mural or promoting projects. In late 2019, I ran across Tysen in downtown Palm Springs. The artist was busy painting over ordinary benches and transforming them into works of art with his signature style of bold colors and zigzag lines. Overall, Tysen painted 10 benches along Palm Canyon. Some of them adorn icons from pop culture such as Basquiat, Andy Warhol, Frida Kahlo and Lucille Ball. Tysen’s aesthetic can be described as a cross between street and pop-art. He gained attention when American Documentary Film Festival (AMDOCS) screened his latest “The Art of the Hustle: Street Art Documentary.” Palm Springs Public Arts Commission took notice and asked him to be lead artist for the launch of phase 1: Main Street Bench Project. In 2020, Tysen stepped into the role of lead supervisor for phase 2 and 3. Working with a multitude of local artists, over 50 benches have been painted throughout the city - including the airport, city hall, convention center and downtown.
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COACHELLA MAGAZINE
