Live art is a budding trend in the event industry, as demonstrations provide event entertainment and many times lead to event decor once the particular installation is complete. From live mural-painting to green-screen graffiti, here's a look at how events incorporated and highlighted the live art trend this year.
Thillist's Empire Oyster, which offered oyster-lovers a variety of dishes from local vendors, took place in October at Villain in Brooklyn. During the event, artist James Zdaniewski painted a colorful oyster mural that was decorated with a branded life preserver.
In conjunction with the Los Angeles Auto Show, Land Rover hosted a private preview event on November 11 for its Discover Venice consumer pop-up, which was hosted by husband-and-wife lifestyle and fitness gurus Gabby Reece and Laird Hamilton. Surfboard artist Drew Brophy created artwork on branded surfboards at the event, which was produced by Kro Events.
Nonprofit educational organization Outward Bound hosted its National Benefit Dinner on October 18 at Cipriani 25 Broadway in New York. Artist Michael Arthur, who specializes in live drawings of key moments, sketched on a visible screen as nine current and former students—including featured speaker author Michael Lewis—spoke about their experiences in the organization. The artistic showcase was designed to capture the impact and inspiration created by an Outward Bound experience.
Keep a Child Alive's 13th annual Black Ball took place at the Hammerstein Ballroom on October 19. The event, which celebrated the spirit of '80s activism in the fight against AIDS, featured a live installation created by British visual artist Shantell Martin.
The inaugural Red Bull Sound Select's 3 Days in Miami festival took place September 1 to 3 at the Hangar in Miami. Artist Brian Butler handed out limited-edition posters he drew onsite each night, along with custom-made artist portrait pins.
The Bronx Brewery in New York celebrated the release of its golden ale Bronx Banner with a tasting party on August 10. Bronx-born artist Andre Trenier created live mural art throughout the event.
The Out in the Streets festival took place July 16 and 17 at the Vander Ende-Onderdonk House in New York's Ridgewood, Queens. The music, food, and arts event had a live art piece created with festival attendees' recycled beer cans by street artist Leon Reid IV.
As part of Heineken's City Shapers global marketing campaign, the Dutch beer brand hosted a street art event at Underpass Park in Toronto on July 21. The event, which was produced by SDImktg, brought together three notable street artists—Jimmy Chiale, Whatisadam, and Hey Apathy—to use Heineken's color palette as inspiration to paint canvas streetcar replicas.
The inaugural art- and tech-focused Panorama music festival came to Randall's Island in New York in July. All City Express, a collaboration between 5Pointz Aerosol Art Center, Mevent, and AST Studios, featured a subway-train projection that paid homage to graffiti art's New York origins. Artists spray-painted graffiti on a green screen, which was translated onto the high-definition video wall.
At this year's South by Southwest, which was held March 15 to 20 in Austin, major festival sponsor Marriott Rewards partnered with Universal Music Group to turn the JW Marriott Austin into a concert venue for badge-holders and rewards members, with concerts from artists like Ryan Adams and the Avett Brothers and events including the Universal StyldBy Gap poolside party. Artist Yoon Hyup—who created a hotel window illustration of Austin for the hotel takeover—created live mural paintings during the party.
