Stiles Be (aka Simon K Burt)
(b.1977)
"Ever fascinated with the movement and ever-changing façade of the modern city, I have become addicted to the faces and places and traces left behind. I have evolved a style that is raw yet thought out in its presentation that cuts through the literal representation to explore the energy and intention within our society and its interactions".
Stiles is an interdisciplinary artist working across painting, works on paper and repurposed textiles. His practice draws on his background in street art, music, fashion, and graphic design, steeped in the dynamic expression of style attendant in the exchange, practices, beliefs and values of inhabiting urban spaces.
Working primarily on canvas, his recent compositions have been abstract explorations of the relationship between the unconscious and neuroscience in monochromatic and tonally muted colours.
Variously scaled compositions in a range of materials – including acrylic and aerosol paint, both dabbed and sprayed – invoke the fluidity and shifting planes of internal worlds and the grit and cool tonal palette of urban life.
Stiles Be lives in Tarntanyangga-Adelaide.
ARTIST RESIDENCIES / EXHIBITIONS / LIVE ART:
-EDMUND RICE FLEXI SCHOOL ELIZABETH [Resident Artist] 2022 – ongoing
Weekly workshops with students aged 12 -16 developing street art skills and techniques, delivering a final outcome of a mural on the school grounds.
+ Artist Entrepreneurship workshops with students aged 14-16 to help develop the skills and direction to start a pathway to a career in the creative industries.
-BLAIR ATHOL NORTH B-6 [Resident Artist] 2021- ongoing
Weekly workshops with students aged 8-12 developing their art skills and delivering a graffiti backdrop for the dance crew and currently working on a large-scale abstract mural at the front of the school.
-BROADCAST BAR [Resident Artist] 2020 - ongoing
Design and painting of interior mural of the bar room and entrance, plus designing a collection of merchandise.
-‘ACTUALITY’ [Curator / Exhibitor] 2022
Solo exhibition of abstract expressionist works at Erb ’N’ Flo, Adelaide.
-YOUTH COURT OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA [Resident Artist] 2021
Exterior large-scale mural created through the City of Adelaide Public Art funding.
Interior large-scale mural commissioned by the court.
-SPECIALISED ASSISTANCE SCHOOL FOR YOUTH (SASY) [Resident Artist] 2020-2021
Weekly workshops with students aged 15-20 developing their art skills with individually designed outcomes for each participant.
-PILGRIM CENTRE [Art Installation] 2020
Exterior large-scale mural created through the City of Adelaide Public Art funding.
-GRAY COURT, ADELAIDE, SA. [Art Installation] 2019
Exterior large-scale mural created through the City of Adelaide Public Art funding.
-SQUAREHOLES [Art Installation] 2019
Exterior large-scale mural created through the City of Adelaide Public Art funding.
-LARRY & LADD [Exhibitor] 2019
Solo exhibition of smaller works.
-GILBERT STREET PRIVATE RESIDENCE [Art Installation] 2019
Privately commissioned large scale exterior mural
- ADELAIDE UNIVERSITY UNION [Resident Artist] 2014 – 2019
Live Aerosol Art Demonstrations at student events
- PARALOWIE R12 [Resident Artist] 2014 – 2017
Conducted introductory Aerosol Art courses with students. Painted
numerous murals throughout the school with students, teachers and
community centre participants
- JPE DESIGN ARCHITECTS [Resident Artist] 2016
Artwork created for their ‘Thinking Minds’ annual luncheon, a solo
exhibition in the offices and collaboration on ideas form
incorporating graffiti design into architectural concepts
-TSHIRT DESIGN w/ A$AP FERG 2016
collaboration on a series of hand painted T shirts with rapper/designer A$AP FERG
-SCF Containers 2016.
Internal Corporate Murals in the foyer and canteen.
- SUGAR NIGHTCLUB [Resident Artist]1999 – 2015
Feature artist:
Four independent exhibitions and five group shows
Murals on several walls inside the establishment and one on the
Exterior.
-URPS PLANNERS [Street Art Tour Leader and aerosol instructor] 2015
Adelaide wide walking art tour with group participation mural at the
Adelaide Free Wall
- VICTORIA SQ ART MARKET [Exhibitor] 2015
Feature exhibitor at the Artist Market run by Driller Jet Armstrong
- FOOTLOCKER / PUMA QLD [Art Installation / Live Art] 2015
Live art demonstration launching the 2016 range of Puma to
Footlocker executives
- COLD KRUSH UNLEY [Curator / Exhibitor] 2015
Exhibition held in correspondence with LIFE WITHOUT BARRIERS.
Artist / Mentor collaboration the LIVING ARTS PROGRAM
-ADELAIDE FILM FESTIVAL [Art Installation] 2015
- ‘Spear’ Painted Mural response
- TROPCORP [Resident Artist] 2010 -2014
Murals on several walls inside and exterior of the establishment
-ADELAIDE FILM FESTIVAL [Art Installation] 2013
‘All This Mayhem’ Documentary' Painted Mural response
- ROYAL VISIT PLAYFORD SA [Art Installation] 2013
Aerosol Art demonstration / workshop with young artists as part of
the Royal Australian Tour. Taught Prince William and Princess
Catherine how to use the spray can and had them participate in the
mural. My comments quoted over 30,000 times in international
social and mainstream media
- OI YOU @ FESTIVAL CENTRE [Art Installation / Exhibitor] 2013
Installation piece inside Adelaide Festival Centre as part of the
exhibition of The Shaw’s collection of BANKSY and other key
figures of the street art world.
- THE GALLERY /CIBO [Art Installation] 2012
Waymouth St ADL SA AU
Radelaide Mural Artist of the which has since been sanctified by the Adelaide City Council
- TARPARI PORT PIRIE [Art Installation] 2012
Introduction to Aerosol Art workshop with local indigenous students
who created artworks for their school.
- TRADESHALL LANE [Art Installation] 2012
(Tradeshall Lane Adelaide SA)
- DOG N DUCK [Art Installation] 2012
- Northern Sound Centre Skate Park [Art Installation] 2011
(Elizabeth, S.A.) (Hindley St Adelaide SA)
- LONGVIEW WINERY SA [Live Art] 2011
Mural painted on site as part of the Cold Krush festival at Longview
winery, piece is still on display in their salesroom
-GRASSROOTS w/ USA DJ ROB SWIFT Mural2011
- CARCLEW [Exhibitor] 2011
‘Black x Gold’ affordable art exhibition with Sam Evans
- RED BULL WRECKERS YARD [State Champion] 2011
Elimination based Aerosol Art Freestyle Competition of SA
most recognized artists. Went on to compete for Australian titles (4th
place)
-PAPERSTRINGPLASTIC GALLERY [Resident Artist] 2011
Mural installation through the entire gallery and entrance plus
participation in exhibitions as an artist and curator
-JIVE w/ USA ARTIST BUKUE ONE [Art Installation] 2011
- NIKE Adelaide [Art Installation] 2010
Painted live wall of the opening night which was installed into the
Establishment
- MARBLE BAR [Art Installation] 2010
Waymouth Street ADL SA AU
- AVALON GALLERY [Resident Artist] 2007 -2008
Hindley St ADL SA AU
- RHINO ROOM [Exhibitor} 2002 – 2009
Multiple art shows (group and solo) plus mural installation inside
and outside the premises
- SHOP 5 / LOTUS LABEL [Resident Artist} 2008 -2009
Shop front window decoration on numerous occasions plus a solo
art show held in correspondence with the launch of Lotus’ summer
collection 2009
- THIS IS NOT ART FESTIVAL [Resident Artist} 2003
Newcastle NSW AU
Feature Mural on major public wall painted over 7 days (Panthers Clubrooms) with
selected aerosol artists representing each state of Australia as part
of the Renew program
- DISTIL [Art Installation] 2002
Painted wall on the VIP level of the establishment
- PEMBROKE SCHOOL [Resident Artist} 2002
A semester program introducing students to Aerosol Art and Design
GALLERY OWNER / CURATOR:
-100BUCKS&RUNNIN’ SERIES 1/2/3/4 [Curator] 2007 – 2022
Group exhibition series for artists of all ages and backgrounds.
Template character canvas’ were supplied which were customized,
exhibited anonymously and all retailed at $100. The concept was to
reduce the stigma attached to art shows and make it all about the
work itself and not the names and investment opportunities.
- TS GALLERY [Owner / Operator] 2011 -2013
Currie St ADL SA
Graffiti based gallery for the legendary art crew ToySoldiers holding exhibitions monthly
-5000 GALLERY [Owner / Operator] 2009 - 2011
Waymouth St Adelaide SA) Owner / Operator Dedicated to street art featuring studios and a retail space. The 5000 Gallery committed itself to challenging public perception of the ‘art gallery’, such as hosting ‘100 Bucksandrunnin’ collaboration show featuring 35 local artists.
The biggest innovation of 5000 Gallery was ‘Projectorbitions’ which
featured artists collaboratively spray-painting an interior gallery
wall, which was projected (live) 7 stories high outside.