21-year-old, New Jersey-based artist Adam Hillman has gained a ton of online attention over the past year within a secret Facebook group dubbed “unedited smartphone aesthetic pics” — and for good reason. Also known as USAP, it’s a 7000+ strong online community dedicated to the documentation of moments, displays and phenomena that members have witnessed or created, and boasts a large roster of active members and artists who help make it one of the more colorful groups around.
Hillman, however, has risen to become one of the most popular USAP users through his painstakingly crafted series of mesmerizing visual puns that capture the true spirit of ~internet weirdness~.
“Before I found smartphone photography in 2014, I had been creating abstract paintings and drawings for years, utilizing a time-consuming, pattern-oriented style similar to some of my arrangements. I had also been fairly successful in my artistic pursuits — I’ve won an award and had several solo and group exhibitions. However, despite the fact that I’ve been traditionally trained, I am also deeply interested in and influenced by modern and contemporary art, and decided to go to school for art history rather than fine art…And while I hope to make a living off my art some day, I also hope to obtain a museum or gallery position. This nontraditional route, plus the accessibility of internet-based content, is what drew me to a web-based practice, although I have plans to print and hang the arrangements in a more traditional gallery setting as well.”
Edit: more madness :)
