Kyle Mosher

Kyle Mosher also known as I'm not a crook (born 1985) is a Canadian born Charlotte, NC based artist and designer known for his collage and cut-paper style. His enigmatic artwork combines lyrical epigrams from famous musicians most often in the hip-hop genre. His distinctive collage and cut-paper style is executed by combining found imagery with digital as well as more traditional analog techniques, specifically, painting and print making. His work has been featured in streets, galleries and editorials both domestically and internationally. He often goes by the pseudonym, "i'm not a crook," which, ironically aside from being a famous political and lyrical reference is a response to critics who say he steals his images and lyrics.
The ideas and style for Mosher's work were conceived from studying and observing modern artists like Cézanne, Picasso, Braque and Rauschenberg. Fellow artists have noted that his style is somewhat similar to more contemporary Brazilian artist Eduardo Recife also known as Misprinted Type. He studied and attainted his B.F.A at the New Hampshire Institute of Art under his mentor and New York based illustrator, Lynn Pauley. Mosher has gone on record to state that he is more inspired by "the hustle of emerging musicians" then by other contemporary visual artists often jokingly admitting he missed his true calling of being a musician and performer. Before becoming enthralled with art and design Mosher was a competitive athlete who was plagued by injuries before leaving college and transferring to an art school. He played hockey and attended Nashua High School in Nashua, NH.

Kiiyle Mosher, at the time enrolled at the New Hampshire Institute of Art, began as an illustrator in Manchester, NH. He was inspired by Cézanne's observations of simple forms, Picasso's synthetic cubism as well as Rauschenberg's mixed media collages. From the start he was a freehand illustrator drawing the world around him as interpreted through the combination of traditional simple forms, loose illustrative styles and the use of more modern graphic imagery. In 2007 he studied in Florence, Italy at which point he turned to combining cut-paper techniques into his illustrations. In 2008 one of his illustrations was sponsored by his teacher and mentor at the time, Lynn Pauley to be entered into the prestigious Society of Illustrators student competition in New York City. "Audubon 2" was chosen to be one of ninety-six entries to be a representation of winning student works from around the country at the Society of Illustrators Gallery in New York City.

Example of Mosher's commercial work, Olamide Faison in the "Portrait Series"

Kyle Mosher currently resides in Charlotte, NC. His personal work is intended to be enigmatic and often vague in subject matter. It contains graphic images which are worn, used, or made to feel vintage in nature. Mosher has compared his artwork to music. Stating that it is not only intended to make a statement, but it is a "visual performance" intended to stimulate the viewers brain. Just as a song or lyric would create an emotional response for the listener so too he wishes the same response, but visually. His work is most often combined with lyrics from hip-hop artists. He believes writing lyrics is in itself a significant form of art. Asked, "Why do you use lyrics from famous musicians?" He sarcastically responded with, "I would use my own lyrics, but no one has heard them." He believes the viewer has a stronger connection and the work has a greater impact when they recognize the lyrics. The lyrics are usually intended to motivate, inspire, make a statement or invoke thought. He is influenced by the musician lifestyle; fascinated with creating a form of symphonic art and hustling it as a self-sustaining means of income and indulgence. Subjects in his artwork are often, but not limited to: birds, flowers, vintage cars, small children, the elderly, fire hydrants, fans, pillow cases, and various other images that seem to be visual conundrums.

His commercial work is visually more literal. He has recently done a series of portraits entitled, "The Portrait Series" in which intimate portraits of musicians are created using his cut-paper and collage style.

He has been featured in numerous online editorials which include: the Proteus Mag, the Phase Collective, bit FUUL mag, peculiar bliss, notofu, notpaper and get a candy.

Most recently his piece, "'cause they know me" was chosen as one of the winning pieces for the Brush's Gallery open submission contest themed, "For the Birds."