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T.E.W.S.R. by Dale Youngman “In the graffiti scene you're often given a name by an elder or friend, sometimes because of how it relates to one’s personality or things they do. Or, one would give themselves a chosen moniker, and then it’s up to you to put in the work to make the name mean something. I chose the acronym T.E.W.S.R , firstly because I like the way the letters flow together, and then I came up with “The Exhibit Worth Seeing Revealed,“ as a cool way to define it.“ Mike “TEWSR” Duncan was born in Westminster CA in 1979, to a family very supportive of his art aspirations. He grew up behind the so-called ‘Orange Curtain” in Costa Mesa, but has been living, working, and thriving in Los Angeles for over a decade. By the time he attended Laguna College of Art and Design when he was 30, learning and relearning the foundational aspects of what he knew as a self-taught artist, he had already begun making a name for himself on the streets.
“I’d say my style utilizes modern chiaroscuro techniques across both my personal graffiti and fine art work. I typically use light and shadow to define my structure and subject matter. It is what makes my work recognizable.“ Considering himself a hybrid artist, adept as a Muralist, Illustrator and Fine Artist, TEWSR began working with spray paint around 1993. He was invited to join the ranks of the world-famous Hollywood-based CBS Crew (Can’t Be Stopped), one of the most prolific graffiti crews in L.A. during the 1990s, known for their inclusive blend of members crossing racial and economic divides, and for prioritizing art and friendship over drugs and gang violence. Since 2005, he has also worked with LA-based crew W.A.I, although these days, he tends to spend more time working alone on commissioned projects.
With well-over 200 murals and public artworks under his tool belt, his variety of mad skills and techniques has led him to high-paying commissions for murals around the world, with public art projects in Manchester UK, Tokyo, Japan, Vancouver, Canada , Sao Paolo, Brazil and Paris, France. His high-profile works include painting graffiti on stage for the filming of Mickey Mouses’ 90th Birthday Special, working on a huge mural for a Marvel Comics Captain America movie, and painting live for Lexus at the LA Auto Show.
“Currently I'm working on a large mural installation for the Dinos Alive, Klimt, and Monet interactive immersion experiences in Montebello, California. Referred by a friend of mine who had just finished doing their similar installations in Seattle, WA, the job keeps expanding, as new locations are added to the immersive tour experience. The murals are representations of Gustav Klimt and Claude Monet's more recognizable masterworks and are part of a traveling installation planned for multiple US cites (and perhaps an international venue or two) in 2022. There is also a large Dinosaur mural to tie in with the animatronic Dino experience at the event space, sure to be a hit with the younger set!” Honored to be creating public work that is seen by thousands, whether in Las Vegas or the alleys behind LA’s famed Melrose Avenue, TEWSR is also gratified by being able to work on smaller-scale canvases for gallery shows, as that allows him time to be at home with his wife and daughter. “It’s a tricky balance trying to stay on my game and stay present in my family life. These days I also enjoy cooking, as it lets me be creative and focused with the hope that what I’ve created will garner some enjoyment for those that receive it. I believe life itself is an art, and I try to operate accordingly. It’s also much easier to keep an eye on my daughter from my studio chair than from the top of a ladder.“
“My concept is about Innocence decimated by the guise of things designed for children that could lead to potential harm or adversity - like Ice cream! I paint the dichotomy of innocence, and that which strips us of that innocence. I try to portray that in a playful way that would cause one to raise a questionable brow.” With a wide-reaching body of work that combines visceral energy, mysticism, sci-fi, and surrealism in a mind--altering detailed and dynamic fusion of color, emotion and whimsy, TEWSR is sure to cause many brows to be raised throughout his artistic career. Want to see more work? Visit TEWSR at Omni, Click Here. ________________________________ Author Dale Youngman is an independent art curator, fine art dealer, marketing consultant and art writer, working to facilitate the flow of art in Southern California. She currently consults with artists, galleries, interior designers, non-profits, and a new art platform to advance business for everyone in the art world. She has twice been honored by the LA Mayor’s Office with “Certificates of Recognition“ for her many years of art advocacy. Find Dale at her website.
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Creating a name or branding for yourself , especially for street artists whose work is largely public art, also means developing a unique style, something that stands out from the rest, and will eventually lead to paying work or licensing on products like apparel or skateboards. Developing his distinctive style with a detailed and deft hand and known personally as a positive hard-working man with an engaging spirit, TEWSR joined the elite club of both sought-after international muralists and accomplished studio artists.
He has been painting new locations for LA-based Chronic Tacos Restaurant for about 10 years and has twice been invited to Brazil to showcase his work as part of group museum events. His most recent projects have also been among his largest and most exciting. The biggest one to date was an 80 foot long "postcard style" interior mural for Resorts World in Las Vegas, which unfortunately is only viewable in the employee-only area not accessible to the public. Another recent Vegas project was a "Garbage Pail Kids" style mural for Evel Pie, a beloved pizza restaurant on Fremont Ave in Downtown Las Vegas. A multi-wall mural, it covers about 80% of the entire back patio area, creating an immersive dining experience. 
His studio style features highly-detailed illustrative work, blending surrealism and fantasy with childhood adventures and splashes of darkness. With the pandemic causing the closure of galleries all over the country, exhibits everywhere have been delayed or cancelled, and TEWSR’s planned solo show was no exception. Although he is currently prepping new works for an upcoming show with EWKUKS Gallery in Los Angeles in late 2022, some work is also now available through an online gallery. Mostly smaller in scale, his next series will focus on innocence lost. 
