PAPERFRANK

Street artists decorate the urban landscape with their unique visions. Their work breaks up the monotony of the concrete jungle and energizes passersby. One of the most prominent street artists that have been making waves in the street art scene for nearly a decade is PaperFrank.

So who exactly is PaperFrank? Frank Dunson or “PaperFrank” is an Atlanta-based visual and tattoo artist whose works have captivated the imaginations of tens of thousands of people across Atlanta. The amazing artist claims to be self-trained but creates vibrant-looking works that exude a distinct youthful playfulness.

PaperFrank gained prominence with his 2013 solo art show Pink Lemonade at Blue Mark Studios in west-side Atlanta. The show was attended by a whopping 3000 people, a feat which would be considered for an otherwise unknown street artist. In the show, Dunson showed off his works which features a blend of anime and “neo-pop” styles. Despite being an artist with a sizable cult-following, PaperFrank claims to suffer from “poor vision”. He states that this vision helps him view the world through a different lens, which contributes to why his works focuses on simplistic shapes and colors.

In a 2017 interview with Uproxx, Dunson relays a story about painting using the wrong colors during his school art class. His peers ridiculed him for his supposed inability to draw. However, the experience inspired him to push his limits and improve. PaperFrank viewed every challenge he faced as something that could be overcome, similar to beating a level in a video game.

After looking at any of his works, one instantly gets the impression that PaperFrank is indeed a talented artist. However, his work also holds widespread appeal among the younger generations that are always on the lookout for colorful or anime-inspired artwork.

PaperFrank declared “I’m a f***ed up person because I spent my whole life in my room” during his Pink Lemonade presentation. This message is one that should resonate with a significant number of Millennials and Gen-Zers, many of whom have kept PaperFrank in the street art spotlight over the years.

PaperFrank also sells his art pieces commercially. Some of his pieces have sold for over $1000. The artist is still hard at work on new pieces, and doesn’t show signs of stopping any time soon.

He also works as a tattoo artist for City of Ink. However, he spends much of his time creating murals and new artwork in collaboration with brands such as MCM.

PaperFrank serves as an inspiration for many aspiring visually impaired artists across the globe. He is proof that you can channel your shortcomings to create moving and inspiring art that resonates with others. You can check out PaperFrank’s latest works on his Instagram.