Rapper Macklemore Paints Picasso-Inspired Mural

Instagram/@Macklemore

We’re all aware that the rapper Macklemore loves thrift shopping, but did you know he’s into another hipster hobby as well? The rapper was recently in Dublin, Ireland, where, according to Complex, he not only played his biggest show to date, but also did some graffiti. Sure, it wasn’t on the streets or even against the law—he was invited by local pub The Bernard Shaw to do a mural on their walls. He’s clearly versed in art history as well, because his work, which he subsequently posted on Instagram, bears a strong resemblance to some of Pablo Picasso’s Cubist portraits (particularly in the nose area).

It’s a fitting location for a commemorative painting, given that the establishment is the sister bar of The Twisted Pepper, the first venue Macklemore ever performed in. Below the piece, which boasts a brown, red, blue, and purple palette, he painted the words “Macklemore, 37,000, Marlay Park, Dublin 2014.” The figure 37,000 is a reference to the number of concert-goers at his aforementioned largest show yet, which took place later that day in Dublin’s Marlay Park.

Macklemore is not the first celebrity to express a love affair with graffiti art. Justin Bieber recently did some spray painting in Brazil and Colombia. Kelly Osbourne also dabbled in graffiti, and Chris Brown sparked a spat with his neighbors for his Kenny Scharf-like cartoon graffiti. Looks like celeb-raffiti (and subsequent social media gloating) could be the next big thing for stars hoping to establish some street cred.


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