During Art Basel Miami Beach at the SCOPE Art Fair last December, I spent more time than usual in one booth checking out the abstract layering and sometimes delightfully haunting work of HYSTM. I wasn't familiar with them even though they were New York based artists. Later, they invited me for a studio visit in Chinatown to meet, see new works and talk about their inspirations, techniques and the duo knows as "HYSTM; Have You Seen These Men," (more on their name below.)
Check out my in depth interview and a variety of new works by Keith and Rich of HYSTM....
HYSTM is Keith Pine and Rich Zitterman.
Where you are both from? Where is your studio located?
We are both from NY and work out of our studio in Chinatown.
We are both from NY and work out of our studio in Chinatown.
What does HYSTM mean? When / how was it “founded?”
HYSTM is an acronym. It stands for “Have You Seen These Men”. During college we put posters up around Manhattan with pictures of us disguised as these characters Reuben and Rory that we created. “Have You Seen These Men” was written in big bold lettering across the top of the posters and prompted people to call a phone number and leave a message to say where the sighting occurred. It was one of our earliest and most fun collaborations. We thought it was fitting for our painting team.
HYSTM is an acronym. It stands for “Have You Seen These Men”. During college we put posters up around Manhattan with pictures of us disguised as these characters Reuben and Rory that we created. “Have You Seen These Men” was written in big bold lettering across the top of the posters and prompted people to call a phone number and leave a message to say where the sighting occurred. It was one of our earliest and most fun collaborations. We thought it was fitting for our painting team.
When did you both first begin pursuing art?
We’ve been doing art our entire lives.
How did you both meet? When did you begin collaborating as HYSTM?
We met at The School of Visual Arts in painting class and have been collaborating on projects and ideas from the very beginning of our friendship but formally under the HYSTM name for the last 5 years.
You mentioned that went to SVA? Tell me about your experience(s) there and how it influenced your future(s)?
School of Visual Arts was rugged and couldn’t be further from a from a typical college experience. You are thrown into the “real world” of NYC from day one without the cushions or comforts of a traditional university. You have to play the cards you are dealt and create your own success. That’s how we approach the art world.
Who were your favorite or most influential artists growing up?
Courbet, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Picasso, De Kooning, Bacon, Robert Williams, Magritte and Kenny Scharf
Where do you both draw inspiration from now? What else other that art inspires you?
We draw inspiration from almost everything; found images, freeze frames from TV and movies, old school wrestling, inside jokes, old stories, street signs, Polaroid’s.
Can you tell us about your art pieces in general – what is the thought and inspiration behind them?
Each piece usually starts with a jumping off concept, idea or image. From that point forward we iterate back and forth between the two of us with layer upon layer of abstraction and realism. Every painting contains a variety of traditional and nontraditional methods and materials such as, acrylics, ink, collage, spray paint, marker…nothing is off limits.
Our core philosophies are “no rules” and “it’s done when it’s done”. We strive to make every piece unique and unlike anything before it. We don’t believe in “series” , rather each piece is part of the continuous and evolving HYSTM collection and story.
Tell us about your new art works - such as what you choose to paint, the layering, and special facts about your work?
We are moving towards working in a bigger format more consistently. We have been wishing some of the smaller paintings we’ve recently completed were bigger. You really can’t compare the impact a large painting has when it confronts the viewer. It gets boring for us if we aren’t upping our game and pushing ourselves to a new level.
We’ve been doing art our entire lives.
How did you both meet? When did you begin collaborating as HYSTM?
We met at The School of Visual Arts in painting class and have been collaborating on projects and ideas from the very beginning of our friendship but formally under the HYSTM name for the last 5 years.
School of Visual Arts was rugged and couldn’t be further from a from a typical college experience. You are thrown into the “real world” of NYC from day one without the cushions or comforts of a traditional university. You have to play the cards you are dealt and create your own success. That’s how we approach the art world.
Who were your favorite or most influential artists growing up?
Courbet, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Picasso, De Kooning, Bacon, Robert Williams, Magritte and Kenny Scharf
Where do you both draw inspiration from now? What else other that art inspires you?
We draw inspiration from almost everything; found images, freeze frames from TV and movies, old school wrestling, inside jokes, old stories, street signs, Polaroid’s.
Each piece usually starts with a jumping off concept, idea or image. From that point forward we iterate back and forth between the two of us with layer upon layer of abstraction and realism. Every painting contains a variety of traditional and nontraditional methods and materials such as, acrylics, ink, collage, spray paint, marker…nothing is off limits.
Our core philosophies are “no rules” and “it’s done when it’s done”. We strive to make every piece unique and unlike anything before it. We don’t believe in “series” , rather each piece is part of the continuous and evolving HYSTM collection and story.
Tell us about your new art works - such as what you choose to paint, the layering, and special facts about your work?
We are moving towards working in a bigger format more consistently. We have been wishing some of the smaller paintings we’ve recently completed were bigger. You really can’t compare the impact a large painting has when it confronts the viewer. It gets boring for us if we aren’t upping our game and pushing ourselves to a new level.
You showed at Scope / Art Basel in 2015, (where I discovered your work!), how was that experience?
Scope was a great experience. It was an honor to be amongst so many great galleries and artists from around the world. NY1978 also featured our work exclusively in their booth which was fantastic as well. The thing that stuck out the most for us was the overwhelming wave of positivity and interest in our work. The best compliments for us are when people would say “whoa, this is something different”.
What do you want people to understand or take away from your art?
The number one thing for us is that we are making really good thought provoking work that’s better than what we have made before. People should draw their own conclusions and meanings from our paintings we just want them to have a visceral reaction of any kind. We never go into a piece with the intent to convey a meaning or an emotion. In our minds, that’s bullshit. The feeling, depth and vibe that comes through our art is a result of our process and the state of mind we are in when we are making it.
What is / was your most favorite piece completed so far? What are you both most proud of?
Our current favorites are The Gazer and Rip Toombs, but that changes frequently. We are most proud of our methodology and how we are able to work together and always know when a piece is done or needs something else.
Scope was a great experience. It was an honor to be amongst so many great galleries and artists from around the world. NY1978 also featured our work exclusively in their booth which was fantastic as well. The thing that stuck out the most for us was the overwhelming wave of positivity and interest in our work. The best compliments for us are when people would say “whoa, this is something different”.
What do you want people to understand or take away from your art?
The number one thing for us is that we are making really good thought provoking work that’s better than what we have made before. People should draw their own conclusions and meanings from our paintings we just want them to have a visceral reaction of any kind. We never go into a piece with the intent to convey a meaning or an emotion. In our minds, that’s bullshit. The feeling, depth and vibe that comes through our art is a result of our process and the state of mind we are in when we are making it.
What is / was your most favorite piece completed so far? What are you both most proud of?
Our current favorites are The Gazer and Rip Toombs, but that changes frequently. We are most proud of our methodology and how we are able to work together and always know when a piece is done or needs something else.
If you could collaborate with another artist – ANYONE (No limits!) in the world for a painting or project who would it be?
Francis Bacon. He had such a unique method of working and he truly understood that the main goal was just to make a picture that is well made, interesting and evokes a reaction from people.
Music is big with us artists, what type of music do u listen to while creating?
We are both big music fans but we only listen to the Howard Stern Show while we work
If you could have dinner with one or two people, dead or alive who would they be and why?
Hunter S. Thompson and Macho Man Randy Savage.
Francis Bacon. He had such a unique method of working and he truly understood that the main goal was just to make a picture that is well made, interesting and evokes a reaction from people.
Music is big with us artists, what type of music do u listen to while creating?
We are both big music fans but we only listen to the Howard Stern Show while we work
If you could have dinner with one or two people, dead or alive who would they be and why?
Hunter S. Thompson and Macho Man Randy Savage.
For more info on HYSTM visit: www.hystm.com and on Instagram here @HYSTM.
