Name: Elliott “Numskull” Routledge Occupation: Street Artist Hometown: Sydney Current Location: Sydney
Elliott “Numskull” Routledge is an Australian based contemporary artist, working out of Sydney in a variety of fields and mediums including painting, sculpture, illustration and large scale murals.
Over the past 15 years, Elliott has been showing his work and creating public murals wherever he travels. From the early part of his career, his education came from Graffiti and Street Art and he continues to practice in and out of these rebellious fields, whilst also focussing his energy on gallery work.
Now showing constantly in galleries and publications throughout the world, his painting style has evolved from simple street work to complex, technical and reactive mixed media paintings and sculpture. His unique imagery has become a collage of study focussing on colour hierarchy, typography, abstract heroism and idolism within modern contemporary culture.
He has shown in galleries, painted walls and sold paintings throughout the world in such places as London, Vienna, New York, Melbourne, Tokyo, Paris, Singapore, Amsterdam, Hong Kong and all over Australia. AR spent the afternoon at his studio.
When I was a child I wanted to be…
An international flight attendant. There’s something about getting paid to cross the globe every few days that used to amaze me. I now realise how hard it would actually be, but am still drawn to it. Maybe one day.
The studies I took to get where I am…
I never got into art school, so instead I did a Certificate 4 in Multimedia and a private course with an ex Hannah Barbera animator where I was taught drawing process and movement. He also schooled me on how to look at life differently. It was a short experience, but one i’ll always value.
Before I pursued full time art I worked as…
A kitchen hand, a check out chick at Coles, a bartender, an animator, and finally an art director in an advertising agency.
I’m inspired by…
The obscure, strange, abstract and small things. I like to observe people.
People I admire…
People who create things from nothing, and anyone without a positive outlook.
The tools I can’t live without are…
Computer, paint, good friends, good vibes.
I’m currently listening too…
Action Bronson, Paul Simon and a mixtape by Erik Brunetti.
The obstacles that have come my way…
Time. I wish the days were double the length sometimes.
My favourite place in the world…
Is anywhere with my family, or my painting studio.
I would like to travel…
…to every single country on the planet and leave a piece of my art in each.
The highlights over the past 12 months have been…
I was given a wall to paint in the centre of Sydney city for the annual Art & About festival last year. For me, this is the biggest and most important project I have ever worked on in my whole career as an artist. It’s really special to me to be able to have an artwork of mine so big and so central in my home town. I really hope this one lasts forever.
The latest project I’m working on…
My next solo exhibition in Sydney. It’s been a couple of years between shows in my home town. That and some side projects/products I am creating myself.
Advice I have to share for those who want to get into this profession…
Stay positive and passionate. The rest will come naturally.
