WHO IS ELO?
Evan Lorberbaum is a visual artist who creates under the moniker ELO, which is short for his movement "Encourage Life Originality". ELO aims to inspire others to reach their full potential in life through embracing their own individuality. While attending NYU's Gallatin School of Individualized Study (BA '16), his area of concentration was "The Business of Art and Entrepreneurship".
During his time at Gallatin he developed a keen, arts-centric interest in branding and digital marketing. ELO's artistic style and vision is influenced by graffiti, abstract expressionism and his own relationship with time, personal growth and pop culture. He is inspired by his modern day role models: Jay Z, Shepard Fairey, Marc Ecko, KAWS, Takashi Murakami and Pharrell among others, as he is establishing himself as his own personal brand while blending the lines between art, fashion and product merchandising.
Some of the more noteworthy shows he has participated in have included the 2014 New York Regional Semi-Finals of the Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series, a two month solo exhibition in 2016 at the prestigious Citigroup Center, in conjunction with Boston Properties and the Midtown Arts Common, as well as his first NYC solo gallery exhibition, BECOMING, which was presented by Tambaran2 Gallery in 2018. Most recently, his solo show, Concerned Indifference, was exhibited by The Yard in Herald Square in January of 2019 through the end of March. Brands that he has collaborated/partnered with have included Champs Sports, TOMS, Garrixon Studio, Good Wood NYC, Sing For Hope and FCB Global.
His public art project, "What the NYC," aims to connect New Yorkers through highlighting people, places and perspectives within NYC. In collaboration with Garrixon Studio and GoodWood NYC, ELO has created a 1 of 1 New York City inspired Nike SB Dunk that incorporates his original artwork, as well custom printed leather that pays homage to NYC. It has gained acclaim and recognition through features and editorial reviews on notable sneaker publications including Nice Kicks and Kicks On Fire, as well as Fox Business News and Brooklyn News 12.
IN HIS OWN WORDS...
"My experience as an artist is similar as to how we all navigate through our own lives. I am the author and protagonist of my own story. As I add and subtract layers of paint over one another, while scraping through the surface to unmask hidden perspectives, a certain feeling of welcomed unfamiliarity takes over. I am able to embrace this freedom while making the most of the unexpected through this process. The line leads me throughout controlled chaos, as my stream of consciousness guides this narrative, ultimately determining which stroke I will perform and what the canvas will say, in this life and in the next."
