November 27, 2018

Meet Andrew Lyko

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrew Lyko.

Andrew, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My journey as an artist started when I was eight yrs old. I grew up learning Art from all aspects in my life from school, home, friends, what I saw on tv and the music I listened to, etc.. I noticed I had an ability to create an image out of anything.

As a teenager, I became heavily into graffiti and the hip-hop culture that revolved around breakdancing, art, fashion, and dj-ing. My close friend (Chris Villasenor) and I wanted to avoid joining a party crew “gang” that was heavily influenced where we grew up, so we started a joint duo as ODK which was short for ONE DOPE KID.

We went around the neighborhood late at night creating beautiful pieces and murals that showcased our artistic abilities while sending out a message. The message made it clear that we did not want to be part of anything which ironically gave us respect and we were never bothered again.

As sad as it is, I stopped creating Art after I graduated high school. I went off to a private school for college on a soccer scholarship and graduated with a Bachelors in Business.

I continued my life without Art by becoming a business broker for a year. My life became dull, and I was losing myself, I didn’t know what to do. My relationship with my GF was ending I was not doing well with work, and I had a $2,000 rent in Irvine that I could no longer afford.

I remember sitting in my empty luxury apt (December 2017) because I had sold everything except a mirror and looking at myself with tears in my eyes because I had no idea who I was looking at. Once you lose everything, you tend to look back at your life to see what made you the happiest at one point and that’s when I remembered how much I loved Art.

I went to the garage and pulled out an old box full of paints that I always kept as memories and I started to paint… I painted all night while listening to music on Spotify and that’s when Jaden Smiths album came on. His album SYRE played through, and I couldn’t believe what I was listening to. I quickly started looking up videos, and that’s when I saw his ICON video wearing a sick jacket.

The next day, since I was searching him heavily on my phone I stumbled upon a post about him performing in Orange County 3 days later, and it was his very first show, so the tickets were only $20. I had $80 left to my name, but I got a ticket anyway!

At this point, I had already started painting an old vintage denim jacket that I had, and then the craziest idea popped in my head like when Jimmy Neutron had his brain blasts. I said what if I made this jacket for Jaden and someway gave it to him at his show!?

I had nothing to lose! So for the next two days, I painted this jacket and made sure I put everything that represented Jaden Smith.

Then the day came, and I was in the parking lot by myself with this crazy looking jacket in my hand, I took a shot of Jameson because of how nervous I was, and I went for it. I was close to the front of the stage, and as he came out by the 3rd song he looks at me with this jacket in my hand, and he takes it! The crowd went wild… He then looks at it and says “THIS JACKET IS FIRE,” and he puts it on for the rest of the show.

Nothing else mattered at this moment, I felt this burst of energy run through me, and that’s when I knew this is what I was meant to do… I went home, quickly started an Instagram account and I decided to move back to my parent’s place (office room) to pursue Art full time.

In less than a year, I grew a following over 20,000 people, and I have since made over 50 jackets and 100 paintings for collectors such as Roy Woods (OVO Artist), Hit-Boy (Grammy-winning producer), Crespo (Jaden’s Dj) and many others with no manager or representation…

I have made connections and built relationships with people that I didn’t think I’d get to meet, and now I’m pursuing to get my work into a prestige fine art gallery. I am patient, and I know the right Art Dealer or Gallery will give me the shot to take my work and show it to the eyes of premium Art collectors.

Art saved my life, and I am forever grateful for following my heart and to Jaden Smith for taking a jacket from a crazy kid in the crowd…

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Since going full time with my Art, I have definitely taken some Ls but from risks that could have payed off drastically.

For once I had no studio to create, I moved back to my parent’s house that no longer had room for me except for the 70sqft office room with a see-through door. I made most of my work in here and outside on a table which in So Cal meant painting in 90+ degree weather.

I continued to use the same strategy I used for Jaden which made a jacket and try to get it to the performer at his or her show. My latest adventure was going to Hard Summer and trying to get a jacket to Travis Scott. I went for it by jumping over the fence with this jacket hanging from a stick, but unfortunately, he did not see me before security was able to escort me out.

So yes plenty of challenges and obstacles but its been fun and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

We’d love to hear more about what you do.
So as I continued to create, I quickly found myself, and I created a personality that is connected with my Artwork.

I am heavily into space and the unknown, so I incorporated it by creating LYKO which is me… An extraterrestrial from an unknown planet that is visiting Earth and painting his experiences that he has with people, a place or simply what’s happening now in the present.

What sets me apart are my designs and the way I paint. I am very expressive, and I paint what I feel and see in my head. Every piece is original, and it is my way of showing everyone how I see the world.

I’m most proud of the fact that I have been able to inspire other creatives to pursue and or to keep going with their passion. I know I have a special gift and I am ready to show the world what I can do.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success to me is a feeling. A strong feeling of passion that drives you every day. It’s finding what you love and being able to do it every day till your time ends.

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