Step into the bold lines and colour-drenched universe of Atlanta-based Greg Mike, an artist influenced by a love of mid-century American toons and a flair for harmonising nostalgia with a surrealist pop aesthetic, untethering these characters from their original animation cells. Mike reimagines these iconic figures, dipping them into the psychedelic ether as he redefines their narrative.
Originally hailing from Connecticut but now calling Atlanta home, Mike’s creative energy is fueled by his work in design and a cultural cocktail of graffiti, skateboarding, and street culture. Regular trips to New York sparked this fire, immersing him in the pulse of the streets, witnessing the power of art had on the urban landscape. These experiences laid the foundation for his path, where art in public spaces became inseparable from his creative identity.
Image courtesy of the artist
© Greg Mike
I was heavily influenced by skateboarding, graffiti, and the vibrant street culture that shaped my early creative identity. These worlds introduced me to bold visuals, self-expression, and the idea of using art as a form of rebellion
Greg Mike
From that point on, the rest, as they say, is history. Mike paints in various scales, from canvases to large-scale murals, as he reimagines the comforting edge of nostalgia. Once symbols of childhood innocence, these characters now portray the paradoxes of the modern world. In one of his paintings, Disney’s Goofy is duplicated, stripped of buffoonery and transformed into a cyclops, churning out drawings of Mike’s signature LOUDMOUF icon. Next to him, a mischievous, three-eyed Bugs Bunny grins—a visual paradox that defies the very logic of their animated essence.
Bugs is holding a smiley motif, perhaps a nod to pop culture or an emoji—depending on what year you were born. In addition to a flourishing practice, Mike also runs a successful agency and an art gallery. In his upcoming project, he will transform an 8,500-square-foot church into a new home for his agency, gallery, and art studio.
Under Mike’s influence, the visual language of nostalgia becomes richly exaggerated, fractured, and expanded as characters shed their original narratives and merge into a hyper-saturated synthesis of cultural mythology. In our conversation with Mike, we explored his creative process, vision for the new space, and more.
Hi Greg, thanks for speaking with us. Could you start by sharing a little bit about your background and journey into the arts?
Greg Mike: Absolutely. I’ve been involved with art in some capacity for as long as I can remember. Growing up in Connecticut, I was heavily influenced by skateboarding, graffiti, and the vibrant street culture that shaped my early creative identity. These worlds introduced me to bold visuals, self-expression, and the idea of using art as a form of rebellion. After studying graphic design in college, I moved to Atlanta, where I continued to evolve my craft, eventually founding ABV Gallery and my creative agency. It’s been a journey fueled by passion, constant learning, and a desire to merge different aspects of culture into my work.
Image courtesy of the artist
© Greg Mike
Your work is known for its vivid Surrealist Pop Art aesthetic, fused with the energy of street culture, skateboarding, and bold design, featuring distinctive and often mischievous characters. Can you delve into your practice and the themes you explore in your work?
Greg Mike: My practice revolves around blending high-energy elements with a sense of nostalgia. Street culture and skateboarding taught me to view the world differently and that shows up in the surreal nature of my characters. Themes of duality, like chaos versus control and the exploration of bold design, are constantly present. My characters, like LARRY LOUDMOUF, serve as exaggerated representations of those ideas—expressions of a world where curiosity and absurdity are celebrated. I enjoy creating work that challenges perceptions, plays with boldness, and taps into a primal form of communication.
Image courtesy of the artist
© Greg Mike
Building on that, what are the origins of some of your most iconic characters, such as Loudmouf? Are they a form of self-expression or a commentary on broader cultural themes?
Greg Mike: LARRY LOUDMOUF started as a personal form of self-expression, but he has grown to represent a broader commentary on communication in our noisy, chaotic world. Through the Loudmouf Says contest, he has become a voice for many, celebrating diverse perspectives and encouraging everyone to be heard.
Larry embodies the idea that no matter how loud or quiet our voices are, they all contribute to the larger conversation. He emerged during a time when I was deeply interested in how we connect and communicate, and he’s evolved into a character that both engages and amplifies the collective voice of the community.
Image courtesy of the artist
© Greg Mike
Colour plays a significant role in your work, with “vivid explosions of incandescent colour” becoming a hallmark of your artistic identity. Could you speak to the role colour plays both thematically and emotionally in your art? How do you decide on the palette for each piece, and what significance do the colours hold for you?
Greg Mike: Colour is everything in my work—it’s how I communicate emotion, energy, and narrative. I often start with a feeling I want to convey, whether it’s intensity, playfulness, or chaos. From there, I build a palette which reflects that mood. Neon hues, for example, embody the excitement and rebellious spirit, while contrasting bright and dark tones can evoke the duality I often explore. The colours in my work aren’t just aesthetic choices; they’re an integral part of the story, guiding the viewer through the emotional journey of each piece.
© Greg Mike
In addition to being an artist, you also run ABV Gallery, which you founded in 2010 as a space to showcase a vast range of contemporary artists. Can you talk about your curatorial approach and how you select the artists and works that align with your gallery’s mission?
Greg Mike: ABV Gallery was born out of a desire to create a space where emerging and established artists could share their voices within the New Contemporary movement. My curatorial approach is very much aligned with showcasing work that’s bold, innovative, and taps into the cultural pulse of the moment. I seek out artists who are pushing boundaries, whether through their medium, subject matter, or creative processes. The gallery’s mission is to amplify those voices that reflect the energy of contemporary art, while also contributing something new and exciting to the conversation.
© Greg Mike
What trends do you see emerging in the New Contemporary movement, and how do you think they reflect the broader cultural or artistic shifts happening today?
Greg Mike: One major trend is the intersection between digital and physical art, which has completely shifted the landscape. Artists are exploring new ways to blend traditional mediums with digital platforms, and that hybrid approach is becoming a major part of the New Contemporary movement. There’s also a growing emphasis on narrative and storytelling, where art is less about aesthetics and more about creating an experience or message. This mirrors broader cultural shifts, where people are increasingly looking for authenticity and deeper meaning in everything they engage with, including art.
As the founder of both ABV Gallery and a creative agency, how do you balance the commercial aspects of your career with your personal artistic vision? Additionally, how do you navigate the pressures of running a business while staying true to your creative process?
Greg Mike: It’s definitely a balancing act. Running a business comes with the need for structure, deadlines, and financial sustainability, while my personal artistic practice is more about exploration and pushing boundaries. The key for me has been finding overlap between the two—building a commercial platform that supports my creative vision while also allowing me the freedom to experiment. There are challenges, of course, but I’ve learned to set boundaries and prioritize my personal art in a way that fuels both sides of my career. It helps that both my agency and gallery are centered around creativity, so everything stays in alignment.
© Greg Mike
Your latest project involves reimagining a church into a contemporary gallery and event space. How did the architecture and history of the building influence your vision for its transformation, and what message do you hope the space will convey to visitors?
Greg Mike: The church building has a deep history, and I wanted to honour that while bringing something new to the space. The architecture itself—its high ceilings, open floor plan, and natural light—played a huge role in shaping the vision for the gallery. It’s almost like the building has its own personality, and I’ve worked to ensure that the design allows for a seamless dialogue between the art and the space. My hope is that visitors feel a sense of awe and inspiration when they step inside. It’s a place where creativity and community come together, and I want that to resonate with everyone who walks through the doors.
With the opening of the new ABV Gallery space and the ongoing evolution of your personal work, where do you see your art heading in the next decade?
Greg Mike: With the new ABV Gallery space opening up and my art evolving, I’m diving into a more abstract approach over the next decade and look forward to exploring how forms and colors can blend to spark emotion and imagination. It’s all about creating visual experiences that invite viewers to dig deeper and connect with the art on a more intuitive level. I’m excited to push boundaries and craft pieces that inspire a fresh perspective and engage the imagination.
Image courtesy of the artist
© Greg Mike
Lastly, could you share the guiding philosophy that has shaped your career and your understanding of the core importance of art in your life?
Greg Mike: The core philosophy that’s driven my career is simple: Create Fearlessly. Art has always been a way for me to express myself without limitations, and I believe in the power of creativity to transform not only the individual but also communities. Art is about communication—it’s a universal language that transcends barriers, and it’s something we all need to tap into in order to better understand ourselves and the world around us. Staying true to that belief has been essential in shaping both my career and my approach to life.
©2024 Greg Mike
Len is a curator and a contributing writer at Art Plugged, a platform for contemporary art; he also engages in web development, design, and marketing.
