X is the artist behind the mysterious Andy Warhol street art in Los Angeles. His work has quickly gotten praise from Warhol enthusiasts, art collectors, casual observers, and everyone in between (Demi Moore is a fan). You can learn more and buy pieces on his site here.

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Cedar: The typical question – why Andy Warhol for your pieces up until now? Do you feel like people easily connect to your work because of the reverence most people have for him as an artist, whether they know anything about him at all?
X: I CHOSE THE WARHOL IMAGE BECAUSE I LOVE WARHOL. I WANTED TO PAY A TRIBUTE TO HIM. ANDY WARHOL HAS INSPIRED ME AS WELL AS MANY OTHER ARTISTS. I GUESS I JUST WANTED TO STAND UP AND SAY THANK YOU. I COULD NEVER AFFORD TO BUY ANY ORIGINAL WARHOL PIECES. I HAVE A FEW BOOKS ABOUT HIM AND A BUNCH OF PRINTS. WHEN THE MOCA DISPLAYED HIS WORK IN LIKE 2001 OR 2002 I CLIMBED A LIGHT POST AND STOLE ONE OF THE VINYL PRINTED ADVERTISEMENTS WITH HIS “SELF PORTRAIT” IMAGE ON IT. AS FOR MOVING ON WITH NEW IMAGES…I HAVE 3 OR 4 NEW IMAGES THAT IM RELEASING AT AN UPCOMING ART SHOW…I WILL STILL CONTINUE TO PAY TRIBUTE WITH THE “THANK YOU ANDY” POSTERS / STENCILS, BUT WILL ALSO DO OTHER NEW PIECES THAT I ENJOY AS WELL.
Cedar: Is your art only on the streets of LA? Any plans to spread it all over?
X: IVE BEEN DOING STREET ART ON AND OFF FOR YEARS. I STARTED IN ORANGE COUNTY PUTTING UP RANDOM STUFF LIKE 8 YEARS AGO. I MOVED TO LA ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND STARTED DOING A FEW IMAGES.. ONE BEING CONAN O BRIEN ON KOBE BRYANTS BODY AND IT WAS KIND OF A “WELCOME TO LA” KIND OF THING. MY FIRST “THANK YOU ANDY” PIECE WENT UP IN NYC ACTUALLY. I HAVE SINCE PUT STUFF ALL OVER LA, ORANGE COUNTY, AND ATLANTA. HOPEFULLY I CAN TRAVEL A BIT MORE THIS YEAR.
Cedar: Have you ever been caught in the act of putting art up? Any crazy stories? What is the legal penalty for something like that?
X: I HAVE NEVER BEEN CAUGHT. A FEW CLOSE CALLS WITH THE POLICE. BUT NEVER BEEN HANDCUFFED. ONE TIME A COP ASKED IF I WAS BANKSY. I TOLD HIM I DIDN’T KNOW WHO BANKSY WAS. IM NOT 100% SURE WHAT THE PENALTY IS FOR IT IN LA. I THINK THE POLICE DONT REALLY KNOW WHAT TO THINK OF IT YET. THEY ARE MORE WORRIED ABOUT GANG TAGS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
Cedar: What’s up with the photo of Demi Moore at Sundance standing in front of one of your pieces?
X: I MET HER AT SUNDANCE AT THE BING BAR. I DID A BUNCH OF THE PIECES AT THAT VENUE, AND SHE WAS DOING INTERVIEWS. HER ASSISTANT STARTED SHOWING HER A FEW OF THE WARHOL PIECES I PAINTED ON THE WALL AND SOME HOW I ENDED UP DOING A CUSTOM PIECE FOR HER. I MET HER DAUGHTER RUMER A FEW WEEKS LATER WHO WAS ALSO GREAT. I THINK I’M GOING TO MAKE HER A PIECE AS WELL. SEEMS LIKE THAT WHOLE FAMILY KNOWS MORE ABOUT ART THAN ANYONE ELSE. THEY ARE INSANE COLLECTORS AND I’M HONORED TO HAVE A PIECE NEXT IN THEIR HOUSE.
Cedar: Who are any creatives that you admire or respect currently?
X: AS FAR AS ARTISTS GO..I’D HAVE TO GIVE MAD RESPECT TO ALEC MONOPOLY. THAT KID IS IN EVERY MAJOR CITY CLIMBING ON EVERYTHING AND PUTTING SOME OF THE COOLEST ART EVERYWHERE. I COULD LIST ARTISTS FOR DAYS.. I ALSO RESPECT AND ADMIRE THIS “SKRILLEX.” HE IS AN INSANE DJ/PRODUCER/SONGWRITER. I USUALLY LISTEN TO HIS STUFF WHEN I’M PAINTING.