Bäst
Biography
Bäst, born Michael Polimeni in 1970 in Brooklyn, New York, was a prominent street artist who remained active in his native city until his passing in 2021. He was renowned for his vibrant, satirical collages that critiqued consumer culture by blending pop art with abstract expressionism. Utilizing materials sourced from urban environments, including found objects and advertisements, Bäst created "mutated characters" and "mutated scenes" that were prominently displayed across New York and Europe. His collaborations with the art collective FAILE and designer Marc Jacobs further cemented his influence in the art world. Bäst's works have been exhibited in numerous galleries, including London's Lazarides Gallery and New York's Jonathan LeVine Gallery, and are held in various private collections, reflecting his significant impact on contemporary street art.