I USED A SONY NEX-7 BACK IN MAY 2016
The mural "About A Girl" on Newgate Street holds a unique place in the history of the festival. It was executed during the very first edition of Waterford Walls in August 2015.
The Artist: Steve Kemp (KEMP)
Profile & Style: Steve Kemp is a Dublin-based street artist, printmaker, and gallerist (founder of the KEMP Gallery on South William Street/GalleryX setups in Dublin). He is known in the Irish street art scene for his multi-layered stencil work, retro graphic design, and pop-art sensibilities.
Role in Irish Street Art: Beyond his own studio and mural work, Kemp played a crucial role in mentoring the younger generation of Irish street artists—for instance, Waterford muralist Caoilfhionn Hanton learned street art fundamentals while interning with him.
The Artwork: "About A Girl" & The Subject
Inspiration: The piece is part of Kemp’s signature series exploring pop culture, stencil layering, and graphic female portraiture.
Is the girl a specific person? The subject was not a specific, named individual or local personality, but rather an idealised, stylised portrait generated through layered stencil techniques. Kemp frequently used classic cinema stills, fashion photography, and vintage imagery as raw source material to build his multi-pass stencils, focusing on emotional mood rather than a celebrity likeness.
The Artist: Steve Kemp (KEMP)
Profile & Style: Steve Kemp is a Dublin-based street artist, printmaker, and gallerist (founder of the KEMP Gallery on South William Street/GalleryX setups in Dublin). He is known in the Irish street art scene for his multi-layered stencil work, retro graphic design, and pop-art sensibilities.
Role in Irish Street Art: Beyond his own studio and mural work, Kemp played a crucial role in mentoring the younger generation of Irish street artists—for instance, Waterford muralist Caoilfhionn Hanton learned street art fundamentals while interning with him.
The Artwork: "About A Girl" & The Subject
Inspiration: The piece is part of Kemp’s signature series exploring pop culture, stencil layering, and graphic female portraiture.
Is the girl a specific person? The subject was not a specific, named individual or local personality, but rather an idealised, stylised portrait generated through layered stencil techniques. Kemp frequently used classic cinema stills, fashion photography, and vintage imagery as raw source material to build his multi-pass stencils, focusing on emotional mood rather than a celebrity likeness.
ABOUT A GIRL