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monday insta illustrator

It's Mickey Mouse From Hell

Artist Junk Yard Chicago imagines the darker side of pop culture.
Instagram via @junkyardchicago

Black-and-white illustrations of grotesque, grinning spirits haunt pseudonymous artist Junk Yard Chicago's body of work. Bootleg Disney classics mingle with wide-eyed and chubby-cheeked ghosts, ghouls, and goblins that toe the line of creepy-cute that Japanese artists call "kimo-kawaii." Unlike the brightly-colored fluff and red blood you'll find in an episode of Happy Tree Friends, Junk Yard Chicago's work adopts a cool minimalism that would lend itself to the clocks and hoodies sold alongside prints on Society6.

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Junk Yard Chicago also makes murals that interact with their surroundings, like a gaping maw that consumes visitors entering the elevator at Threadless' headquarters. Like vignettes from Adventure Time's Nightosphere, these creatures contain innocence and darkness in their adorable, incredibly emotive faces.

The artist separates himself from his work, listing no personal information on Facebook or Instagram and blurring his face in the few pictures of himself he posts. He frequently shares images of the women important in his life, celebrating their big moments while they model his gear. Follow Junk Yard Chicago here and visit the Creators Instagram page to find your next favorite artist.

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