Contemporary street artist Rob Dugan – also known as Seek One – has a style that sets him apart from others.
After years of experimenting with street art, photography and other art forms, he now creates pieces that fuse iconic figures, vintage media and street style.
“I wound up just going to school for business,” Dugan explained. “I went to Saint Joe’s (Saint Joseph’s University) out in Philadelphia, and then once I graduated, I started to get back into art.”
“I would come home (from work) and start painting every night,” he added. “I started to experiment blending graffiti and photography, and I started to find my own style just messing around.”
Dugan has been a full-time artist for six years, and his pieces – abstracts, portraits and collages – are all made in his Moorestown studio, a spot he commutes to from Philadelphia.
“Personally, it’s a nostalgic sort of place, because I started my career working out of this space, and everything I’ve ever produced has come from this room,” he noted.
“The styles change and adapt over time, and it’s kind of transformed into what you see here today,” Dugan added. “It’s a safe place, I can be creative, I can get as messy as I need to be and there’s just a lot of memories here.”
According to his website, Dugan draws on his background as a graffiti street artist and photographer, as well as his childhood memories and world travels, to create pieces that capture the essence of pop culture and its profound impact on society.
His unique approach to art blurs the line between urban culture and fine art, resulting in pieces that resonate with a wide audience. With his deep passion for pop culture, Dugan channels its influence into his work, creating works that showcase iconic images and vibrant street style.
“Most of my work is created on wood panel,” he pointed out. “ … Because of how many layers go into my pieces, I started to work on wood panel, because you can be a little rougher with it.”
Dugan described how he collects materials such as street posters to add to his work.
“It’s just more authentic things that are part of my life that I can put into my art.”
The artist has displayed his work in galleries all over the world, including Galloire in the United Arab Emirates; Royal Street Fine Art in Aspen, Colorado; and Quidley & Company in Naples, Florida. It has also been featured in magazines such as Forbes and MAXIM, and sold to famous people and influencers.
Dugan’s goal is to develop fine art pieces that are both visually stunning and relatable, connecting with people on a personal level.
“Starting off as an artist, it’s important to have work that people like and enjoy, but also be prepared to do a lot of behind-the-scenes work,” he advised.
One piece of advice Dugan would give other artists?
“It’s 50% creating art here, but it’s also 50% of networking, reaching out to galleries, staying up late …” he said. “Be mindful of that.”
For more information on Dugan, visit seekoneart.com.
