Behind the balaclava
LUCKY B$TRD is the alter ego of creative Stephan Blanc, embodying the raw and gritty essence of the darker corner of his mind. Through tattoos, paintings, prints, videos, graffitis and photographs LUCKY B$TRD’s ARTillery captures the underground pulse of our fucked up society.. Each creation is a testament to the underground cultures but also to the tormented spirit of those who struggle with their demons
Part 1: Made in Marseille
I was born and raised in Marseille (FRANCE). Being a teenager during the 90’s, the raw, underground and street subcultures of that decade left a permanent mark on my aesthetic up to this day.
Part 2: Built in New York
In 2005, after a year in Paris, I moved to New York where I graduated with a Master’s degree in Advertising & Communication. There I started working in the fashion industry for brands such as Roberto Cavalli, Malo, Marc Jacobs and Versace Jeans Couture amongst others.
Part 3: Nomadic Years
I spent in New York over 10 of the most influential, unpredictable and intense years of my life: I launched my first business: CREAM (the acronym for Creative Real Estate Art & Marketing -an innovative hospitality and lifestyle brand), I got married to my partners in crime: Virginia and from then on, we lived and worked together between New York, Miami and Tulum (MEXICO).
Part 4: LUCKY B$TRD is born
In 2016, we moved back to Europe with Barcelona as our first stop. Back to basics: Barcelona played a major role in my journey. The city’s unique mix of gothic architecture and folklore with an extensive street culture pushed me to explore the deeper and darker side of my creativity. There I started to learn the art of tattooing. It’s also at that time that I created the LUCKY B$TRD character enabling me to express my grim and raw multi-faceted nature. Controversial, provocative, opinionated, LUCKY B$TRD is the alter-ego who artistically manifests the inner rage and violence that co-exist inside of me.
Part 5: Berlin Calling
In 2019 I moved to Berlin. The city’s brutalist and constructivist aesthetics along with its cosmopolitan population inspire my inter-disciplinary practice of today. I deeply draw from the well of my own life to fuel my vision and creative will. Partners in Crime acts for me as an innovative multimedia outlet where I can showcase the full spectrum of my artistic endeavor, from web & graphic design to illustrations and tattooing.
Part 6: Homecoming
In 2024, after the recent explosion of Marseille's cultural scene, I decided to give it another shot and move back there, traveling back and forth to Berlin, Neukölln, where I also have a studio. Back to the roots, or to square one... time will tell.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Skills
Through my illustrations, videos, photos and aesthetic at large; I create culturally relevant, tailored content to engage your audience and establish an emotional connection between them and your brand that will stand the test of time.
Provocative imagery, unorthodox storytelling and guerrilla marketing strategies form the backbone of my work. My interest in diverse visual cultures, folklores and societies drives me towards figurative work. My illustrations explore themes such as human behavior, Northern renaissance art and criminal tattoo subculture amongst others.
