Walk around town and you'll come across them: miniature sculptures on a lamppost, a sculpture secured with tie-wraps or an object that looks like it's always been there. That's Frankey. His art is small in size but big in effect. He places it without damaging the city - magnets, tape or clamps keep his creations in place - but the impact is lasting.
The power of Frankey's work is in the surprise. You expect nothing and suddenly you see something that gives the city a nod. It could be a pop culture reference, an animal that seems to crawl out of a facade or an object that comments on busy city life. These are works that make you smile and sometimes pause to consider the absurdity of everyday life.
His interventions are not random. They are carefully conceived to enter into dialogue with their surroundings. A work of art that seems to disappear in a tree, a figure balancing on a traffic sign: these are details that do not change the city, but do enrich it. You suddenly see Amsterdam differently.
Although Frankey also exhibits in museums and galleries - think Moco Museum or the Amsterdam Museum - the essence of his work lies outdoors. The city is his canvas. That makes every walk potentially exciting. You never know where you will discover his next intervention.
"My art doesn't have to be big; it's all about changing your day a little bit," he said.
For locals, this work is recognizable and familiar; it makes your route to work or school that little bit lighter. For visitors, it offers a glimpse into how Amsterdam is more than canals and big museums. It is also a place where playful creativity lives in the streets.
What Frankey does is make art accessible without the need for a ticket. All you have to do is look. And those who look more closely will discover more.
Street Art Frank & Tassie
Also a fan of Street Art Frankey? Tassie has now created a walking route in Amsterdam where you will visit 18 locations with art by Frankey. Download the Tassie app and experience Street Art Frankey's crazy world for free and see Amsterdam through different eyes!