Home > Special Projects > Obey X Burton Machen

Obey Special Projects / Obey X Burton Machen

American photographer and artist Burton Machen, has been photographing street art and urban decay for more than a decade. He believes that street art is a powerful form of expression that has the ability to influence our thoughts and attitudes, often without our knowledge. ‘Urban Evolution’ is the first series of photography focusing on street art that reflects this philosophy. Burton is drawn in by the collage-like effect that occurs when artists and elements work together in urban settings. Most of the ‘Urban Evolution’ series originated in New York, which remains Burton’s sentimental first love. From this series Burton developed ‘Portraits Project’. With the ‘Portraits Project’ Burton invites the world in by posting portraits in cities like New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New Orleans, London, etc., and observes the reactions that they incite. He documents the evolution, which includes other street artists, taggers, time, weather, passersby, etc., until he has a FINAL image. Burton observes that it is a reflection on the passage of time and speaks to “…the effect we have on the world.”