Whether you know who Hugh Leeman is or not, you have probably seen his work around the streets of San Francisco. His pieces are hard to miss. They are massive, graphic yet humanistic, strong and minimal in color, reminiscent of a postage stamp typically featuring a compelling face in the center and a cryptic QR Code in the corner.

There is a sense of familiarity to his work. The faces feel so recognizable, it’s as if I should know who the subjects of the pieces are. I often wonder if the person is someone famous and always feel like I just can’t pinpoint who he could be. Who does Hugh Leeman paint and what is the story behind his art? The Bold Italic found out in a compelling video interview of Hugh at work in his apartment. The people are familiar, but why they feel recognizable is more wonderful than I imagined.

Contribute to Hugh Leeman’s Project

You can purchase a t-shirt from Hugh’s web site or scan the QR code at the end of the video to donate to Hugh’s “Voice to Voiceless” t-shirt project. Stop by White Walls Gallery to pick up one of his paintings when they exhibit his work.

*FAQ – What is a QR Code?

A QR Code is a 2D barcode originally developed by the automotive industry that embeds any type of data – a website link, an image, a vCard (contact card) etc. There are many free QR Code readers that you can download for your iPhone or android. The codes are everywhere right now so download, scan and have fun. Next time you pass Hugh Leeman’s work, check out the subject’s story.