Draft:The London Police (art group)

The London Police
The London Police is a street art group formed in 1998 by Chaz Barisson and Bob Gibson. They were part of a small group of artists at the end of the last century that helped pioneer a new street art movement. After a few years of mixing traveling and making art in the street TLP began to receive worldwide recognition for their contribution to the graffiti / street art movement. TLP is now based in Amsterdam.

After 5 years of only drawing on the street, in 2003 TLP started to paint on canvases and produce small shows and galleries and shops.

Since 2009 TLP has concentrated on more intense canvas work, on bigger solo shows and large-scale mural projects.

In 2023, after 25 years, TLP have amassed more than 125 shows and events in over 40 countries and their street work continues to pop up everywhere they go.

Early life
Chaz and Bob both grew up in Chelmsford, Essex UK. They had the same group of friends and recognized they both were aspiring artists and decided to form a crew together. It started as photography but quickly became about drawing and painting the characters of the TLP world. Chaz Barrisson who draws the iconic 'LADS' characters and Bob Gibson whose tight portrait and architectural illustrations help marry the two styles to create an endearing, exciting fantasy world. Chaz and Bob gets influenced and inspired by the 80’s and 90’s which was the time we grew up. Movies, youth culture and music feature heavily in there canvas work.

The Team
TLP is formed by the duo Chaz Barrisson and Bob Gibson. Behind the TLP there is a small team who are helping with the more bigger murals or expending the TLP art into the Web3 / NFT space.

Murals
Wynwood Walls

In 2015 TLP made their first Mural “Walls of Change” at Wynwood Walls, an outdoor museum made up of giant wall murals in Miami. In 2023 TLP made here there second mural. This big mural is 19meters long and took 14 days to make. There were no spray paint or projectors used and was all drawn by hand with pens.

STRAATMuseum On 12th of august 2023 “While aliens invade the walled city, Bork saves the girl and justice is restored “ was installed at STRAATmuseum, an 11 x 3 meters ‘glow-in-the-dark’ panelled artwork. This piece was originally made for Magic City Munich. This piece took 8 days to paint and is based on a theme of alien UFO abductions. The character Bork saves the girl while Lads help save the world.

Web3
On 21 november 2022 TLP made there first steps into the digital art world releasing there first NFT on VEVE. True a silent auction an NFT of the artpiece Robot King was sold for $11.500,-. The buyer also recieved a physical print of the artpiece, a paper size 60cm x 87cm. ‘Robot King to the Rescue’ 1/1 Multi layer screen print with hand embellished spray background and hand drawn characters next to the artists signatures. Somerset 300g satin paper stock.

To celebrate there 25 existence TLP released “The Good, The Bad and the Rare” on the VEVE platform on 17th of december 2023. This set of 3 art pieces have animations.

In jan 2024 had a booth at CryptoXR in Auxerre France. At this event they released there first phygital release 'Numbers And Letters United”. People could buy a premium quality print, hand-printed, and they were signed and numbered. For the first time each print was accompanied by a digital certificate, ensuring its authenticity and exclusivity.

Charity
Background Bob

TLP made a painting together with Background Bob and the painting was sold in an auction on 20th march 2022 to raise money for the Colchester and Ipswich Hospitals Charity.

Beermats for Balls Project

In 2024 The London Police donated 2 beermat sketch art pieces for the Beermats for balls project, an exhibition and charity auction of Beermats designed by artist globaly raising funds in support of Testicular Cancer education, awereness and support.

These Beermats will be up for auction on April 11th to 21st 2024 as part of their Testical Cancer Awereness Month celebrations and will be exhibited at Saltspace Glasgow on the 18th / 19th april 2024.