Phlegm's Monochrome Murals and Engravings Merge Enigmatic Narratives

London-based artist Phlegm creates monochrome murals and engravings filled with hybrid figures and uncanny objects, evoking wonder and mischief. His work explores barriers to understanding, often leaving narratives incomplete. Over the past several years, he has focused on copper engraving, studying Northern Renaissance printmakers like The Little Masters and spending two years reimagining Albrecht Dürer's 1513 engraving "Knight, Death, and the Devil." Phlegm collects old copies, studies them under a microscope, and replaces iconography with his own while staying true to the original line work and layout. He describes his approach as centered on honesty, sincerity, and attention to detail, crafting intricate backstories for his works but leaving large chunks untold. Returning to mural-making, he revisits themes of folklore, ritual, prehistory, and archaeology, designing entire stories but translating only fragments onto walls. His large-scale murals have become more fluid and confident after his intensive engraving period. Phlegm shares updates on Instagram and Substack.