Mason Storm, the enigma, the enfant-terrible, the genious

Mason Storm

Mason Storm was born in London, United Kingdom. He never attended a traditional art school.His artistic training began when he was around 12 or 13 years old. One evening, while visiting the local youth center, his judo class was cancelled, so he joined the art class where his friend was teaching. For about 15 years, he came and went every night.

The teachers at the time were students who supplemented their scholarships by working at the center while creating their own works. After graduating from the Royal Academy of Arts, the Royal College of Art, and Central St. Martins, many of them became leading figures in the contemporary art scene in the UK.

Art has always remained his passion, but Mason put it aside while pursuing a career that was far removed from the art world. He cannot disclose every detail of his professional background, but the main stages include: judo/self-defense instructor, freelance security contractor, security consultant/freelance intelligence analyst, journalist specializing in intelligence, espionage, and terrorism, and a qualified lawyer with an academic degree.

As a distraction, Mason started sculpting and was invited to participate in an exhibition. From then on, he gradually returned to art. It turned out to be far more enjoyable than his previous occupations.

Mason’s work is seen as controversial and provocative, but he never aims to provoke for its own sake—there is always a reason behind each piece.

Mason is probably best known for his mask. It has become a trademark that hides his identity while adding a sense of mystery, which helps with publicity and promotion. He began wearing it when, in 2010, he announced that he would reveal the face of the artist Banksy in an oil painting.