When you find yourself ambling down the busy streets of Logan Square, keep an eye out for a flash of neon or a glimpse of an oddly shaped grin. These are the weird and wonderful calling cards of Goob, your friendly neighborhood graffiti man.
We went behind the colors and artwork to find out more about the man behind Goob.
Goob got his start at a young age with art classes and an ever-present sketchbook and eventually he got involved with skate culture and pop art, allowing it to infiltrate and define his style. In college, he started using canvases and found objects to develop recurring characters that range from goofy to all-out disturbing. “I’ve always had a hard time drawing attractive characters,” he explains.
The origin of his moniker is an adaptation of the popular peanut butter and jelly mix, Goober. It didn’t take long before the name moved beyond a friendly joke to an artistic nom de plume. And if you’ve ever met the artist in person, it kind of makes sense.
Goob has lived in Logan Square since 2013 and immediately connected with the neighborhood. He reached out to local artists through Instagram; names Penny Pinch and Pizza In The Rain (PITR) are particular influences. You have a good chance of bumping into him at Estereo, Bialystock or local skate parks. His favorite restaurant? The taco counter at his local supermarket, Cermak Produce.
For the future, Goob has his eyes on murals: legal walls (for business interiors or exteriors) or festival paintings. In his mind, murals have a comforting longevity.
“If, god forbid, something might happen to me, I think Goob will live on,” he said.
At present, you can see Goob murals at Shuga Records and the Naperville Youth Center. On the other end of the spectrum, Goob continues to work with shipping labels and found materials. What started out of necessity has now blossomed into a creative quirk. In fact, he often operates on a barter system: art supplies for art commissions.
Although Logan Square residents will be most familiar with brightly colored Goob stickers peeking out from the corners of street signs and lampposts, the artist (unsurprisingly) has myriad of other talents. He performs as a member of the musical act Willem Hurricane Simmons & The Severe Weather Warning and a member of the improv group The MoonSharks.
“I’m continually inspired but always working to juggle my passions and my life,” he said.
Since Goob always has a handful of paint markers and stickers on hand, keep an eye out for new art. Actually, every walk in Logan Square is made a little bit better with a Goob scavenger hunt. Happy hunting!
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