mason newman
MASON F*CKING NEWMAN The Artist Who Turned a Foot Fetish into Fine Art •
MASON F*CKING NEWMAN The Artist Who Turned a Foot Fetish into Fine Art •
If Richard Hambleton had a weird cousin who was obsessed with feet and vintage Madonna t-shirts, you'd get Mason Newman. A visionary in the contemporary art scene, Mason is known for his irreverent, darkly comedic, and often wildly inappropriate artwork that somehow still manages to make people think (and occasionally gag). Mason Newman’s art is a chaotic mix of social commentary, absurdity, and a deep appreciation for the bizarre. He first gained traction by defacing currency with intricate doodles, turning dollar bills into tiny, illegal masterpieces.
Fuckin’ Lovin’ It
Seeing the golden arches as a kid gave Mason crazy levels of dopamine, and to this day, passing by McDonald's still sparks some nostalgic childhood memory. “The excitement of getting a Happy Meal toy was up there with Christmas morning,” he says.
One day, while walking down the street, he spotted a McDonald's fries box on the floor and instantly began imagining the story of the person who ate them. The thought stuck with him, and he walked into the restaurant, got himself some fries, and then had an idea—why should art be restricted to traditional canvases? “Who said that art has to be a set thing? Why should I have to paint on a canvas all the time?” Thus, his artistic approach expanded into reusing discarded objects as his medium.
“What most see as trash, I see as something I can make live forever.” The environmental aspect of reusing materials only added another layer of depth to his work. If people can be convinced to repurpose and reimagine everyday objects, what kind of positive impact could that have on the world?
The Art of Sexual Subtext (And Feet)
Mason’s fascination with the human form—particularly feet—has become a defining feature of his work. His collection of foot-themed paintings has been highly sought after, with none other than Billie Eilish herself reportedly acquiring a few pieces. When asked about his inspiration, Mason simply said, “it does nothing other than to encourage my raging foot fetish. you know Tarantino shares that with me. We both just love feet.”
The Dollar Bill Series
Mason went out and bought a bunch of one-dollar bills—not to spend, but to transform. While doing this, he couldn’t shake the thought of the untold stories each bill carried.
“What has this bill seen? Whose hands has it passed through? Who snorted through it? Who used it as their last dollar to feed their child? What panties has it been in? What strip club floor has it been on? Who had it as their last hope before rock bottom?”
Each bill had a hidden life, a journey of survival, indulgence, or desperation—and Mason decided to add his own chapter to their story through his art. By taking something so mundane yet full of history and turning it into a piece of commentary, he gives these small pieces of paper an eternal afterlife.
“The Depressed Generation” – A Portrait of Modern Youth
Newman’s ability to balance humor with stark reality is evident in The Depressed Generation. The artwork features the word “DEPRESSED” in Disney font, a packet of sertraline, and an overall vibe of existential dread. “We grow up watching Disney movies thinking we’ll be princes and princesses,” Mason says. “Then we hit 18, and suddenly we’re just staring at a bottle of antidepressants wondering where it all went wrong.” The piece is both a critique of media influence and a love letter to the universal experience of growing up miserable.
“The Beauty of Pain”
One of his most haunting yet strangely elegant works, The Beauty of Pain, depicts a ballerina mid-performance, a spilled bottle of painkillers at her feet, which are raw and bleeding from hours of relentless dancing. “It’s about suffering for art,” Mason explains. “Or maybe it’s just about how ballerinas have rough lives. Either way, it slaps.”
Creative Director of Madonna’s Material Girl
A friend working on the brand reached out to Mason and asked if he wanted to take over the creative direction of Material Girl, Madonna’s iconic fashion label. “We need someone to do everything. Do you want to do it?” And so, he did.
Mason took on the role, working on a collection and bringing his signature irreverence to the brand. “I’m probably more business-minded than creative, to be honest, but that was cool,” he says. However, true to form, he moved on. “I like to juggle things because I get bored.”
The Inventor’s Cat: A Horror Story in a Painting
One of Mason’s most unsettling works, The Inventor’s Cat, tells a tragic tale. Legend has it that an unhinged inventor, unwilling to let his beloved feline die, surgically replaced its legs with those of his own children. “The cat kept walking, but the kids never recovered,” Mason narrates ominously. It’s a twisted take on scientific ambition and the consequences of playing God. Also, it’s a painting of a cat with weird, human baby legs, which is just hilarious and disturbing at the same time.
Ed Hardy by Mason Newman: A Full-Circle Moment
Ed Hardy by Mason Newman.
Growing up, Mason was obsessed with Ed Hardy. Thinking back, he realises this was what got him interested in design, clothes, art, and tattoos.
His older brothers—eight and nine years older—had Ed Hardy gear. As a kid, Mason would drown in their oversized hoodies just to rock something cool. His dad once returned from Thailand with a fufu Ed Hardy cap, which Mason wore until it was torn beyond repair. His mom bought him a fake Ed Hardy tee for £10, and he still has pictures wearing it. He even left primary school begging his mom to buy his favorite teacher Ed Hardy perfume as a farewell gift.
And all of this? Before he even turned 13.
Fast-forward 10 years, and at 23, Mason is launches his own collaboration: Ed Hardy by Mason Newman
Final Thoughts
Mason Newman continues to push boundaries, make people uncomfortable, and sell foot-related art to celebrities. Whether he’s critiquing modern consumerism, celebrating pain through beauty, or just drawing feet for the hell of it, one thing’s for sure—he’s an artist you won’t forget (even if you want to).
