Bret Polok is an urban-pop artist and digital art printmaker based in Perth, known for his vibrant screen-printed pop art and innovative street art. His work blends street, suburban, and popular culture, showcasing a variety of eye-catching styles that engage the viewer.
Recently, Bret has embraced mixed media techniques on canvas and card, creating artworks that truly captivate. He artfully incorporates authentic posters torn from walls and billboards, turning discarded materials into unique backgrounds. On top of this, he creates edgy street art portraits using his digital design skills, printing them out and layering them onto the surface. As a final touch he adds colourful acrylic splashes, spray paint, and multiple layers of high gloss sealant, infusing life and vibrancy into every creation. His art effortlessly transitions from the streets to your home, bringing a vibrant and contemporary touch to any space.
Bret's artistic journey began in his teenage years, inspired by the original pop artists of the 60s and 70's, psychedelic album covers of iconic bands and the eye-catching works of Japanese pop artist Tadanoori Yakoo.
Although he studied fine arts at university, he is largely self taught. His true education came from his adventurous spirit, which led him through years of travel and numerous jobs. Travelling extensively through Europe, S.E.Asia and Australia has enriched his experiences and broadened his artistic perspective.
In 80s Sydney, Bret honed his screen printing skills working for rock band T-shirt companies and printing for early Mambo. After developing his own printing designs he started freelancing to fashion labels, printing yardage fabric. From there he launched his own streetwear brand, while continuing to paint and exhibit. During the dynamic 1980s his passion for art and design grew, fuelled by the New Wave movement, Punk DIY ethos and the New York street art scene.
Bret returned to Perth and founded Eldorado Designs, a popular hip streetwear brand that thrived in the lively inner-city King Street for ten years. Bret then relocated to the scenic southwest wine region and took up painting and exhibiting again. After a few years and in a leap of faith, Bret's adventurous spirit led him to Bali, where he worked for several years as a mosaic flooring designer for an international company. At the same time he began experimenting with screen-printed pop art on canvas, leading to success in local galleries. Once his art started attracting international attention, he opened his own gallery in Bali, connecting with clients around the world and exhibiting in galleries in Europe, Asia and the USA.
After fifteen colourful years in Bali, Bret returned to Perth with his family and settled in a quiet coastal town. Here he continues to create captivating street style collages and digital art prints, drawing on his unique experiences and influences.