We are obsessed with the artist behind the Broad City logo

When watching our fave T.V. shows, we often don’t realize that each and every scene is composed of an incredible amount of hard work and brainstorming. For instance, think of Broad City. You know those quirky, colorful, and downright cool animations that ring in each episode? Those didn’t just pop out of an artistic vortex. Mike Perry designed them using his own visionary powers.

It turns out that Perry’s Broad City debut was years in the making and blossomed out of a chance encounter. “I went to Art Basel and met Abbi [Jacobson] and we randomly hung out,” the artist told Hopes&Fears. “Years later, she called and told me about the show, and asked if I wanted to make some stuff for them. I wondered, how? Like, how are these worlds connecting? It didn’t make sense but I went with it.” (Just in case you’re curious, Art Basel is a rad art show that we should all  be worshipping because it has given us our beloved Broad City art.)

Now, let’s take a moment to talk about Perry’s artwork. It’s colorful. It’s wild. It’s like something that the right side of our brain would create if it was given an easel and some paint.

And how would the artist himself describe his work?

“Perry is intrigued by spiraling galaxies of mind and thought, by questions like, ‘What is your unique history of Infinity?’” Perry writes on his impressive About page. “With his work, he wants to remind you of your exquisite magnificence. He seeks to create planetariums of inner space and imagination. He wants you to recognize our poetic interdependence. He is seduced, juiced, intoxicated by the ways the hand-drawn informs and transforms contemporary visual culture and the experience of life itself.”

Now, it sounds like the color-loving creative has his own distinct style, so you’re probably wondering how he transitioned into working for a separate entity such as Broad City/Comedy Central, right?

“I’ve always been aligned with the vibe of Broad City: youth culture, energy, and fun,” explained Perry. “It took the Comedy Central team a leap of faith to say that I was the right person to do this job because I didn’t know how to do it; I didn’t know how to animate these things, but I told them that I was gonna figure it out.”

This work ethic isn’t only admirable (and enviable), it also shows through in his work. While Perry’s art seems quite experimental, you can tell that a lot of effort/thought/imagination went into making the final product. After all, it isn’t easy making art look fun and effortless. “The key to me is to work hard, put yourself out there, and be the best human you can be – then the work grows from there,” he told Found Remote.

Now, if you’ve been inspired by Perry’s stunning work (how could you not be?) and want to know how to follow suit, fear not! He provided some inspiring advice for all you artists out there via The Huffington Post:

“Recycle! What’s that song? ‘Don’t Stop Believin’!’ Just go for it. To me, the more of us that do this, the more power we have.”

P.S. You should probably follow Mike Perry on Instagram for all things Broad City-esque.

[Images via Mike Perry/Instagram]

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