John 'MDMN' Moody was born in Escondido, California in 1987, the year of Lethal Weapon and Wang Chung's "Everybody Have Fun Tonight". The radical late 80s-early 90s sound and style order of the day was the brighter, the busier, the better. Shoulder pads, glitched out VHS tapes, and Jack Kirby filled his days, thus beginning this beach boy’s love affair with flashy colors and design. His coloring books quickly turned into his own exclusive Crayola exhibition of what would later become MDMN's characters.
After relocating to Gilbert, Arizona at 8 years old, the desert atmosphere put his wild imagination into even greater technicolor perspective. His parents, gifted craftsmen themselves, pushed John further with his talents as he pursued his graphic design and animation degree from Mesa College.
Moving to Los Angeles, California at 23 was just the catapult into the urban scene John had greatly needed. Surrounded by graffiti, street art, and the bustling heartbeat of Los Angeles streets, he immersed himself into the contemporary world and learned as much he could about a medium of art that he never knew he always needed.
The name Madman, now MDMN, originates back to his wild teenage years and fierce attitude. It was a simple moniker to use on his Hollywood alleyway and rooftop escapades. Starting with graphic designed posters, quickly turned into rigorous stencil work, which in turn graduated into aerosol. Once acclimated with a spray can, he rapidly escalated to large mural work. Continuing his passion for retro designs, his spiral notebook doodles matured and came to life on any surface allowed to him. From San Diego to Miami, large scale designs can be located on alleyways, hotels, and anywhere in between.
Today he utilizes multiple mediums and surfaces including acrylics, inks, and aerosol combined with paper, wood, canvas, and any type of outdoor texture. Along with retro toys, digital prints, accessories, and clothing, the MDMN brand continues to evolve into more than an art career but a lifestyle to share for future generations to be a part of. John focuses on continuing his creative energy and boundless imaginative world of color to communities nationwide.
John maintains a house and studio in Tempe, Arizona where he currently resides.
