Who is ‘irregular’? Meet the artist behind the tag showing up all over the city.

On the face of eroded barricades, rotting alleyway dumpsters, dark under-passes and window-sized wood panels, the word “irregular” has become an increasingly regular sight for Philadelphians — and a mark of artist Sean Hassett’s growing presence.

Hassett, who goes by the moniker “Irregular” or “Irregular Sean,” has spray painted and penned his graffiti tag across the outskirts of West Philly to Chinatown, Spring Gardens, Brewerytown to the beating heart of Center City. Yet, his identity and motive are largely cloaked in mystery.

“I have no backing and there’s no system that I’m part of that’s helping generate what I’m putting out,” Irregular said to The Inquirer.

“I’m trying to show people that you don’t have to take the normal route, you can do it on your own.”

While he was drawn to the word “irregular” as a kid growing up in Darby, he didn’t put his talents to the canvas until he was released from George W. Hill Correctional Facility after a one-year stint in 2013.

While incarcerated, Irregular befriended an inmate who used to draw images on the letters he wrote to his loved ones in exchange for soup cans. Before the man was released, he gave Irregular all of the stencils and art tools he used to craft his work. That moment, he said, opened the door for his own artistic pursuits.

“Coming home with that record and no college degree, (it) pushed me to devote myself to my craft,” Irregular said.

Over the years, Irregular started creating acrylic paintings and mosaic-style works made from fragmented mirror pieces.

In 2020, the now-33-year-old artist began spraying his graffiti tag across Philly. He was partly inspired by the protests following George Floyd’s murder and the work of Germantown artist Nomad and Ghuls creator Lami Tolla. and he says his style and approach is influenced by Banksy and Basquiat.

Though he documents his art on Instagram, Irregular does not post pictures of himself on social media. (He did not agree to be photographed by The Inquirer.) He says he usually only leaves home for daily necessities and to sell and make his street art.

“I’m very withdrawn, and I’ve been very solo in what I’ve done over the years,” he said. “I’ve stuck to myself, and I don’t get into politics or institutions of the art scene... I try to contain my energy as much as I can. I think what I’m doing has some power to it, and I’m not trying to withhold it.”

When he peeks his head outside his home studio, he’s usually decked in paint-spotted garments, riding his bike with a spray paint can and white-out pen stashed inside a mid-sized pouch in pursuit of a new location for his work. In a matter of minutes, he coats the nine letters of “irregular,” and ducks off slyly without drawing attention.

“I just move with common traffic,” he said. “I like to say I move with the wind.”

He still sells his work in Rittenhouse Square, but tries to stay in the background and doesn’t approach onlookers until he sees a “magic moment” happen.

“I always wanted to create things that sell themselves on the street,” he said. “I don’t say, ‘Hey, look at this,’ or have a sign telling people to buy my work. I just stand a couple feet away, lean up against a pole and observe.”

Along with graffiti and mirrored artwork, Irregular sells mystery boxes, deep profile canvas and wooden-framed paintings on his website, with pieces ranging between $100 to $2,000.

It’s impossible to know how many tags he’s placed in the city. He stopped counting years ago but still feels a rush of leaving his mark. It’s like psychotherapy, he said, motivating him to satiate his appetite for more artistry and self-expression.

He views his work as a source of reflection, with the mirror pieces and word “irregular” serving as a symbol of self-identity and a magnet that draws a connection between him and the viewer. But rather than being packaged as a “street artist,” he prefers no title at all. “You can’t put a spotlight on a star. I’m just doing the work. Irregular is a statement, (and) the work emits a light of its own.”

Some Philadelphians view his tags as playful breadcrumbs. Some see it at as a link to a thought-provoking series, and others — especially on social media — see it as vandalism. “Artfully committing vandalism is still vandalism,” a Twitter user said.

I take objection to the term “artist”. He’s a criminal. Artfully committing vandalism is still vandalism.

— JohnsCow (@johns_cow) April 10, 2023

I dunno. Ask the “artist” to tag your front door.

— TappahannockName (@Allfortime0503) April 10, 2023

Resident Peter Gambino, however, welcomes this art.

“Philly has such a big and diverse art scene, so we might as well have a few mystery people working in that space,” said Gambino who first spotted Irregular’s tags six months ago. “[His work is] like little easter eggs placed along the infrastructure of our city.”

Other onlookers aren’t too fond of Irregular’s work . “I hate their tags,” says Philly resident Alex Fredericks. “(They’re) too long and aggressively style-less.”

Despite the mixed responses from passers-by, Irregular has become a sought-after talent in Philly’s art scene. He created two projects with Mural Arts Philadelphia. The first was a temporary mural for last year’s Wawa Welcome America; his work Mural Magic is irregular was featured at the 2023 Flower Show.

He was also tapped by Hyatt Centric Center City to be a part of the hotel’s monthly Maker Series back in January. Elizabeth Fricke, director of sales and marketing at HCCC, said Irregular’s approach to street art made him a natural fit for the series that spotlights the work of local artists.

Photo blogger Conrad Benner, who worked with Irregular on the Mural Arts projects, called Hassett an innovator. “He’s at this point in his career where all the doors are open to him, and he’s jumping through them,” he said. “That’s to say, he’s driven and taking advantage of this lane he’s made for himself.”

An “irregular” tag along 11th St. by Spring Garden in Philadelphia.Heather Khalifa / Staff Photographer

As more opportunities come along, Irregular said he will continue to etch his path as an independent artist, and break down barriers that may be in his or other artists’ way.

There’s no set direction in mind, he said. For now, he plans to sell more of his artwork and hopes to expand his brand globally.

“I’m not a starving artist, I’m a hungry artist, and myself and others know there’s much more potential past these walls,” he said. “I’m continually pushing myself, trusting my evolution and allowing everything to come my way. I want to stay on my trajectory and see Irregular grow 10 times bigger.”

– The Philadelphia Inquirer

Breaking barriers and opening doors: Philly artists are finding new spaces to showcase their creations

Few spaces are as essential to Philly arts as the city’s history-rich museums and art galleries. The institutions house some of the most prized artifacts and antiquities in the country, and serve as a domain for unknown artists to become international fixtures.

But for Lauren Fiasconaro and other Philly-based creatives, the barrier to entry is often too steep, forcing many artists to turn to local cafés, restaurants, bars, and other alternative spaces to showcase their artwork.

“This is definitely something that’s been cropping up more and more,” said Fiasconaro, 30, who’s currently displaying her cyanotype photography at Northern Liberties’ Mammoth Coffee. “More than half of my ideas came from seeing artwork in places that I wasn’t expecting, and there’s some amazing work in places and venues you wouldn’t expect.”

Philly sculptor Jonathan Santoro, 39, said local artists have taken matters into their own hands.

“Groups of artists are growing tired of white cube galleries and rejecting the status quo while being intentionally anti-commercial,” he said. “More artists are taking the reins and displaying their artwork how they want.”

Rather than wait for spots to open at established art institutions, artist Sue Moerder began hosting small showcases in hair salons, restaurants, bars, and even pet shops under the group philacitywithart. She started the 500-member Facebook page to forge more opportunities for local artists to display and sell their work without having to jump through hoops to get into galleries and museums.

Moerder, who makes sculptures from animal skulls, said the city is flooded with local talent, but the exclusivity of certain spaces has led many artists to seek other ways to sell their work and make ends meet.

“Galleries are great, but they’re very hard to get into,” Moerder, 62, said. “I think one of the harsh realities of being an artist in Philadelphia is that many people can’t survive solely doing their art. Most have to work to support it, which is a shame because there are too many talented artists. And when you’re exhausted and you’re mentally drained, it’s hard to create. It’s frustrating.”

Recognizing the shortage of accessible art spaces, Gleaner’s Cafe owner Stephen Hencheck fills the shop’s walls with the work of local artists as a way to spotlight the city’s talent and build the confidence of newer creatives hesitant to display their designs.

With the cafe’s name partially inspired by Jean-François Millet’s painting The Gleaners, Hencheck said the decision to add these works was an important one. Not only has the move drawn more eyes to local artwork, it’s helped struggling artists fully profit from their creations, rather than fight for higher commission splits in more traditional spaces.

Hencheck allows creatives to fully profit from their work, while more notable galleries have commission splits that teeter between 30% and 50%, he said.

“We just try to keep a starving artist from starving so we can look at their work,” Hencheck, 44, said.

“If your business is your community, you should make it your business to support that community. That doesn’t apply to everyone, and it doesn’t have to. If creativity and culture are what you believe your base is and what makes the neighborhood your business is in, why wouldn’t you try to support that?”

Through partnerships with nearby galleries, the Fitler Club is combining the influence and resources of established spaces to fuel its own alternative venue.

The urban social club has Philly-made pieces throughout its center, a move Visual Arts Director Tricia Maloney said has connected the club’s members to the city’s creative forces, and given more local artists a platform to spread their wings.

“Our hope is that there may be a lower barrier to entry to engage with the art in a place like the Fitler Club,” Maloney, 41, said. “It’s not a gallery — we tried to take that intimidation factor out of the equation, even to the extent that I coordinate the program and I don’t have an arts background. It’s really about relationship building.”

Fitler Club cofounder Michael Forman said the addition of alternative art spaces doesn’t diminish the importance of established art institutions in Philly. It’s an added way to support local creatives and place a brighter spotlight on the work they produce.

Along with the Gleaner’s Cafe and Fitler Club, Fiasconaro said venues and organizations like Persimmon Coffee, Underground Concepts, and Feminist Flea are opening doors for artists in the LGBTQ and Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, as well as others that have been marginalized by their race, ethnicity, sexuality, and identity.

Having these spaces, Fiasconaro said, is key to a more inclusive and well-rounded arts scene.

“Historically, gallery spaces are and can be very inaccessible for a lot of people,” she said. “I have definitely encountered that as well. But I’m seeing more inclusivity in this trend of alternative spaces, which is amazing. It’s been a long time coming.”

Fiasconaro is hopeful more opportunities for artists of all creeds will open up in museums and galleries. And as Philly creatives continue to carve out nontraditional platforms, the artists and businesses receive the support they deserve.

– The Philadelphia Inquirer

No fade on prices: Why Philly barbers are charging $100 and up for haircuts

Kenneth Carruth IV, the North Philly native known as The4thKen on social media, has made waves (literally) with his haircut tutorials and videos. The 20-year-old barber has amassed more than 1.8 million likes on TikTok, with his biggest video reaching over 2 million views. But it’s not always his clean lines and tight fades that are attracting attention.

In one video, Carruth showed off a mid-fade and noted, “My client paid me $80 for this haircut.” Other videos list prices well above $100. While some viewers were in favor of the price tag, others called the haircut a “scam” and wrote how their barber could do the same job for $15.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Carruth also charged $15 per head. But with more demand, and the rising cost of running a business, he had to raise his rates.

“I feel like pre-pandemic, barbers were undervalued,” Carruth said. “Now, barbers are starting to realize their worth and see that it’s not just about the cut. You’re providing an experience.”

And he isn’t alone.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, haircut prices rose 6.8% in November 2022 from the same time a year before, which is the largest annual increase since the fact-finding agency started tracking the category. Men — who are used to paying with a single bill for their cuts — are noticing.

In the past, local barbers engaged in price wars with neighboring shops to have an edge on clientele. If one shop offered cuts for $20, another would offer them for $15. But the pandemic crippled small-business owners, said Damon Dorsey, 61, president of the American Barber Association. Barbers and other service workers were among the hardest hit.

To stay afloat, many chose to raise their rates.

Southwest Philly barber Nicky Prosseda, 40, said the seismic blow of the pandemic also inspired barbers to sharpen their business practices.

From the mid-20th century to recent years, Prosseda said, barbers enjoyed the benefits of cash-in-hand transactions and tax-free loopholes. But as the industry evolved, the slow rise in haircut prices didn’t match the hikes in beauty product prices, booth rentals, and Venmo and CashApp fees. And for many, it made barbering unlivable as a primary income source.

Prosseda, who charges $75 a cut, is the director of Philly’s Modern Male Barber Academy. “I truly believe that there’s this kind of pain for the sins of our forefather barbers and the past owners,” he said. “They didn’t teach us the best things in the industry, so you pass it down.”

Based on data collected in May 2021, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that most barber salaries range between $22,430 and $53,260. Prosseda said that may be barbers’ reported income, but a lot have been making $50,000 to $100,000 for years. And with even more resources at their disposal, he estimates they will start to rack in upward of $150,000 per year going forward.

Along with better business practices, Dorsey said, barbers are now able to leverage their social media presence to draw in more clients willing to pay top dollar. Apps like Booksy and StyleSeat help barbers manage customer information and schedule haircuts. Barbers like Carruth have used them to expand their brands beyond their corner or neighborhood.

By building his social media brand, Carruth was able to open his own barber studio in Kensington. After turning his social media followers into loyal clients, he saved enough money to get a business license and land the small commercial space in August 2021.

“I know a lot of barbers that are great at cutting hair, but they suck at running a business,” Carruth said. “And with that, you can’t charge what you want because you’re just going purely off skill.”

While most of his clients understand his raised prices, West Philly barber Jalen Thompson, 23, said he’s had customers leave to look for lower rates. Thompson, who charges $45 to $75 for haircuts and more than $120 for house calls, is comfortable with that risk.

“We stopped being hustlers and turned into CEOs,” he said. “I became a barber because I love cutting hair, but I also knew how much money there was to be made in this industry. ... There’s an opportunity to retire early and really enjoy life and take on other business ventures.” Prosseda agrees that it’s allowed him and others to live a better, more balanced life.

“A barber’s career is not one of mental easiness or physical, so you have to raise the prices for the barber to have a work-life balance where you can put your kid on the bus, and go be the coach to your son’s football team, or whatever it is. You have to raise the prices in order for that to happen.”

The fruits of the industry, Carruth said, are enjoyed by barbers who learn how to adapt. Along with cutting different hair textures and embracing products like semi-permanent dye, man weaves, and other enhancements, it’s important to provide other services like hair washes, snacks, TV, and WiFi.

“There’s a lot of older barbers that are stuck in their ways that refuse to change, and unfortunately, they’re more than likely gonna get left behind,” he said.

Overbrook resident Ian Watson, who’s been a client of Carruth’s for nearly a year, said customers are willing to pay for the right experience.

“Depending on the quality of the cuts and the level of professionalism, people will pay to avoid the stereotypical barber,” Watson said. “I say it’s worth it.”

– The Philadelphia Inquirer