Our New Best Friend, @Happy_Mutants, Surprises Us

By Tim Miner

We love surprises. And, surprise is exactly what our new best friend, @Happy_Mutants, is all about.

In just over a year, this anonymous artist has left more than 100 “mutants” he’s designed and created with a 3-D printer across the city. He looks for “sneaky spots that will be noticed by people who are paying just a little attention.”

The mutants are always sitting on an edge because, of course, “mutants live on the edge.” There are 11 different models of mutants out and about in Charlotte that people have spotted, plus a few the public has never seen. And, yes, you’re welcome to take the mutant home if you find it. A few mutants are on sale right now in the TAC Gallery in NoDa, if you don’t feel like hunting for one.

All of this was born of his love of street art. He sees his work living somewhere between an art drop and ‘Kilroy wuz here.’”

Why is @Happy_Mutants our new best friend, and why do we think you should follow him? Well, if this quote doesn’t convince you, nothing will:

“For me, street art is about leaving a mark, sure, but it’s about making space feel lived in. I hope they make people laugh a little. And, if they take it then I guess they liked it enough to give it a good home.”