"El Regalo Mágico" : new mural in NYC with Cero Design

This is a mural I created last year in New York City with my friends Celso González and Roberto Biaggi from CERO Design out of Puerto Rico. The title of the mural, "El Regalo Mágico/The Magic Gift", refers to the gift of inspiration. The figure is based on my photos of respected Nuyorican author Nicholasa Mohr, who lives nearby, and is known for being one of the first widely published Latina authors in the United States.
Cero's part, the geometric infinity pattern that forms a halo around the figure, is composed entirely of tile mosaic. When the creation of so much public art now is streamlined for quantity over quality, it's encouraging to see the time and dedication that goes into their work.
It was a pleasure to work with such talented people, and join forces with an intent to create something that can hopefully offer some inspiration, pride and empowerment.
The mural is located in "El Barrio", East Harlem, on the side of a large elementary school at 111th Street and Lexington Avenue. It faces the First Spanish Methodist Church that once served as the headquarters for the Puerto Rican youth organization the Young Lords.
The mural was created as part of a public arts project called MonumentArt, curated by Celso Gonzalez and presented by la Marqueta Retoña initiative, with the support of city council speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito.

Many thanks to Nicholasa, Celso and Roberto of CERO Design, Melissa, Calma, Jose, 2Alas, Billy and anyone else that supported.
Special thanks also to Eric Heights for his assistance and documentation of this mural. Further thanks to David Joseph Perez (1st + 7th photos), Martha Cooper (3rd photo), Parlour Productions, and Daniel Weintraub (8th + 9th photos) for additional documentation.

Short video by Eric Heights:

"Thread of Life" : New mural in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

These are photos of my most recent mural painted in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, as part of the Igloo Hong Project. It is based on my photographs of a local Khmer artisan named Moeun Thary, who hand-embroiders traditional Khmer ceremonial garments. The ring of designs behind her is from one of her pieces.
The mural is on the north-facing end of a large housing complex from the 1960s called the White Building, known for its community of low-income tenants and artists. Since I had the opportunity to paint such a large, visible wall in a place where there are seemingly no other large scale murals like it, I felt an extra sense of responsibility to paint something beautiful, meaningful, and uplifting.
This mural honors Cambodia's artists, both contemporary and those lost during the Cambodian genocide of the mid to late 1970s, when nearly all of the country's creative population was targeted and murdered by the regime.
I hope this mural can serve as a respectful tribute to the importance and perseverance of Cambodia's creative legacy, and possibly, in some small way, offer inspiration for younger Cambodian artists to sustain this legacy.

Many thanks to the Igloo Hong project, the David Young Choe Foundation, Moeun, Dave, Matt, Dylan, Chally, Ashley & Ruben at Hotel Omana, Tuan, Paco, Steve, Jason, Kaye, and everyone else that helped make this mural possible. Much love to Cambodia. Shout outs to Aryz, James, Rhode & Esao.
(the 4th, 5th and last photo were taken by Paco Raterta)

"Aerosol Exalted" - Museum exhibition in Colorado at the CSFAC

Finally uploaded some photos of my museum exhibition at the Colorado Springs Fine Art Center in Colorado. The show opened in October and will be up through January 10th, 2016. 
I've been inspired from visiting art museums since I was little, so I'm honored to show my work in such a beautiful space, in the company of so many other great artists (this show follows a Georgia O'Keefe exhibit, which was a tough act to follow). I painted some new pieces for this show, including a large spraypaint on burlap piece based on a 1930s photograph by the inspirational Colorado photographer Laura Gilpin, as well as an interpretation of a John Singer Sargent painting in the museum's collection. There are three large collaborative canvases with Retna which had been started years ago and finally just finished, excited to show them all together.
As with many of my murals, this show focuses on dignified portraits of humble, often marginalized people, painted in the spirit of a classical social realism, as well as interpretations of other classic, powerful works of the past. 
For the exhibit, CSFAC released a small serigraph print of a piece based on another old photograph by Laura Gilpin.
Also showing next door are some works by Larry "FUSE AWR" Masters, a good friend and veteran of the 1980s Los Angeles graffiti scene. Many thanks to Fuse and the Masters family for their help and hospitality. Thanks to Joy Armstrong and the crew at the Fine Art Center, RETNA, Andy, Ari, Jorge, Jess, Kim, and anyone else who helped make this show possible or supported in any way.

"Objects at Rest" - Solo show in Denmark

I'm having my 2nd solo show in Denmark at Galerie Wolfsen this month, opening saturday, September 12th. I'm excited to exhibit some of my pencil drawings for the first time.

Drawing from life -drawing people, especially- has been one of my favorite things to do for as long as I can remember.
Interpreting what you see with nothing more than pencil lines on paper is something timeless and universal, it can portray humanity and convey personality in a uniquely honest and direct way. Drawing from life requires practice, but can enhance our appreciation and observation of the life around us, while also strengthening our other artistic endeavors.

Henri Matisse explained this sentiment far better than I can:

"I have always tried to hide my own efforts and wished my works to have the lightness of joyousness of a springtime which never lets anyone suspect the labors it has cost. So I am afraid that the young, seeing in my work only the apparent facility and negligence in the drawing, will use this as an excuse for dispensing with certain efforts I believe necessary.

The few exhibitions that I have had the opportunity of seeing during these last years makes me fear that the young painters are avoiding the slow and painful preparation which is necessary for the education of any contemporary painter who claims to construct by color alone.

An artist must possess nature. He must identify himself with her rhythm by the efforts that will prepare the mastery which will later enable him to express himself in his own language."

Here's a video by Eric Heights documenting some of the process and context, while capturing a glimpse of Los Angeles set to a soundtrack of some of my favorite music: