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Speaking with the Masterful Epic Uno

May 6, 2017

A master of his craft with a formal educational background in graphic design, Epic Uno has been sharing his talents with us here in NYC public spaces for the past several years. He is one of the many talented artists who will be participating tomorrow in the 3rd edition of the Street Art Expo in Elmhurst, Queens. I recently had the opportunity to meet up with him:

When and where did you first get up here in NYC?

It was around 1997-98. I had left Puerto Rico to attend Pratt University, and I first got up on and off the campus of Pratt.

What inspired you at the time to hit the walls?

I did it because I could! It felt good to get up. It was a rush!

Do any early graffiti-related memories stand out?

I was about nine or ten years old when I saw a Sen2 piece on an abandoned building back in Puerto Rico. I was struck! Years later when I met Sen2, he gave me the best advice any mentor could give. He said, “Draw every day.” And I do!

Would you rather work legally or illegally?

These days it’s not a choice. I have a family, and I’m not 20 any more. But I do miss the rush.

I’ve seen your work up in the Bronx, in Long Island City and at Welling Court. It’s quite impressive! Who have been some of your influences? Have any particular artists inspired you?

I met the writer HUMAN back at Pratt. His dorm room was across from mine. And he taught me the basics. Among the many artists who have inspired me are: Sen2, the late Swiss graffiti legend Dare TWS, Rime MSK, 123 Klan and Does from the Netherlands.

Have you painted with any crews?

I’ve painted with A Dying Breed and 4Burners.

\Would you rather paint alone or collaborate with others?

I generally prefer painting alone, but when I paint with the “right” person, there’s nothing better. I love painting with Sen2 and Logek.

Can you tell us something about your name Epic Uno? Its origin?

I first started as Elastic. But it wasn’t working for me, and I wanted a new name. I checked Art Crimes to find a name that nobody else had. I came up the name Epic and then added Uno to identify my Latin roots.

Have you any thoughts about the graffiti/street art divide?

Although there are some of us who bridge both worlds, there is a definite divide. The backgrounds and mentalities of most street artists and graffiti writers are quite different. And I especially feel it here in NYC.

What percentage of your time is devoted to art these days?

Just about all or it! I used to be into snowboarding, but I barely have any time these days for anything besides my art and my family.

How do you feel about the engagement of graffiti writers and street artists with the corporate world?

We artists have to live. I’ve collaborated with brands such as Coach and Nike. And I, of course, use my discretion regarding which corporations and brands I work with.

Have you shown your work in galleries?

I’ve been in lots of small group shows. Here in New York City I’ve shown in all boroughs except Staten Island. I’ve also exhibited in San Diego, Minneapolis and back in Puerto Rico.

Do you work with a sketch in hand or do you let it flow?

I’m always over prepared. Without a plan I get stressed and anxious.

Are you generally satisfied with your finished work?

I am satisfied only if I’m able to include every detail I want to include.

How has your work evolved through the past few years?

I’m somewhat more comfortable with the process. I’m less confined by my initial plan or sketch. I’ve learned how to take imperfections and make them seem organic.

What inspires you these days?

I’m inspired by the 1920’s… ads, graphics, art deco. I’m interested in incorporating traditional typography into my current work.

Are there any particular cultures that have influenced your aesthetic?

Definitely the graffiti and hip-hop culture. Back in Puerto Rico, I was a break dancer, and I emceed and deejayed with my friends before I ever started piecing.

How do you feel about the role of social media in all of this?

Instagram was a turning point for me as an artist, as I made so many contacts through it. But I see social media as a loaded weapon. It can be very beneficial, but it can also be hurtful.

Can you tell us something about your current day job?

I work as an Art Director for Equity Brands. My office is here in Midtown.

Do you feel that your formal art education played a positive role in your art career?

Definitely. My studies in Graphic Design at Pratt Institute gave me the tools to be able to do the work that I do today.

What’s ahead?

I have recently been commissioned to paint a mural at a hotel. Next month I will be painting in the 8th Annual Welling Court Mural Project. I will be participating in the Robots Will Kill exhibit at My Plastic Heart on the Lower East Side in July. And on Sunday (tomorrow), you can find me at the Street Art Expo — at Elks Lodge, 82-20 Queens Blvd in Elmhurst, Queens — where I will be displaying and selling my art and a range of my products, taking commissions and signing black books.

It all sounds great! I look forward to seeing you then.

All photos courtesy of the artist; first photo by Rachel Fawn Alban; interview conducted and edited by Lois Stavsky

Note: Hailed in a range of media from Wide Walls to the Huffington Post to the New York Times, our Street Art NYC App is now available for Android devices here.

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Speaking with Semor

May 20, 2013

Germany’s masterful graffiti artist Semor returned to 5Pointz earlier this month, where he once again graced its walls with his outstanding skills. This time we has the opportunity to speak to him.

When did you first get up? And where was it?

I was 11 years old when I first hit a wall. It was in an abandoned area in the middle of nowhere. I grew up in a village near Cologne, Germany where there was no graffiti — or just about anything — on the walls.

Then — how did you get into graffiti?

As a young child, I destroyed my room with chalk. This started when I was about six. I always focused on letters. One day my sister said to me, “What you are doing is graffiti.” And she bought me a copy of Style Wars. That was it!

And you have been doing it ever since! What is it about graffiti that appeals to you?

I can put my all into it. I can express everything that is going on inside me and around me. I never sketch beforehand. Everything I do is freestyle. It’s what I feel at the moment. It doesn’t matter if it is a good day or bad day. I have graffiti.

How do your folks feel about what you do?

My mom loves it! And my dad admires what I’m doing, too. He is an architect.

Tell us something about your name. How did you get the name Semor?

I was always a big Simpsons’ fan and I particularly liked the character Seymour Skinner, the head of Bart Simpson’s elementary School. I just changed the spelling!

Have you any favorite surfaces?

I’ll paint on anything that is paintable, but I love big walls.

Have you ever been arrested?

Sure, but Germany actually provides us with graffiti lawyers. And you need to be caught in action in order for the police to arrest you.

Have you exhibited in galleries? And how do you feel about the move of graffiti into galleries?

Yes! It’s been a good experience. It’s good money. And it’s time for graffiti to be given the respect it deserves.

How do you feel about the divide between street art and graffiti?

Graffiti is graffiti and street art is street art. Street artists are more concerned with getting a message out to the public. And it often has political and social overtones. Graffiti is about style.

Any thoughts about today’s young writers?

They need to learn the importance of respect. They think getting up is cool, but too many young writers out there don’t have any knowledge of graffiti’s roots.

Any differences between the graffiti here in NYC and back home in Cologne?

There’s definitely a greater variety of styles back home. Writers there are more eager to experiment.

Have you any favorite writers?

The Schwarzmaler Crew, Sen2, Storm, Aroe MSK – among others.

How did you make contact with 5Pointz?

In 2005, I reached out to Meres via e-mail, and we’ve stayed in touch since.

Photos of Semor with Jimmy C and Semor & KKade by Lois Stavsky; Semor at work by Lenny Collado and Tara Murray

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Zees Recycles Stained Glass and Mirror Fragments into 3-D Graffiti Art

April 21, 2013

A self-described “graffiti glass artist,” Zees speaks about his past ventures and his current project.

When did you first get into graffiti?

A little over ten years ago. I was about 10 when I started tagging War. But I needed to change names a few times to avoid the law. Eventually I found Zees.

What got you into it?

I grew up in West Orange, New Jersey, and I always saw graffiti on the highways when we drove anywhere. I liked what I saw.

Who are some of your favorite writers – the ones who inspire you?

The Italian writer, Zin aka Bes, Sen2, Dr. Sex and PK Kid.

Have you any memorable experiences from your early writing days?

I was in sixth grade when I got arrested for writing on a huge sprinkler house in a golf course on Essex County property. It was the first time I ever went on a “graffiti mission!”

What is the riskiest thing you ever did? And why?

Hanging at the end of a cliff on a two-inch platform about 400-500 feet in the air. It’s a prime spot off a highway. That’s why!

How did your mom take all this?

She didn’t like it – but these days she’s really happy with what I’m doing.

Could you tell us a bit about what you are doing these days?

I recycle pieces of mirrors, stained glass and assorted found materials into 3-D graffiti pieces.

That must be quite a process! How do you manage to find such an abundance of mirror and stained glass remnants?

They’re the leftover pieces that surface regularly from my uncle’s business, the Artique Glass Studio, in Glen Rock, New Jersey.

Wow! I’m glad they are getting put to such good use! Have you studied art on a formal level?

No. I’m self-taught. I’ve always been doing art of some kind as long as I can remember. But nothing has been as addictive as graffiti.

How do you feel about the movement of graffiti into galleries?

I think it’s great. Graffiti is a compulsive activity, and it gives us writers something to strive for. It offers talented graffiti writers the chance to get the recognition they deserve.

Any thoughts about the role of the Internet in all this?

I love it. I get to see what everyone else is doing.

How do you spend your time when you are not involved in your current project?

Skateboarding, making music and building stained-glass reptile cages.

What’s ahead?

I’d like to continue what I’m doing – mastering the techniques and producing high-quality work. I look forward, too, to seeing my work in galleries.

Zee’s first solo exhibit opens tomorrow evening, April 23, from 7-10pm at Sapphire Lounge, 249 Eldridge Street on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.

Photos by Dani Mozeson and Lois Stavsky

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Speaking with Rubin

January 16, 2013

Rubin’s exquisite murals surface here regularly in NYC on the streets of Brooklyn and the Bronx. Each one is a cause for celebration. We recently had the opportunity to speak with the talented artist.

When and where did you start getting up?

I started tagging in 1985 – age 10. I was living in Gothenburg, Sweden. I grew up there among the concrete projects. Their walls were my first canvas.

What inspired you?

I watched the movie Beat Street at my friend’s house. That started everything. The movie had a huge impact on me, as did growing up in the projects.

How did your family feel about what you were doing back then?

My mother worried a lot. But she was supportive.

Do you have a formal art education?

No. I never wanted to go to art school. I studied music and played in several bands in my native Gothenburg.

Back in Sweden, did you work alone or with a crew?

I painted with NTA (Night Time Artists) back in Sweden. But I also painted alone.

What about here – in NYC?

I’ve collaborated mostly with 4Burner members: Sen2, Dasic, Owns, Deem, Gusto and Logek.

Would you rather paint alone or with others?

I like painting alone, but painting with others is important for artistic growth.

Is there anyone in particular with whom you would like to collaborate?

I would love to collaborate with Futura. That would be something.

Have you any preferred spots and/or surfaces?

I love the concrete walls up in Hunts Point in the South Bronx.

What is the riskiest thing you ever did?

I climbed five or six stories on a drain pipe to get to the top of a building.

Why?

Because it was an impossible spot that no-one had reached before.

Your artwork seems to blur the lines between graffiti and street art. How do you feel about the graffiti/street art divide?

We should be on the same side, but we’re not. There is definitely a beef between street art and graffiti. I have always tried to bring these two opposites together in my art. It’s very challenging. There is so much ego in graffiti and street art trends seem to come and go.

How do you feel about the movement of street art and graffiti into galleries?

It’s exciting and interesting. I see it as a natural progression.

Have you exhibited in galleries?

Mostly in Sweden, but I exhibited along with Cope2 two years ago in Nolita.

What is your main source of income these days?

My main source of income is photography. I’m also involved with the production of a Swedish/Finnish arts and culture magazine.

How do you feel about the role of the Internet in all this? And do you follow any sites?

I think it’s great. I follow 12ozProphet and StreetArtNYC.

What inspires you these days?

Craftsmanship, Kraftwerk’s minimal electronic music and the contrasts between my two homes: Bushwick, Brooklyn and the gorgeous woods of Lapland, where I spend the summers with my wife.

Are you generally satisfied with your finished pieces?

Never.

When you look back to what you did two years ago, how do you feel about it?

Two years ago feels like an eternity, especially when living in NYC. I tend to look forward instead of looking back.

How has your artwork evolved through the years?

In the nineties, I was one of the most active writers in Sweden. In the mid-nineties my graffiti took a turn to the geometric. From 1999 to 2008, I took a break and focused on my band, Kingston Air Force. I can’t really describe my usual style. Someone once called it abstract geometry; that’s a pretty good description, but my style is still evolving.

Of all the cities in which you painted, which is your favorite?

New York City. I love the energy and the mix of people. Nothing beats New York.

Who are some of your favorite artists?

The Swedish artist Gouge. He’s amazing! Bates from Denmark, Dondi and Riff 170 from NYC, C215 and Nelio from France, Boaone from Germany and Sofles and Fecks from Australia.

What advice would you offer young writers and younger artists?

Work hard. Learn the craftsmanship. Perfect your technique. Practice. Be a good role model to younger writers. Be nice.

What do you see as the role of the artist in society?

Every artist is an egoist, and I’m no exception to the rule. I interpret what I see and how I feel through my art. I create for myself, but I’m very humbled every time someone appreciates my pieces. It means that they appreciate my take on what’s going on around us. That’s very flattering.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I don’t even know where I’ll be next week. NYC has taught me how to live right here and now, and I’m really enjoying taking a day at a time.

Interview by Lois Stavsky with Lenny Collado and Tara Murray; photos by Lenny Collado, Dani Mozeson. Tara Murray and Lois Stavsky

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Speaking to David RIMX Sepulveda

October 10, 2012

We first met David RIMX Sepulveda at this year’s Afropunk Festival and at once fell in love with his aesthetic. Soon after he completed his wondrous wall at Bushwick Five Points, we met up with him again and posed a few questions:

When did you start writing?

I started back in ’97. I was 16.

What inspired you to get up?

I was attending an art high school, the Central High School of Visual Arts in Santurce, PR and my friends and I formed a crew. I grew up in the projects of San Juan, so tagging was the natural thing to do.

Have you any preferred surfaces these days?

I like big walls and highways because I like to share my art with as many people as possible.

Have you any favorite artists who influenced you?

I love Rembrandt and the Spanish painter, Joaquín Sorolla. My favorite Puerto Rican artists include: Lorenzo Homar, Rafael Tufiño, Antonio Martorell and José Alicia. I also love the Mexican artists Diego Rivera and Gabriel Orozco.

What about graffiti and street artists? Any favorites?

I have many. Among them are: Sen2, Ske and Rek, Sex, San and Dems from Spain and Sego from Mexico.

Have you any formal art training beyond high school?

Yes. I studied art in college in Puerto Rico at la Escuela de Artes Plásticas. I’m trained as a classical painter.

Do you feel art school helped you develop your craft?

Definitely! And learning about the history of art was important to me.

Do you tend to paint alone or with crews?

Both. I paint alone, and I also paint with El CORO, ADM and APC.

Where have you painted?

I’ve painted in Puerto Rico, Miami, Barcelona, Granada, Japan and New York.

Have you a favorite place to paint?

Puerto Rico, because of the weather. But I like the scale of the buildings in New York City.

What about galleries? Have you exhibited your work in galleries?

I’ve exhibited in galleries in New York City, Miami, Paris and Japan.

What percent of your time is devoted to art?

Almost all of it. During the day, I work at a tattoo shop.

How do you feel about the role of the Internet in all of this?

It’s great. It gets our art out to the world.

What are your thoughts on the so-called street art/graffiti divide?

I think of graffiti writers as purists. They gain their respect by being everywhere and by hitting hot spots. Street artists are more focused on ideas. But the two disciplines will merge.

What’s ahead?

More projects that engage more people. I want to continue to integrate everyday people into my work.

That sounds great! We are looking forward to seeing more of your artwork on the streets of NYC!

Photos by Lenny Collado, Tara Murray and courtesy of the artist.

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Speaking with 5Pointz Founder and CEO: Jonathan “Meres” Cohen

September 5, 2012

Under your leadership 5Pointz has evolved into an internationally acclaimed aerosol art Mecca. When did you first become involved in managing this space? And how did it happen?

It was back in 2002. I simply asked the landlord, Jerry Wolkoff, if I could, as the space had been neglected. And he agreed. He told me, in fact, that he loves graffiti. More after the jump!

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Next Entries →

Search: sen2

Speaking with the Masterful Epic Uno

Speaking with Semor

Zees Recycles Stained Glass and Mirror Fragments into 3-D Graffiti Art

Speaking with Rubin

Speaking to David RIMX Sepulveda

Speaking with 5Pointz Founder and CEO: Jonathan “Meres” Cohen

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