Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii and enthralled with graffiti and the art of the Mission School, I moved to San Francisco in 2000. I received a BFA in advertising from the Academy of Art University and worked for top agencies, including Venables Bell & Partners and Goodby Silverstein & Partners. After leaving advertising, I concentrated on creating murals on the streets, and painting canvases for both commercial and non-profit gallery exhibitions. I quickly gained recognition for my bold and colorful latex paint brush strokes that pushed the boundaries of public art.
Participating in and having been influence by the graffiti community taught me to be resourceful with paint and supplies. My self-taught use of color aggressively shapes an object so that it is clearly visible when viewed from a far. Up close, the work can be viewed as an elaborate color design—an almost mosaic pointillism of brick-like shapes.
I am strongly influenced by Vincent Van Gogh and Keith Haring, as well as Franz Kline and the New York School. These artists’ work helped me discover the subject matter that fits my unique style: the aggressively large, abstract body shape and beautifully brown colored bear. In addition to their reputation of being fiercely protective of their young, bears are highly respected in many cultures and are considered to be ancestral spirits. Each of my bear paintings is created with the intent of being a protector; personally for myself and for everyone that may come across my work.
Photos and press release for this artist.
Residency: June 2013 - September 2013
Art Exhibition: Friday, September 20 & Saturday, September 21