Meeting Zephyr...a NY Graff Legend

July 22, 2024

As I’m continually going through my archives, I always seem to find some gems stashed in my flat files and metal cabinets.

In 1996 I was painting a mural in Hollywood on Sunset Blvd & this guy just walked up to me and started asking me about it. He said he liked what I was doing, I said thanks & asked him his name. He said ZEPHYR. I said like the NYC graff writer? He said yup that’s me. My mind was 🤯! Apparently we exchanged business cards because l found this today as I was going through the archives. Definitely gonna frame it!

Zephyr… next time you’re in LA drop me a line!
It’s been too long. 🤝

Make sure to visit his website: www.ZephyrGraffiti.com

LIVE PAINTING! GRAND PERFORMANCES x MIKE THE POET x MAN ONE

July 20, 2024

If you love music and Los Angeles, this will be a beautiful intimate journey in the Grand Performances Amphitheater. My good friend Mike the Poet will be our tour guide through the years, neighborhoods, and musical movements. I’ll do my best to add to the ambiance with some inspired paint strokes and splatters. Let’s see what we create together!

Friday, July 26, 2024
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Grand Performances
350 South Grand Avenue
Los Angeles, CA, 90071

Poets:
BESSKEPP, Bridgette Bianca, F. Douglas Brown, Rocio Carlos, Michael C. Ford, Nikolai Garcia, Ruben Guevara, Marjorie Light, Phillip Martin, Dante Mitchell, Luivette Resto, Vickie Vertiz

DJ: Gingee

Hosted by: Mike the PoeT

Live painting performance: Man One

About Mike the PoeT:
Mike Sonksen, aka Mike the PoeT, is an acclaimed poet, professor, journalist, historian and tour guide. He has published over 500 essays and poems, most recently two excerpts in Dear California: The Golden State in Diaries and Letters, (Stanford University Press, September 2023). He has delivered over 2,000 poetry readings, served as guest speaker at over 100 academic institutions, appeared on radio and television and hosted events in locations like Grand Performances and Getty Center. His latest book, Letters To My City was published by Writ Large Press.

free! more info + rsvp here!

While you’re in the vicinity, take a brief stroll of a few hundred feet to feast your eyes on my mural adorning 1 Cal Plaza!
For a delightful glimpse into its creation and my process, I invite you to view the video below capturing the artwork's inception from last year. Enjoy!

From Batman to Basquiat at Comic Con '24!

July 19, 2024

From Batman to Basquiat: Contemporary Art and Comics 
Comic books are a deep source of inspiration for contemporary artists working across visual disciplines.

Join us in this discussion of our work at the intersection of contemporary art, education, community, and comics, as well as the work of Andy Warhol, Arthur Jafa, Dulce Pinzon, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, and others.

Panelists:
Alma Villegas (senior director of development, Inner-City Arts)
Edgar Arceneaux (artist and director), Kenny Keil (artist/writer, MAD magazine)
Kenny Keil (artist/writer, MAD magazine)
Man One (graffiti artist/muralist/illustrator; curator/founder, Crewest)
Patrick A. Reed (curator, pop culture historian)

Moderated by Gustavo Alberto Garcia Vaca (artist/writer/educator, MoMA, LACMA, Beyond Warriors).

Comic-Con @ San Diego Convention Center
Sunday, July 28th, 2024
12:00PM - 1:00PM
Room 24ABC

UNEARTHED

Me and Gustavo have been collaborating on comic book and art projects for over 15 years. Here’s an example of just one of our collabs over the years…”UNEARTHED” was produced in 2010.

This comic actually doubled as the catalog for an exhibition we curated at my gallery Crewest back in 2011 featuring artists from all over the world including the incredible George Clinton, Overton Loyd, WonOneABC, and so many others! We still have a few of these unique little comic books available on the Crewest Shop online. Hit the image or link below!

Link to purchase

Man One: Artist, Curator and Honoree At This Year's LA BULLA Event!

July 18, 2024

La Bulla opened August 3, 2024 at Plaza de la Raza

It was a great event with over 3,000 people in attendance. Thanks to Antonio Pelayo for asking me to curate the exhibition and for the Pelayo Foundation honoring me that night as well and writing me a big ol’ check! Lol.
Enjoy the pics and video from the event!

Checkout the recap video I put together…

My piece for the show:

“El Hombre de Oro” (SOLD)
Spray paint, metallic gold paint, acrylic and markers
with mini-spray can on custom cutout wood panel.
19”x16”x2”
2024

Man One interview on "Everybody with Angela Williamson"

April 12, 2024

Dr. Angela interviews Man One about his upbringing as a young graffiti artist and recounts stories as well as highlights in his artistic career. Originally aired on KLCS-PBS on March 20, 2024

“Everybody with Angela Williamson” is a show on KLCS PBS that emphasizes diversity within education, the arts and our community. Host/author, Dr. Angela Williamson, is the creator of My Life with Rosie, a film about the life of Rosa Parks. Listen to ordinary people doing extraordinary things while strengthening their communities.