Joel Artista
Diving into the Subconscious with Chris and Marc
For this year’s addition of the Welling Court Mural Festival in Queens, New York, I had the honor of collaborating with two friends who also happen to be incredible artists, Chris Soria and Marc Evan. We chose to depict an underwater scene that alludes to exploring the subconscious. My favorite thing about working with these guys is the way our styles flow seamlessly, as…
“Ix Chel’s Dream” Collaboration with Chris Soria
Photo by @slimjim72 This month I had the pleasure of collaborating on a mural with an artist I’ve admired for a long time, my friend Chris Soria. As our approaches have a lot in common, especially our love of layering and patterns, we chose to fully integrate our two styles into one cohesive mural instead of simply dividing the wall into two sections. The…
Holy Cow! New Mural in Staten Island
When Maria, the owner of Fab Cup Coffee Shop in Staten Island, commissioned me to paint a mural on the large outdoor wall of her establishment, her only request was that it should feature cows. Maria is from Russia, where the rural Siberian scenery she was immersed in growing up always included cattle, leading to a life-long fascination with these animals that give her…
Artistic Noise: Art with Youth in the Justice System
This year, I have been leading arts-based workshops with youth involved in the justice system. Through the organization Artistic Noise, I worked with teens in Brooklyn and Harlem who have recently been in trouble with the law, engaging them in creative activities and the life experience of creating art to be exhibited publicly. Together we had discussions and presentations, went on field trips, made…
Brooklyn is the Future
I recently had the opportunity to paint two murals for Brooklyn is the Future events; one in Bushwick and the second, called “Writing on the Walls,” in Brownsville. Thanks to both of these communities who made me feel welcome; curator and artist (and Brownsville native) N Carlos J for inviting me; the event sponsors, Brooklyn Arts Council and Liquitex Paints; and to my partner…
Exhibition at the United Nations Headquarters!
I was honored have photography that I took of my arts-based community work with Syrian youth exhibited at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. I have traveled to Jordan three times with the organization aptART to work in refugee camps and host communities. Partner organizations for these projects were ACTED, Mercy Corps and UNICEF. Thanks to the Jordanian mission at the UN…
The Warriors! East Harlem youth mural project
I spent an incredible two weeks at Innovation High School in East Harlem for their intensive enrichment program. I worked with students and staff to create a mural in the school that featured warriors from a variety of cultures around the world, both male and female, in reference to the school’s mascot. We studied public art, went on field trips to see murals and…
New piece up in 5 Pointz! “The Plague Doctor”
This week I had the honor of painting in the legendary graffiti spot 5 Pointz, where I did a piece featuring a plague doctor, who were doctors in Old Europe who attempted to cure people from the bubonic plagues and other horrible illnesses. They famously wore bird-beaked masks filled with nice-smelling incense in order to avoid catching the plague, as they believed that foul odors…
Joel Artista 