LEZA talks art, Miami, and upcoming projects
Where are you from?
Switzerland. Geneva. The French part.
How long have you been in Miami?
It has been three years that I do back and forth between Geneva and Miami.
What do you love most about Miami?
Wynwood, because it is full of paint and people are really creative in this neighborhood.
What project are you currently working on?
Murals and some new art works on canvas, paper, and wood.
Are you planning an exhibition?
Yes but I have not signed any contracts yet. My exhibition is still running at Brisky Gallery and I am planning a next one for before the summer.
What is your favorite medium and why?
That’s a very difficult question because I am really into always changing my techniques, learning new techniques. I am always evolving with the medium. I really like spray cans for sure because that is really the roots of my painting, but I love all kinds of medium. I like pencil, watercolors, it can be a ball pen, anything that can get in your hands and I am creative with that.
Did you start as a graffiti artist?
No. I drew since I was a little kid. I started at five years old and I never stopped to draw. At 15, I discovered spray paint. That is where my love for paint comes from. Before that, I did not like regular paint with a brush but after I did a lot of graffiti the love for the brush and different paint mediums came.
What do you usually paint? Tell us about your subjects.
Human beings. People. I guess you can say a lot of women. That’s true but I also paint a lot of guys. I have painted less guys lately on walls but my subject is the human being. No matter the sex, actually.
Do you paint people you meet or are they imaginary characters?
I do both. I really like to create characters but I think I really need to work on it so I do that sometimes so basically I work with models and with people I meet. I talk to them and we share ideas and we work together. Some of my new watercolors are just from my imagination though. I really try to do both.
Do you do collaborations?
Yes I am always open to collaborations. I love to collaborate with different artists. It brings a lot to your own work and you share and it’s really amazing, but sometimes the schedule is difficult for that.
Where would you still love to paint? Which wall or building?
Everywhere.
Give us a top five.
Brazil. Sao Paulo and everywhere else in Brazil. Tokyo. That’s also I place I really want to go. It seems really inspiring. Barcelona is maybe also a place I want to paint. Basically, I love to discover places. When I came to Miami, I wasn’t expecting that at all. I was surprised and I fell in love with Miami and I keep going back and forth. I want to paint everywhere and discover different kinds of landscapes.
What image of Miami did you originally have?
Actually, I don’t remember that. I tried the other day to remember what was my image of Miami. My crew is based in LA, so before Miami I often went to LA so I did not really have an image of Miami but I guess it was South Beach and party and probably a lot of people. That’s really why I am glad I came to Wynwood where the culture is accessible to everyone. You just walk in the street and here it is.
How did you come by the name “Leza?”
“Leza” means “comfortable with” in French. It is actually a street language name. In French we reverse words, so originally “leza” is alez” and when you reverse it becomes “leza.” It means, comfortable with a person, a situation.
Did you choose that name yourself?
When I was 14, I started to do tags and throw ups in the streets with my friends and back in the day you expressed yourself but also you took care of the territory so you represented a certain neighborhood and go against other neighborhoods to show you are better than them etcetera. Back in the days, when we were kids, our names were like “Killer 75,” “Assassin.” Bad names. When I stopped that, I was like, I love so much to draw and I love so much to paint, I cannot go further and further with a name like this. I tried to find a name that goes with me, my feelings and the way I think. So I came up with this name.
Are your newer murals mostly commissioned pieces?
I do both. My main thing is freedom. That’s why I paint in the street. I am really glad and I am thankful when people ask me to paint and commission me and I get paid for it. I never dreamt of it and now it is coming and I am really glad. I always also keep doing stuff when I want where I want. I don’t ask. I always go with respect. I never think I destroy something. Sometimes I still paint during the night. I hit some spot I know. If I ask they say no but I think that in the morning when they see the piece they do not feel offended. Maybe they say “oh, we cannot keep it” and they cover it white again but I never go with a wrong idea. I keep my freedom.
What was your experience like coming to Miami and doing street art? Did you feel there was any competition between local and international artists or was it a welcoming community?
First when I came to Miami I was invited by Art Whino Gallery from Washington. I came with my crew so we were all together in an apartment. We stayed for one week to paint a mural during Art Basel. It was really an amazing time. I discovered Wynwood. I discovered Miami a little bit more and I felt really, really welcome. The whole point of this is really that local and international artists, wherever you come from, share. I really feel that Miami allowed that. I met local artists as well as international artists. I met both and that was really a fortune for me.
You use one of your pieces, entitled “Hope,” which depicts a girl with a flower, on your stickers. What is the story behind that piece?
For me, the story is like when you are a kid, you have dreams and stuff and usually, when you grow up a little bit, you forget those dreams. For me, it is about keeping the things you want and the way you want to live your life in your mind and not just be a slave of anything. Money, or your job, or your husband, or your mother. Be free and be respectful with anyone and go on your own way. I represented this with this kid but actually it could be a grown up. We all have this part in ourselves but we just need to figure out how to let it go.
You said you crew is based in LA. Please tell us about the crew.
The crew is called “Army of Snipers.” The founder is Angry Woebots aka Aaron “Woes” Martin. He founded this collective maybe four years ago. He traveled around the world and met people he thought were on the same page in the way they create and the way they see life. He invited them to represent the crew. We are 15 now from all over the world but mainly in the US.
So you just meet somewhere in the world and do projects together?
Exactly. We are all independent but we work together.
What is the art scene like in Geneva?
In Geneva the art scene is pretty good. It is a small city but there are plenty of graffiti artists and plenty of muralists. Some people are really creative for a small city like this. They always keep going, keep going and keep painting. If you go to Geneva you will always see graffiti, tags, murals, frescos. It is not legal to do that but it is way more allowed. If you go and paint on walls that are already crappy and dirty and you paint with a positive attitude then nobody will say anything. It is kind of accepted there.
Did you have any gallery exhibition in Geneva?
No but I have a gallery that represents me. Frank Pages Gallery in Geneva. Here in Miami, I work since last February with Brisky Gallery.
Do you have any other projects you would like to mention?
Thank you for the interview and thank you for your interest. I want to thank my crew. Otherwise, I would like to let people know that I am going to give three series of two workshops in March in Wynwood in Miami. I will provide all supplies. Anyone interested in booking a place in the workshop can contact me at [email protected] to get more information. Workshops are on Sunday and Monday from 1pm to 4pm
- Graffiti/Street Art: Sunday March 2 and Monday March 3
- Drawing/Sketch Sunday March 9 and Monday March 10 (model will be present)
- Painting/Watercolor/Acrylic Sunday March 16 and Monday March 17
Rest In Peace - Harold Ramis (Egon Spengler)
Interview with Charlotte Oedekoven
You are participating in the group show “Girls run this Motha!#%” at WYN317 in Wynwood. Why did you decide to be a part of this exhibit?
As an emerging female artist in Miami it is of course in my interest to represent my work in this show and to inspire other female artists to be independent and free in expression. I`ve always been very much a "tom boy" kind of girl, never scared of confrontation and to get down and dirty, climb fences, sort through trash to build something or use as canvas etc. These were things most girls rather not do. They preferred to stay in safe surroundings and talk about boys, whereas I was hanging out with them as buddies. It took me a while to discover my female side and not to be scared of showing off that I`m a women and act ladylike.
What do Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day mean to you?
I honestly wasn’t even aware that a Women`s History Month and International Women`s Day existed. To me that’s every day. We have female politicians, CEO`s and scientists and have had them for decades, maybe not enough of them but it’s all good. Why does there need to be a month or specific day dedicated to something so natural and profound? That’s like saying you only need to be aware of AIDS and breast cancer on a certain day or for one month and then forget about it for the rest of the year. I am not a fan of these "... days" not even a fan of birthdays. I think to create equality among the genders, which is impossible, because we are men and women and it’s a scientific fact that we are different, both anatomically and psychologically. We need to act "as if...". That is a key principle to success in every regard. Is there a "Man History Month" or "International Men`s day"?? I don’t know, but I believe there isn’t...
How do you interpret Girl Power in your art?
I have, for quite some time, been very intrigued by Greek and ancient mythology, in which females play a huge role. Way more than in later literature. In classic mythology women possess strong attributes of power and wisdom, not only beauty and compassion. How is it, that centuries after powerful goddesses and women with superhero abilities, society went back to portraying women as weak, naive creatures who`s only purpose seemed to be to look pretty and give birth? Of course there were few exceptions, like Johanna from Orleans for example or Queen Mary but for hundreds of years after the Greek and Roman empire, women were barely mentioned and in the past century it boiled down to women being sex-symbols only. Why was Madame Curie never as famous as half naked Marilyn? Because we live in a man`s world!
Please tell us about your work in the exhibition?
My piece in this exhibit shows the Medusa. She was one of the three Gorgon sisters who lived on an island. They had giant wings, golden skin and their hair was of twisting snakes. The Gorgons were feared because of their deadly power of turning anyone who looked at them to stone. Although first described as monster-like creatures, later interpretation depicts them as beautiful and fierce. When I first heard about this exhibit, the show was supposed to be inspired by Beyonce. She, for me, was the ultimate personification of beautiful and fierce, with an incredible presence. The type of woman that enters a room and has everybody magnetically turn their head and freeze. I associated this with the power of the Gorgons of turning people into stone, as well as her signature curly mane which would easily translate to snakes and her gold complexion. All in all I think it’s a perfect and powerful connotation. Beyonce, just like the story of Medusa inspires me as a woman, to be strong, independent and powerful, underlined by beauty and self-expression.
What subjects do you generally explore in your art?
In my art I reflect my inner self, my thoughts on society, the irony and parody in things and people surrounding me. By this, my work usually happens to become very cartoon-ish and comical. Some of it would be best considered pop surrealism, because it often gets a bit dark or sinister, yet wrapped in pop and light-heartedness. That’s why I call it "Blood&Candy". But subjects really vary. However, I don’t just make art as wall decoration. Some pieces perhaps, but I usually go for a "wow" effect, a laugh or a "that’s crazy". I like to make people think and pay attention to detail.
What medium is your favorite and why?
My favorite medium would be acrylic, mixed media or just drawing, but I also like to play with the third dimension and make objects.
What other projects are you currently working on?
I do about one painting a month on average, since they are usually quite detailed and I`m also working as a designer freelance. The painting I`m working on currently is a persiflage of M. C. Escher`s famous illustration with the impossible stairs, it is for a real estate investor so it’s basically a maze of buildings in one.
What else do you have planned for 2014?
My biggest project for 2014 is the completion of my comic book "The Superuschi`s" and the production of the short film based on it. I`ve been working on this for the past couple of years and this comic book works as an intro to the two characters, which are two super "bad bitches" and their adventures. It’s a realistic style gangster comedy so it really works as a story board. The plan is to complete the movie and to follow with more episodes after. Speaking of girl power, Superuschi is the ultimate personification of that: A smart, fearless, strong and sexy woman.
Swedish Artist - Peter Hammar Interview
Around Kansas Feb.2014
JOURNEY to the
HISTORY of
State Capital.
Kansas State
Capitol - Timeline
1862 - 2014
Angry Artist Smashes Ai Weiwei's Work (Video Stills)
Art Wynwood 2014
Art Wynwood 2014 turned out to be an interesting mix of works displayed by international galleries, special projects and street art showcase.
Nearly 70 international galleries like Pan American Projects and Robert Fontaine Gallery from Miami, Aureus Contemporary from Rhode Island, Dillon Gallery and Emmanuel Fremin Gallery from New York, Byard Art from Cambridge, UK and Witzenhausen Gallery from Amsterdam in The Netherlands, showcased a diverse range of works by established,
mid-career and emerging urban street artists. Noteworthy was definitely also the special project by Spinello Projects featuring neons by Typoe, a 24ft drawing by Santiago Rubino and a video installation by Antonia Wright.
Street art received a lot of attention at the third edition of the fair. In collaboration with Cash, Cans & Candy, an international festival of street art from Vienna, Austria, curator Katrin-Sophie Dworczak lined up a global who’s who of street artists like Miami locals Douglas Hoekzema and Brandon Opalka, Stinkfish of Colombia / Mexico, The Stencil Network and Alexis Diaz of Puerto Rico and Stephen Tompkins of Cleveland to create original works onsite. Additionally, Jessica Goldman of Goldman Properties commissioned the murals for the VIP Lounge, including works by top street artists like Miss Van and Fafi.
An Interview with GG
"FADO 101" is an exhibition that explains the learning process of the artist through the character FADO. With a wide creation of symbols and characters the artist has been able to create his own language, but the one character that stays consistent in the work is FADO. This character has served as a way of personal expression and also as a tool of learning and understanding life. The pieces in this exhibition are based on different topics such as popular culture, social issues and personal experiences all represented through the character FADO.
I wanted to combine the flat/ two dimensional imagery that I have been working on for a few years and add more energy to it. I'm at a stage of my life where the amount of knowledge I am getting is abundant and there is a big urge to express every piece of knowledge on the canvases. The strokes on the canvases are more loose and whimsical because they represent that urge.
The work is Urban-pop with influences of conceptual art.
FADO is a character that represents the idea of confusion and curiosity. I first created FADO with the idea of personal expression, but I've quickly learned that the simplicity and originality of this character is able to represent many concepts and connect with many people.
For me, it is interesting to create things that no one has ever created and share them with the world. The imagination is the most powerful thing we have and as I paint or animate these ideas I am able to express that. The popular culture aspect of this "pop art" is interesting to me because it is able to travel and affect many people around the world.
What is most interesting about Andy and his work is the simplicity and the ability to create work that can transcend into different cultures all over the world.
My take on the Campbell's soup is very similar to some of the other popular tributes. I usually base tributes on people but in this case the soup can is a symbol that is able to take people to a personal mind set and connect on a more personal way because of their actual experiences.
I see my work grasping on to conceptuality and social awareness more than anything at this moment.
Both cities have been great. Miami is a city that is growing as an artistic town, so people are very much receptive of art but it lacks on constructive criticism and collectors. Miami is also a city that has a unique essence of creativity. New York is already an established city for art so there is constant appreciation and criticism which is very convenient for an artist like myself who looks for constant change and inspiration.
Upcoming exhibitions in New York, California, Miami and new concept in collaborations with a space/furniture designer. We call it "urban architecture". It involves imagery of my art turned into a 3D creation that serves as public furniture and art installation.
The last mural I created is on NW 54th Street and 6th Avenue in Miami. It references Steve Jobs and Apple Corporation. It's a piece that explores the idea of technology and how it has affected us in a positive and negative way.
It's very important but only because I enjoy working in both scenarios.
Post title...
Post title...
Clean Dressed, Dirty Mouth
Arnaud Pages
Post title...
Post title...
Post title...
