The Animal Within

     As one of the most posted “Urban Bomb Workers” on social media, Belgian street artist Roa creates the most fantastic animal murals around the world. Equally impressive is the level of shocking anatomy he can capture on his smaller scale indoor masterpieces. The true genius in this artist’s creative process is the selection of a native species for each location he paints, and  documenting human’s interaction for each animal.

      Growing up in the 1980’s in Ghent, Belgium, Roa was submerged in American music, movies and skateboarding (Like 1983 hip-hop film Wild Style). Roa’s start in graffiti came modestly beginning with doing some throw ups under bridges and on walls, which grew to every day graffing. But Roa was already developing his passion for drawing animals. The two genres came together in abandoned buildings and his trademark realism style born.

     Now Roa travels the world, painting large scale anatomical murals, stopping occasionally for his wildly popular gallery expositions.  His intellectual approach to subject selection is powerful. Roa paints “ordinary animals” that are/were native to the location he is painting. Sometimes, he will inject elements that point to Human’s usually negative interaction with the animal.

     Roa’s view on graffiti is that “you don't do it for money nor for an institution, it's free expression”. He has spent years developing his extraordinary level of work and has blessed the world by gifting it to all of us.

     So Roa, if you’re looking for your next place to paint, the Urban Bomb Works NYC office has large open walls waiting for you! May we suggest the animal de jour can be a rat, as they seem to be VERY native to the place!