Os Gemeos Houston NY Mural Exclusive

written by Patricia Thompson

The Brazilian duo Otavio and Gustavo known as “Os Gemeos” (The Twins) are a common reference for anyone with a basic understanding of urban art.  They began to draw at the age of 4 and continued to develop their skills and style throughout their entire upbringing. In the 80’s, with the rise of the hip-hop culture the twins began to take matters more seriously. At the time, they were doing it all: fashion, break dancing and tagging. But it was during the 90’s they began to focus and develop the aesthetic they are most well known for today – bright colors, simple silhouettes with detailed shading and characters with angular eyes set apart. Otavio explains the art making process, “We plan the visual story before, then draw it on the wall. We each start at one end and we meet in the middle.”  It is a very intuitive process between the two twin brothers because there is no talking involved.

Their most recent project was just completed, replacing a Keith Herring reproduction, land marking the corner of Bowery and Houston, in New York. It was a major attraction to passer byers to see them in their process. We caught up with the brother for a chat and some background. We even got to see some original sketches for this mural, and I wont lie – almost pulled it from Otavio’s hand and ran. lol!

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Kentucky born artist Brad Downey stakes a claim for the individual’s interpretation of the signals and systems that govern the urban environment and imperceptibly determine our movements around the city. Because we’re so accustomed to these signs and beacons, their subtle manipulation or replication can often be overlooked. Downey uses humor to underscore the institutional regulation of public behavior and to provoke awareness of how this control affects the evaluation of art, self, and social status.. Make me think in a similar way as Spanish Artist Spy -

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The Coarse Toys are not for kids – This Chinese company make some really cool Collector toys – These collector’s Life size dolls from Honk Kong are true pieces of urban art – Not available in the US yet – Available at Rotofugi.com

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OVNI a.k.a. Anna Taratiel , this artist has a particular style of controlling the spaces with her deformed figures twisted in thin and multicolored lines. This year she has already had two solo exhibitions in Lisbon and Milano, besides taking part in the Urban Affairs Festival in Berlin next to artists like Zosen, Kafre and Tom14. In this her first solo show in Barcelona Taratiel presented structured compositions born as infinite landscapes, dimensions and colors, a true mix of organic and static shapes.

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Spy is an Artist form Madrid – Already a national reference as a graffiti artist, he started to work with other forms of artistic communication in the street: large posters, modified billboards, interventions that were experimental in the first nineties. I Love the Pencil one !

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