North Carolina-basedgraffitiartistJEKS ONEis known for his hyperealistic portraiture.
Often accomplished on a large scale, these murals show JEKS ONE’s incredible mastery of spray paint.
It was immediately clear how much talent this artist had, recalls Kim.
The colors, contrast, and details were outstanding.
Ive since looked into his work further, and I can say that Ive only become more impressed.
We look forward to seeing more from JEKS ONE as hes one to watch and follow.
What sparked your love of art?
Ive always been a creative person.
I was always drawing as a kid, and my mom was super supportive of it.
What was your first approach to the street in terms of making art?
I didnt get back into graffiti and art until 2015/16.
You are known for your highly realistic style.
What drew you to portraiture and, specifically, hyperrealism?
I was always obsessed with characters in graffiti productions and thought portraiture was the top tier of characters.
Once I cashed the check, I decided that this was the path I was going to take.
I was burnt out on my career in nightlife management and bartending, so I dove headfirst.
After a year, I had completely shifted careers and was living off commissioned murals.
I never turned back.
What’s the most challenging part of creating realistic portraits on such a large scale?
You were recently in Miami Art Week at the Kobra Art Park.
How was that experience for you?
I was very happy with the paint and had a blast.
Can you give a little insight into the piece you painted there?
To be honest, I really just wanted to try and paint freckles because I hadnt before.
Im huge on symmetry and gold elements, so thats evident.
How does an event like that help you as an artist?
Stepping out of the comfort of the tools (paint brands) I usually use was fun and exciting.
Lots of traveling and festivals this year.
Hopefully, I can paint something really big and continue to grow.
Related Articles:
