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Your journey in art began with street art in New York City. Can you share what initially drew you to street art and how the city has influenced your artistic style?

It was the summer of 2013. I was 23 years old, living in Brooklyn where I had lived my whole life. I had been painting on canvas for a few months already, really just having fun, learning how to paint. I still hadn't sold a single painting at this time. Somehow the paint leaped off of the canvas, and I started painting The LOVE logo on walls around Brooklyn and Manhattan. Immediately people loved it, it created a buzz. Ironically, me starting painting off canvas is what enabled me to start selling pieces on canvas for the first time. Everything I do is influenced by New York City, the way I dress, the way I speak, everything I take in and inevitably what I put out.

You mentioned being inspired by iconic figures like Keith Haring, Basquiat, Warhol, and Kenny Scharf. How have these artists specifically influenced your work and your approach to creating art?

Yeah absolutely. I guess mainly its the street element. Today those guys are all in museums and blue chip collections but what they did in the street was the vehicle that got them there and that's the blueprint I had to learn from. Also I just completely romanticize the idea that there was a whole scene, those guys didn't exist individually in a vacuum. Collectively they put New York City on the map as the creative epicenter of the world and I believe that still shows to this day.

Your LOVE logo has become quite iconic. What does the concept of love mean to you, and how do you incorporate it into your art to convey different messages and emotions?

For me, Love is being alive. I really think life is about finding something you love and becoming fully immersed in it. Living through whatever it is you're most passionate about, and making it your life. If you can find a way to align your life and whatever it is you love most, naturally you'll have a lovely life. I do try to put this idea into my work, I want these pieces to bring light into the rooms they're in. I think its kind of trendy for art to make people feel weird, I just want to make people feel good.

Your art blurs the lines between fine and commercial art. How do you balance the two, and what challenges or opportunities does this present in your work?

Im so happy I'm alive today, because this is possible. Traditionally artists had to choose a lane and then they were stuck in it, commercial, fine art, street art etc. Today, I guess due to social media and the "direct to consumer" ability that artists have to stay connected with and build their audience across "lanes", the walls creating those lanes have come down. Thanks to guys like Kaws, Shepard Fairey, Banksy, they have completely blurred any line that was still remaining of those walls and I love it. I can do a gallery show, paint a mural, and then sell a T shirt, all in the same month, promoted in the same place.

In addition to painting, you've ventured into streetwear. How does designing clothing differ from creating your visual art, and what inspired you to explore this medium?

Im a painter, I fell in love with painting the moment I started. But really what I fell in love with was the freedom. Freedom to create anything you want, and this has led me to explore different mediums, and streetwear is definitely one of them. Also as an artist there's always going to be a large portion of your audience that just isn't in the market for a piece on canvas but everyone wears a T-shirt or a hoodie. I think its important to once in a while offer something to that wider audience.

Light, shadow, color, and contrast are elements you're fascinated by. Can you discuss how you use these to evoke emotions and provoke thoughts in your work?

Light, shadow, color, and contrast are powerful tools for evoking mood and atmosphere in photography. I often seek out scenes where these elements are particularly dramatic or dynamic, as they can add depth and visual interest to an image.

Your work has been showcased in galleries and collections across the globe. How does it feel to see your art resonating with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds?

Really amazing. I don't stop and think about it so much because my head is always thinking about the next thing, working on the next project. But when I do, it really does make me so happy. All I want to do is continue exactly this, more shows, more cities, more countries, more love.

You aim to perpetuate positivity, inspiration, and love through your art. What impact do you hope your work has on viewers, and how do you see your art evolving in the future?

Yeah those things are definitely important to me. Again, I think its kind of trendy for art to be "dark" and make people feel weird, I want to be the light! I want people to see my work and feel good. I want them to see my story and feel inspired to be the best version of themselves. To find something they're passionate about and really go for it. To have a vision, discipline, courage, persistence, and the self awareness to learn and adjust. I truly feel like this is still just the beginning for me, I'm certainly still learning and adjusting. I will continue to grow as an artist, working on bigger projects, in more places in front of a wider audience and just hope to continue having as much fun as I've been.