Interview With Graffiti Legend Misk1

July 29th, 2008 Posted in Interviews

Robust Flavor is pleased to feature San Francisco native Misk1. He has evolved his artistic expression into a unique and dynamic form of Graffiti Art. His work is reflective of influences from a wide variety of artists and architects ranging from Dali to Frank Lloyd Wright. This artist’s art is a vehicle to capture time in abstract forms, dimensions, vibrant colors and lines. His artistic creations represent a progression of time and collection of life experiences. His work has been exhibited at Levi’s Vortex Gallery, MOMA youth project, Recon Gallery, as well as, internationally in Tokyo, Sapporo, Germany and Belgium.

RF: Where did you grow up?
Misk1: San Francisco

RF: How did you get involved in writing graffiti?
Misk1: Breaking as a 3 grader, wasn’t very good but found myself liking letters. Wasn’t till high school I started bombing in 89

RF: What were you into growing up?
Misk1: Transformers, Garbage Pail Kids, Nike shoes, my art

RF: What do you worry about?
Misk1: The well drying up, kinda primal but this is a feast or famin biz.

RF: When did you start making art and why?
Misk1: At 3 or 4 years old. My dad was an architect and artist. He’d bring his leftover supplies and scratch paper for me to use.

RF: Are you easy to work with?
Misk1: Depends, are you easy to work for?

RF: What aspects of business do you dislike?
Misk1: Collecting, wish it could all be for free

RF: What’s your favorite place?
Misk1: San Francisco, Potrero Hill no place like home, other than that love to travel

RF: Which of your work do you like the most?
Misk1: Lately painting panels for my new collection.

RF: Who or what inspires you?
Misk1: Good movies, Music, other passionate people.

RF: What, if any, other artists do you like?
Misk1: Mars-1, Matsu, Kenji, Futura, David Ellis, and Doze

RF: What do you do to relax when you’re not working?
Misk1: Snowboarding in the winter or traveling. I do find doing my art therapeutic. Spending long hours thinking while I work.

RF: What sucks right now?
Misk1: The struggle? guess it’s a good thing, but just when you feel you’ve got it down wam it all changes. Guess it keeps it exciting. If I planned my life before coming into this world i think i would of planned it to be a challenge.

RF: Any special projects from Misk in 2008?
Misk1: Nothing written in stone, blown off everything to do my personal solo show. Got some good support but been doing everything from remodel my gallery to screen printing my invites to making new stuff and promoting. 2008 is going to rock.

RF: Any words of advice to someone getting in the game?
Misk1: Just when you thought it was getting hard guess what it just got harder. But it’s that, that keeps your blood flowing and it’s that that makes you better.

RF: Thanks for your time, any last words
Misk1: Just thank you for including me.

For more of Misk1’s work, please go to his website here.