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    Tellas x 2Bleene in Argentiera, Italy

    Italian artist Tellas has just completed a new project in Argentiera, Sardinia, Italy. Entitled “FronteMare” this piece is a collaboration between Tellas, Puerto Rican artist 2Bleene and the architects from Landworks, who transformed a huge parking lot to a new area that works as a plaza and basket/pickleball.“FronteMare – Tellas says – wants to be like a mirror, a reflection of what is around the work itself. The nuances and gradations of the sea and vegetation, the mistral that blows fresh and strong, and the mining architecture, are the main three elements that give life to a composition that plays and interacts with the landscape”.Tellas has made an indelible mark on the street art world with his unique style and profound connection to nature.Growing up in a place (Sardinia, Italy) that is steeped in history and surrounded by lush landscapes, it’s no wonder that nature plays a central role in Tellas’s work. With a unique approach to nature-inspired art and an ability to seamlessly blend his work with the urban environment, Tellas’s art is characterized by its fluid and organic forms, often resembling the shapes and patterns found in nature. His work often features abstract representations of forests, trees, and plant life, and he is known for his use of earthy tones and natural materials. His style evokes a sense of tranquility and harmony, inviting viewers to connect with the natural world.One of the most remarkable aspects of Tellas’s work is his ability to adapt and integrate his art into the urban environment. He doesn’t impose his art on the city; instead, he collaborates with it. He carefully selects locations and surfaces that complement his style and make his pieces feel like they belong there, whether it’s on a decaying wall, a forgotten alleyway, or a crumbling building.2Bleene was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She describes her work as an expressive contemporary abstraction between her encounters with flowers/nature and her years of work as a graphic designer. Her process begins with documenting floral elements in her island and travels to then transform them into long lasting memories, color palettes and textures. Take a look at more images below and check back with us soon for more updates. More

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    Alexis Diaz in Holyoke, Massachusetts

    Alexis Diaz painted a new mural in Holyoke, Massachusetts, a 40x36ft wall dedicated to all Puerto Ricans and Latinos living outside their homeland.According to the 2010 census, Holyoke had the largest Puerto Rican population, per capita, of any city in the United States outside of Puerto Rico. From a combination of agricultural programs instituted by the US Department of Labor, Puerto Ricans began settling in the city in the mid-1950s, and many arrived during the wave of Puerto Rican immigration to the northeastern United States in the 1980s.Alexis: “They leave behind their families, friends and part of their history to look for a better future. In their luggage they carry all their culture, pride and traditions to create a new home and a community proud of their roots.” Take a look at more images below and check back with us soon for more updates. More

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    “El Vencedor” by Juan Salgado in Puerto Rico

    The experienced artist Juan Salgado presents a mural to help transform a community in his native Puerto Rico.The history that surrounds the community of Santurce and El Hipódromo ward in Puerto Rico, has served as inspiration for the well-known artist, Juan Salgado, to create his most recent work called “El Vencedor”, and in this way contribute to the transformation of the zone in that community.This is part of an initiative of Doctor’s Center Foundation and produced by Zumare Studios that will impact the Santurce communities.  The mural presents an adaptation of the history that the Santurce community in San Juan holds, Since its foundation, Santurce served as the home of those ancient slaves who achieved their freedom. Under the title “El Vencedor”, Salgado seeks to highlight all those who managed to overcome the chains of slavery, leaving behind the inequality and prejudices of the time.“I am extremely happy with this project. As an artist I seek to impact people in different ways, and I believe with this mural, we are remembering a valuable history of the Santurce and Puerto Rico area. We can never forget our roots and what has made us all diverse”, commented the world-renowned tattoo artist.The community of Santurce has undergone great transformations, but Salgado wanted to highlight that moment in history where freedom was the center of this iconic San Juan community. “Slavery in Puerto Rico was abolished only 148 years ago. This work is dedicated to all those victorious people who traced the path to freedom and managed to escape from the imposed race”, Salgado mentioned.Juan Salgado has over 400 thousand followers on his social media accounts, and has captured his work on the skin of great artists and renowned personalities. He has left his mark and creations in various areas of Puerto Rico, and in countries such as Italy, Australia and at Wynwood in Miami, Florida. Also, he has participated in several international competitions recreating a mixture between fantasy and reality, making the viewer contribute his point of view to his works.Check out below for more images of “El Vencedor”. More

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    Monumental Murals of Anatomical Creatures by ROA Celebrate Puerto Rico’s Biodiversity

    
    Art

    #animals
    #murals
    #public art
    #Puerto Rico
    #street art

    April 26, 2021
    Grace Ebert

    Red Tail Hawk in Humacao, November 2018. Photo by Edgardo Santiago, image courtesy of Taller 2C1, shared with permission
    Belgian street artist ROA (previously) has been touring Puerto Rico painting his signature monochromatic menagerie around the island. Depicting both native creatures like parrots and seahorses and invasive species like lionfish, the massive pieces celebrate the region’s biodiversity and the biologists and conservationists working tirelessly to preserve it. Many of the murals are anatomical and juxtapose life and death, a recurring theme in ROA’s body of work and one that’s apparent in his most recent rendering in Isla de Cabras. Spanning 160 feet, the massive artwork positions a plump, wrinkled manatee alongside a lengthy skeleton.
    The ongoing project has produced 15 murals so far and is a collaboration with Elegel Group. You can find out more about the impetus behind each animal on Instagram. (via Street Art News)

    Manatee in Isla de Cabras, April 2021. Photog by Four Two Photography
    Puerto Rican Parrot in Utuado, July 2019. Photo by Edgardo Santiago, image courtesy of Taller 2C1, shared with permission
    Octopus in Playa Escambron, July 2019. Photo by Edgardo Santiago, image courtesy of Taller 2C1, shared with permission
    Lionfish in Naguabo, June 2019. Photo by Pedro “Huck” Rosa, image courtesy of Taller 2C1, shared with permission
    Seahorse in Playa Escambron. Photo by Edgardo Santiago, image courtesy of Taller 2C1, shared with permission
    Snail in Aibonit, January 2019. Photo by Edgardo Santiago, image courtesy of Taller 2C1, shared with permission
    Monkey in Naguabo, November 2018. Photo by Edgardo Santiago, image courtesy of Taller 2C1, shared with permission
    Lizard in San Juan. Photo by Edgardo Santiago, image courtesy of Taller 2C1, shared with permission
    Tortuga. Photo by Edgardo Santiago, image courtesy of Taller 2C1, shared with permission

    #animals
    #murals
    #public art
    #Puerto Rico
    #street art

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    “#PRLOVE” and “MANATEE” by ROA, in Puerto Rico

    Internationally renowned artist ROA is painting his animal murals in a roadtrip across Puerto Rico. He has completed over 15 murals and has just finished his largest on the Isla de Cabras; an infant manatee with an adult skeleton.His initiative #PRLOVE, seeks to generate awareness of the animals and to celebrate the biodiversity of Puerto Rico. It highlights the individual animals that live here and the biologists and contributors that work to preserve the species and environment.#PRLOVE is an ongoing effort with many potential facets and programs and is produced in partnership with Puerto Rico’s Elegel Group. It is supported by Coqui Charities and is in collaboration with natural resource agencies, NGO’s and independent groups, including DRN, Conservación ConCiencia and the Caribbean Manatee Conservation Center.The 160’ x 25’ mural on the World War II concrete gun battery Fort Amezquita, on the edge of Isla de Cabras, is ROA’s largest to date in Puerto Rico and marks the 15th piece done by the artist here. Other murals painted across the Island with the help of NGOs and experts in wildlife conservation include the crested toad in Guánica and the Puerto Rican parrot in Utuado (both produced in collaboration with the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources); the tiger shark in Río Grande and the lionfish in Naguabo (both done in collaboration with Conservación ConCiencia.The manatee mural was painted with insight provided by experts from the Manatee Conservation Center, the financial support of Coqui Charities and the assistance of the Municipality of Toa Baja, which holds jurisdiction over Isla de Cabras.Street artist Roa is a muralist from Ghent, Belgium, he is primarily known for his strong obsession for animals and rodents. He often combines life, death, and life after death in his murals, which quickly distinguishes him amongst traditional muralists. His animals are painted to include skeleton and internal organs, making the sight even more realistic.Internationally, ROA has created over a 1000 murals on the streets of cities across Europe, the United States, Australia, Asia, New Zealand and Africa.Take a look below to see more photos of “#PRLOVE” and “MANATEE”. More