HOLD UP Art

Exported to Los Angeles at the age of 6 from Mexico City. Moved around quite a bit, surviving 7 public schools in 11 years. Attended UCLA after that and received a B.A. in Literature and an M.F.A. in Design | Media Arts.

Received the printmaking, painting, and toy-collecting gene from Mom, the writing, photographing, and music-accumulating gene from Dad, and the exploring gene from Grandma. Reading gene came from all three.

Got the graphic design bug from making flyers for all kinds of things: straight edge, hardcore, and punk shows; latin-american music concerts and film festivals; political movements and causes; and underground hip-hop happenings.

Caught the graffiti itch from seeing the tags of Mandoe and Neo MAK in my neighborhood and a silver by Krenz aka Yem AM7 on the way to school with my friends Modem and Gloze 54. Inspired and motivated by my comrades in Seeking Heaven.

Have been making the 'zine Lost | Graffiti in the City of Angels since 1998. Had some stuff published in the books Graffiti World (2004) and Graffiti L.A. (2007). Worked with seminal L.A.-based magazines Big Time and Rime and art directed URB for a bit.