Introduction:
The 2.5 Urban Initiative celebrates artists who bring urban life to the forefront of their work, turning cityscapes into spaces of reflection, imagination, and transformation. This year’s winners shared their journeys, inspirations, and creative processes, revealing the depth of thought behind their award-winning pieces.
What inspired your winning piece?
“The inspiration came from the city lights of Atlanta on a rainy night. Headlights, streetlights, and illuminated signs come together in this incredible symphony of light and color. There’s something exciting about it—it feels like the start of an adventure. A night out, maybe dinner or a show. The unknown and pure possibility.
My goal was to translate that feeling into the painting, capturing the vibrant, chaotic energy that makes city nights so unforgettable.”
How do urban environments influence your creative process and themes?
“Cars, buildings, and roadways are central to my work. These elements create patterns and movement that are both literal and implied. For instance, we subconsciously understand traffic patterns, seeing the lines of where cars have been and where they’re going. I aim to capture those fleeting moments in time, but more importantly, the feeling of familiarity—like we’ve all been there before.”
What was the journey of creating this piece like?
“This piece was a turning point for me because it was the first time I used acrylic paint for a cityscape. I had been working with oil paints for years but found they weren’t giving me the results I wanted. Acrylic paint’s vibrant color and faster drying time were a game-changer—it almost felt like the painting created itself.
The most rewarding part was seeing how the medium allowed me to bring out the vibrancy of the city at night. It was challenging to shift away from the techniques I was used to, but it reminded me of the importance of being open to change.”
How does your work align with the spirit of the 2.5 Urban Initiative?
“This piece feels like nightlife—a night downtown, heading to a movie, walking through the streets in the dark. It embodies the urban experience, which makes it a perfect fit for the 2.5 Urban Initiative. The festival celebrates these everyday moments that are transformed into something extraordinary through art.”
How has your art evolved, and what does this piece say about your growth?
“My art has evolved significantly over time. I spent years working as a graphic designer in an automotive software development firm, where I combined imagery of cars and technology. That experience shaped how I approach patterns and motion in my paintings.
This piece represents a shift in my work—moving from smaller projects and detailed techniques to something bigger and bolder. I was taking risks by switching from oil to acrylic and scaling up my work, and I’m proud of how it turned out.”
How does this piece differ from your earlier works?
“In the past, I painted ‘drink and booze’ themes, focusing on color, reflection, highlights, and shadow on a smaller scale. This piece takes those same elements and expands them into a grander narrative. It’s less about the object and more about the overall mood and atmosphere.”
What advice would you give to aspiring artists?
“Focus on the emotion in your subject matter. Mood and feeling can communicate so much more than just a perfectly rendered image. Listen to your intuition—it will guide you toward what resonates with both you and your audience.”
What’s next for you?
“I’m continuing to explore cityscapes and building a body of work that reflects how we move from point A to point B, both literally and figuratively. I’m also interested in pushing abstraction further, allowing viewers to fill in the blanks. There’s something powerful about giving the audience the space to interpret and connect with the work.”
What aspect of the 2.5 Urban Initiative would you carry into your future projects?
“More abstraction. The festival’s focus on urban art as a tool for connection and transformation has inspired me to lean into the idea of creating spaces for interpretation. I want to challenge myself to leave parts of the image open, allowing viewers to project their own stories onto it.”
What does winning the 2.5 Urban Initiative mean to you?
“It’s such an honor! Winning this initiative is a validation of my work and an exciting opportunity to connect with a wider audience. Maybe it even means a trip to Miami! It’s thrilling to know that my art resonated with the judges and the community.”
How do you see your role in inspiring the next wave of urban artists?
“Urban art reflects our collective experience of living in community. I want to encourage others to see the city as this incredible organism—alive and thriving because of the people who inhabit it. Artists have a unique ability to help others see on multiple levels, and I hope my work inspires the next generation to explore and reflect their own urban experiences.”