Joel Blenz
BIO
​A native of Queens, New York, Joel Blenz is a painter working in conversation with textured surfaces, blending and writing as it is defined in the context of graffiti. Blenz’ current mixed media work has found its form and language through a transitional period; one where Blenz’ work evolved from primarily a street based practice into a studio practice. The studio as a meditative site has emerged as a counterpoint to the adrenaline of street based art making, offering a context for the reflection and evolution of a painting style developed over multiple decades of work as a graffiti artist.Process is central to Blenz’ approach to his newer works, which can be characterized as abstract paintings that play with perception. His geometric objects function formally with a heavy regard for texture, color, materials, and abstraction. Several of his pieces echo small cropped sections of Blenz’ blockbuster fill ins where he skillfully blends with remnants of colors left in near empty spray paint cans.Blenz’ studio work retains the grime, grit, and detritus of a street aesthetic through his manipulation of surfaces that range in length or diameter from 15 inches to 32 inches. Working in a smaller scale is a sharp contrast to past work on walls as large as 10 feet by 15 feet. Unencumbered by an ethos of speed, Blenz’ engagement with the spaciousness of time found in a studio practice, has allowed for an exploration of an endless amount of layering and drying time in his painting process. His own lengthy engagement with making each piece is evident in the interactive experience it provides for viewers. When walking back and forth in front of the work, colors shift and fade creating an illusion that confounds the viewer.A conceptual continuum embedded within both Blenz’ past and current work is his ongoing exploration of the ambiguous space that graffiti now occupies as both an outsider art form and a legitimate player in the contemporary art world. Most recently, Joel Blenz’ current work has been featured in exhibitions at The Andrew Freedman House in the Bronx, New York, Gallery Guichard in Chicago, Illinois and Graffiti Gardens in Miami, Florida as well as Hausammann Gallery in Miami, Florida.
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CV
SELECT PROJECTS AND EXHIBITIONS
2023- New Voices; Rockland's Next Art Generation, Rockland Center for the Arts- Nyack, NY
2022- Scope Art Fair- Miami, FL
2022- 60 Collective Exhibition- Brooklyn, NY
2022- Hip Hop Architecture, The Dubois Center- North Carolina
2021- Gucci/Art installation for MickaleneThomas- Miami, FL
2021- Community First Midtown Community Court Mural Engagement- NYC
2021- Brooklyn Children's Museum Poster Project- Brooklyn, NY
2021- Museum Of Graffiti Coloring Book- Miami, FL
2021- Mothatruckin’ Art Exhibit- NYC
2021- Terrific Tuesday Mural/ Art workshop- NY
2021- Paths of Rhythm- Group Exhibition- NYC
2021- Days of the Week T-shirt release- NYC
2021- Never Gonna Leave NYC, Group Exhibit- NYC
2021- La Mama Mural- NYC
2021-Harriet Tubman Mural- NY
2020-All The Right 4/20 Pop up- NYC
2020- When things fall apart- Group Exhibit, Brooklyn, NY
2020- Bronx Brewery Mural- Bronx, NY
2020- Wet Paint exhibition at Museum of Graffiti- Miami, FL
2020- Downtown Hollywood Mural Project- Hollywood, FL
2019- Smart Bites Mural- Miami, FL
2019- Corporate Towing Mural- Miami, FL
2019- Museum of Graffiti, Art handling services- Miami, FL
2019- Bronx Brewery “Blockbuster” can release- Bronx, NYC
2019- Bierwax solo exhibition- NYC
2019- See Me gallery-Scope Art Fair- Miami, FL
2019- Blue in Green patch/jeans art exhibition- NYC
2019- World Trade Center pillar murals- NYC
2019- MOMA exhibition- “Beauteous” Andrew Freedman Home- Bronx, NYC
2019- Outlaw Arts Group show- NYC
2019- Wallworks group show- “Don’t Sweat The Technique”- NYC
2018- Wall Therapy Mural Project “Magnificent Monday”, Rochester, NY
2018- Prohibition Mural Project, Lexington, KY
2018- World Trade Center pieces- MRM Productions, NYC
2018- Merchant River House restaurant Mural, NYC
2018- “Transitions”solo exhibition Hausammann Gallery- Miami, FL
2018- Magnificent Monday-Wall Therapy- Rochester, NY
2018- “Some Strange Reaction” group exhibition 212 Arts, NY
2018- Resident Artist Group Exhibition- The Andrew Freedman Home
2018- DRIHSCS Art handling & Installation-Bronx, NYC
2017- Maze Mural Installation-Graffiti Gardens, Miami, FL
2017- Off The Grid solo exhibition-Graffiti Gardens, Miami, FL
2017- “State Property” The Andrew Freedman Home- Bronx, NY
2017- 100 Gates project-Word is Bond- Harlem, NY
2017- Chica Mural with Alice Mizrachi- Las Vegas
2017- PRAY collaboration with Alice Mizrachi- Miami, FL
2017- Beer monk/ 305 Brews- Miami, FL
2017- “PEACE” Welling Court Mural Project- Queens, NY
2016- Joe Blens group show-Gallery Guichard Chicago, IL
2016- Unsanctioned book release-Luna Park, NYC
2016- Next Level group exhibition with EASY NYC
2016- Aziz Ansari debut in Master of None
2016- Ozzy fest mural production- Brooklyn, NY
2016- First City LI mural project- Long Island, NY
2016- MIA Smoke Shop mural- Miami, FL
2016- 2Create book release- NYC
2016- World Trade Gallery group exhibition- NYC
2016- Behind the Scenes Mural-Brooklyn, NY
2016- Street Value group exhibition-Treason Gallery- Seattle, WA
2016- Arts Org Rooftop- Queens, NY
2016- “No Commission” Art production and Art Handling for The Dean Collection- Miami, Fl
2016- “Fillin” Global group show- LES, NY
2016- “Art o Parts” group exhibition-Partners in Crime- Chicago, IL
2016- Live your Dream mural collaboration with Alice Mizrachi- Brooklyn, NY
2015- Welcome to the Rockaways Mural- Beautify Earth-Queens, NY
2015- “Reflections” 911 memorial Hi-Arts- NYC
2014- Hip Hop Museum group exhibition- NYC
References available upon request.
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