January 04, 2024
⚜️ Pyro discovered graffiti in the 80's and was drawn to the placasos and block letters that permeated throughout Los Angeles, even then he understood that they came from violence. In 81 through 82 his parents took him to New York where he witnessed some legendary graffiti and had the opportunity to walk a whole car; he even sat next to some of the greats who likely bombed some of those cars. This was just the beginning though he didn't fully understand it at the time, but it captured his fascination. When he got home, he started painting his own pieces, it started with block letters and graffiti backgrounds, elements like shine and sparkle⚜️
Full interview below:
◼️ To learn more about Mike Pyro, purchase works or book a tattoo visit his website: WWW.MikePyro.COM and follow the respective social media links: @Mike_Pyro
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◼️ 2. How did you discover graffiti?
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⚜️ I was drawn to the placasos and block letters that permeated Los Angeles in the early 80s, but I knew the violence and things what were associated with them. Then in 1981/82 my parents took me to NYC. I saw legendary graff. Walked into a whole car. Sat amongst the greats who bombed insides. It sparked something inside of me. I didn’t fully understand what it was but it captured my fascination from that point forward. As soon as I got back I did one of my first pieces which were basically filled in block letters but with graffiti backgrounds and elements like a shine and a sparkle. It was a mix of the two…LA placasos and NYC colors and movement.⚜️
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◼️ 3. What do you think about social media and the changing graffiti culture?
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⚜️ I try not to. It’s a double edged sword. Long gone is the innocence and the rawness of early graffiti. That’s never coming back and if you missed it, you genuinely missed the most magical part of this thing we do. Nowadays people get famous off a single wall in their yard and socials or get paid serious money for painting a wall I was chased from by the police. That’s a tough pill to swallow but things have to change, that’s the way the world works. I honestly never thought it would become what it is today. People can earn a living which is great but you also have the wrong people getting paid and laid for faking the funk. I put in my work in the streets and that’s where my respect lies…in the streets. I have more respect for the 13yo kid who bombs everything than the guy who paints technically perfect on a canvas but never painted illegally. Not to say I don’t like him, it’s just the core basis is streets and vandalism is illegal⚜️
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◼️ 4. Any advice to anyone just starting out?
⚜️ Stop! 🤣🤣 Be humble. Learn history. Practice, create a style and go out and get up…but the most important thing is this: have fun⚜️
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◼️ To learn more about Mike Pyro, purchase works or book a tattoo visit his website: WWW.MikePyro.COM and follow the respective social media links: @Mike_Pyro
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