BLO DaMentalVaporz
b. 1982
Before attending art school in Marseille in 2002, Blo discovered graffiti at the age of 14, covering the walls, streets and highways of his home town, Lyon, France, with high class tags, block letters and throw ups. Gradually, he switched from chrome and black to more elaborate murals, creating a psychedelic world where letters became as important as characters, inspired by the urban landscape and hip-hop culture of his childhood.
Following his first personal exhibition in 2003, Blo’s work evolved towards a more contemporary approach, yet remaining firmly attached to tools and codes of his graffiti background. Moving to Paris in 2005 to work as an artistic director for a graphic design studio, he further developed his figurative style on a variety of mediums, from canvas to walls, to prints, abandoned factories, and so on…
Integrating various techniques and influences, the art of Blo is a smart balance between illustration and graphic design, earning him respect from the graffiti community as well as recognition in the contemporary art world, allowing him to display his work in prestigious venues such as ‘le Grand Palais’, in Paris in 2008.
Living in Berlin since 2010, Blo continues to expand his dreamlike characters and dislocated dolls bestiary, enhancing their aesthetics with masks, skulls and typographic signs on large murals across the world.
www.blo-paintings.com
www.damentalvaporz.tumblr.com
Books
- Out of Sight: Urban Art Abandoned Spaces by RomanyWG
- Graffiti, Edition Fitway
- Hors du Temps 2, Pyramid Editions
- Mausolee, Editions Alternatives
- Land of Sunshine, Melbourne street art.
