Alexis Díaz
San Juan, Puerto Rico, 1982
Biography Details
Muralist, painter, draftsman and creator of site-specific installations and art interventions. Díaz studied at the Central School of Visual Arts and in 2008 he obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Painting from the San Juan School of Plastic Arts and Design. Looking for ways to express himself, he turned to mural painting and began to create works in public spaces with the artist Juan Fernández under the collective "La Pandilla." He was one of the founders and curators “Los Muros Hablan: First Festival of Urban Art of Puerto Rico” (2012, 2013, 2014) and has exhibited his art in festivals and galleries throughout the world in countries such as Canada, Italy, Brazil, Belgium, England, Germany, United States, France, Mexico, Spain, Cuba, among others. In 2019, he made the mural that adorns the facade of the Museum of Art of Puerto Rico where his meticulous and precise technique through ink and small brushstrokes created extraordinarily realistic results. The subjects of his representations are chimerical creatures in a state of metamorphosis; combinations of animals, organic shapes and natural elements inspired by the ecosystem of the place where the artist works.
Artist Statement
“I felt that traditional, paint-on-canvas style had its limitations – I had always dreamed of creating art for all people to enjoy.
I feel like having an intimate conversation between the wall, the surrounding space and me.
I put elements together like in a puzzle until the moment of mutual understanding.”
Alexis Díaz, 2017
Source: Schhulman, Sandra. “Alexis Diaz Paints Dreamlike Metamorphosis as Highly-Detailed Art for All People to Enjoy”. Florida Daily Post (Florida, Estados Unidos), 15 de octubre de 2017. https://floridadailypost.com/alexis-diaz-elephant-octopus-tentacles-mural-wynwood-walls/
Formation
Education
2008
- Bachelor of Fine Arts, Painting Escuela de Artes Plásticas y Diseño de Puerto Rico
2003
- Escuela Especializada Central de Artes Visuales, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Professional Experience
2019
- Customized Shoe. Puerto Rican Heritage by Adidas NYC, New York, United States
- Special Edition Can Design for Medalla Light’s 40th Anniversary Celebration. San Juan, Puerto Rico
2014
- Founder and Curator. Los Muros Hablan Street Art Festival, Bayamón, Puerto Rico
2013
- Founder and Curator. Los Muros Hablan Street Art Festival, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2012
- Founder and Curator. Los Muros Hablan Street Art Festival, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Exhibitions
Solo Shows
2015
- New Works, Blackbook Gallery, Denver, Colorado, United States
2014
- Superficie, Product/81 Gallery, Miami, Florida, United States
- Galería Ernst Hilger, Vienna, Austria
- Taller Vivo: Unicornio de la Isla: 100 años de Lorenzo Homar, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Murals e Installations
2019
- “Quien olvida su historia estará condenado a repetirla”, building façade, Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Wide Open Walls Festival, Miami, Florida, United States
2018
- HKWalls Street Art Festival, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong, China
- Private Project for Ultra Music Festival, 7th edition, Seoul, South Korea
- 20 x 21, Eugene Mural Project, Oregon, United States
- Private Project for San Patricio Plaza Shopping Mall Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
- Private Proyect by JustKids for UnexpectedFS, Fort Smith, Arkansas, United States
2017
- Private Proyect by JustKids for 8th Street Market, Bentonville, Arkansas, United States
- ColorBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Coney Art Walls, Coney Island, New York, United States
- The Houston Proyect, Rag & Bone, New York, United States
- Crystal Ship Street Festival, Ostend, Belgium
- Poliniza Dos 2017 – XII Trobada d’Art Urbà, Valencia, Spain
2016
- ‘The Unexpected’ Street Art Festival, Fayetteville, North Carolina, United States
- Private Project at Mandalay Bay Hotel (various murals), Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
- Art Core, collaboration with 2501, Museu de Arte Moderna do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
- Private Proyect, collaboration with Borondo, Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Private Proyect at Popular Center, Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2015
- Lollapalooza Festival, collaboration with Case Ma’Claim, Berlin, Germany
- PangeaSeed’s Sea Walls, murals for Oceans Cozumel 2015, Cozumel, Mexico
- XII Bienal de La Habana, various murals, La Havana, Cuba
- Pow! Wow! Festival, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
- Lodz Murals, Lodz, Poland
- Entre Muros, MYA Gallery, London, England
- Mural in collaboration with JAZ, México D.F., México
- Sculpture for Wynwood Walls, Goldman Global Arts, Wynwood Doors Garden, Wynwood, Miami, United States
- The Houston Project at Soho, Rag & Bone, New York, United States
- O.Bra Festival, collaboration with INTI, Sao Paulo, Brazil
2014
- We Aart Street Art Festival, Aalborg, Denmark
- Los Muros Hablan, Bayamón, Puerto Rico
- “Maverick Nature” for VIA VAI project, Casarano, Puglia, Italia
- Murals “Adaptation” and “Tus manos construyen lo que tu alma ve”, Djerba, Tunisia
- Inoperable Gallery, Graz, Austria
- Mural “There’s Always Another Option”, London, England
- Mural “Octophant”, Wynwood Walls Collection, Wynwood Walls 2014 Program, The Art of Collaboration: Eros – Desire – De Sidus – Of the Star, collaboration with Faith47, Miami, Florida, United States
- Mural Street Art Festival, Montreal, Canada
- PUBLIC by Form Gallery, Perth, Australia; Pilbara, Australia
- Wall/Therapy 2014, Rochester, New York, United States
- Installation in collaboration with Stinkfish, Rio Loco Music Festival, Toulouse, France
2013
- Various murals, The Painted Desert Project, Navajo Nation communities, Arizona, United States
- Bratislava Street Art Festival, Bratislava, Slovakia
- Life is Beautiful Festival, Rise Above, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
- Private Project at Brick Lane, RexRomae, London, England
- Roosterfish, Do Art Foundation, Venice, Los Angeles, California
- Private Project at Rue Lemon, RexRomae, Paris, France
- Board Dripper Festival, Querétaro, México
- Mural in La Perla for Los Muros Hablan, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Installation, Rio Loco Music Festival, Toulousse, France
- Murals for Cash, Cans & Candy Festival, Vienna, Austria
2012
- Public Project, México D.F., México
- Los Muros Hablan, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Group Shows
2019
- El espacio común, Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Fabien Castanier Gallery, Art Basel, Miami, Florida, United States
- Walking Down the Boulevard, Galerie Itinerrance, Paris, France
2018
- Wish You Were Here, StolenSpace Gallery, London, England
- Against the Wall: Nine Leading Street Artists Reigniting the Conversation on Men’s Mental Health by The Movember Foundation, Sotheby’s London, London, England
2016
- Scope Miami Beach, Miami, Florida, United States
- The Originals, Goldman Global Arts Gallery, Miami, Florida, United States
- Freedom as Form, Wunderkammern Gallery, Milan, Italy
2015-2016
- Codici Sorgenti: Visioni Urbane Contemporanee, Palazzo Platamone, Catania, Sicily, Italy
2015
- Honolulu Museum of Art School, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
- Entre Muros, MYA Gallery, London, England
- Scope Miami, Miami, Florida, United States
- SURFACE by Søren Solkær: Portraits and paintings of and by street artists, Allouche Gallery, New York, United States
- Art Auction, Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2014
- La Linea, New Works by Alexis Díaz and Jaz, RexRomae Gallery, London, England
- Project M/4, Urban Nation, Berlin, Germany
- Pow! Wow!: Exploring The New Contemporary Art Movement, Honolulu Museum of Art School, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
- Scoop London, Saatchi Gallery, Chelsea, London, England
- Art Wynwood Fair, Miami, Florida, United States
- Current @ The Arsenal: Off The Wall Street Art Exhibition, Montreal, Canada
- Form Gallery, Perth, Australia
2013
- Pie forzado.001, Georgia College Museum, Gerogia, United States
- The Fordistas, Friends and Family, Yo Amo 305 Gallery, Wynwood, Miami, Florida, United States
- Cash, Cans & Candy, Ernst Hilger Gallery, Vienna, Austria
2012
- Carry-On: Puerto Rico Inspected, National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture, Chicago, United States
Como “La Pandilla”, dúo artístico
Solo Shows
2012
- Living Walls Concepts, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
- Mural son Josefina León Zayas High School, Jayuya, Puerto Rico
- Mural, Latir Latino, Lima, Perú
- Mural, The Collective, Miami, Florida, United States
- Mural, Trienal Poligráfica del Caribe, Museo de Las Américas, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Mural, G40 Art Summit, Virginia, United States
2011
- Burst Art Fair, Art Deco Welcome Center, Miami, Florida, United States
- Mural, Comission for Diesel Store, Wynwood, Miami, Florida, United States
2010
- Actual by La Pandilla, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Group Shows
2013
- Pocket, Cart Watch, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2012
- Wanted, Galería Alegría, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2011
- Galería Espacio 304, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Awards, Distinctions and Achievements
2014
- Best Public Art Event for “Los Muros Hablan”. Asociación Internacional de Críticos de Arte, Puerto Rico Chapter (AICA-PR), San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Artistic Residency. Los Fordistas Program, South Florida Ford, Florida, United States
2013
- Artistic Residency. Mission to Art, Turin, Italy
Collections
- Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Bibliography
Newspapers
“Artista boricua viaja el mundo haciendo murales”. El Nuevo Día (San Juan, Puerto Rico), 31 de octubre de 2014.
Fullana Acosta, Mariela. “Celebra el Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico sus 20 años”. El Nuevo Día (San Juan, Puerto Rico), 30 de junio de 2020.
Ramos, Joxebi. “El muralista que pinta con tinta china”. El Diario Vasco (San Sebastián, España), 23 de noviembre de 2019. https://www.diariovasco.com/alto-deba/muralista-pinta-tinta-20191123013212-ntvo.html
Rodríguez, Jorge. “Fusiona la tinta y la historia”. El Vocero (San Juan, Puerto Rico), 1 de agosto de 2020. https://www.elvocero.com/escenario/fusiona-la-tinta-y-la-historia/article_a7ff7ee0-d10e-11ea-94ed-6b0864d70c5f.html
Rodríguez, Jorge. “Nuevas obras en reapertura del MAPR”. El Vocero (San Juan, Puerto Rico), 5 de agosto de 2020.
Rohrbach, Jill. “The Unexpected Mural Project in Fort Smith”. Arkansas Times (Arkansas, United States), October 11, 2016. https://arktimes.com/sponsored/visit-arkansas/2016/10/11/the-unexpected-mural-project-in-fort-smith
Schhulman, Sandra. “Alexis Diaz Paints Dreamlike Metamorphosis as Highly-Detailed Art for All People to Enjoy”. Florida Daily Post (Florida, United States), October 15, 2017. https://floridadailypost.com/alexis-diaz-elephant-octopus-tentacles-mural-wynwood-walls/
Solís Escudero, Yaira. “Latas con diseño del muralista Alexis Díaz”. El Vocero (San Juan, Puerto Rico), 9 de agosto de 2019.
Toureille, Claire. “The street art of Sin City: Book reveals the gritty graffiti that decorates the walls, sidewalks and tunnels away from the glitz and glamour of the Las Vegas strip”. Mail Online (London, United Kingdom), December 29, 2019. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-7715297/Photographers-capture-urban-Las-Vegas-series-mind-blowing-street-art-pictures.html
Magazines
Chu, Christie. “Tunisian Island Hosts World’s Largest Street Art Exhibition”. ArtNet News, September 5, 2014. https://news.artnet.com/exhibitions/tunisian-island-hosts-worlds-largest-street-art-exhibition-93282
The Weekly Journal. “Medalla Light Beer Marks Its 40th Anniversary With The Launching Of Special Edition Cans”. The Weekly Journal (San Juan, Puerto Rico), November 15, 2019. https://www.theweeklyjournal.com/business-gallery/medalla-light-beer-marks-its-40th-anniversary-with-the-launching-of-special-edition-cans/article_60d99270-07de-11ea-b021-f3ade1c7b700.html
Vea, Eduardo. “Alexis Díaz, el boricua que dibuja a lo grande”. YOROBUKU (Madrid, España), 21 de septiembre de 2017. https://www.yorokobu.es/alexis-diaz-murales/
Web
“Alexis Diaz. Untitled, 2017”. Coney Art Walls, Curated by Joseph J Sitt & Jeffrey Deitch. http://www.coneyartwalls.com/current-murals/alexis-diaz
“Alexis Díaz: Puerto Rico”. Wynwood Walls (Miami, Florida, United States). https://thewynwoodwalls.com/doors-garden/alexis-diaz
“Alexis Díaz”. Cargo Collective. https://cargocollective.com/alexisdiaz
“Alexis Diaz”. Dictador Art Masters, March 28, 20018. http://dictadorartmasters.com/portfolio-item/alexis-diaz/
“Alexis Díaz”. ISupportStreetArt.com. https://www.isupportstreetart.com/artist/alexis-diaz/
“Biography: Alexis Díaz”. Urban Nation: Museum for Urban Contemporary Art. https://urban-nation.com/artist/alexis-diaz/#:~:text=Biography%20%2F%20Alexis%20Diaz-,Alexis%20Diaz%20is%20a%20painter%20and%20muralist%20from%20Puerto%20Rico,Art%20as%20a%20Social%20Architect'.
“Medalla Light Launches Special Edition Cans Designed by Artist Alexis Díaz”. Brewbound: Beer Industry News, Events, & Jobs (Massachusetts, United States), Octobre 23, 2019. https://www.brewbound.com/news/medalla-light-launches-special-edition-cans-designed-by-artist-alexis-diaz/
Bianca. “15 Striking Animal Street Art Murals”. Street Art News, May 15, 2020. https://streetartnews.net/2020/05/15-striking-animals-street-art-murals.html
Johnson, Ja’Nel. “Before & after | Wide Open Walls murals”. ABC10, August 21, 2019. https://www.abc10.com/article/entertainment/before-after-wide-open-walls-murals/103-ca842cc6-c183-4eca-8138-9a2e66ca91ee
Monsieur Mictlan. “La Madone de São Paulo”. Atlas Obscura. https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/la-madone-de-sao-paulo