William Marrero

My art expresses my observations of the world’s varying inconsistencies and their relation to the passion and humor that propels life forward. In all of my pieces I try to represent some form of current pop culture and its effects on those it is meant to target. I draw a lot of my inspiration from the spirit of urban sub-cultures such as street art, turntabilism, and hip hop. I have a variety of subjects that are inspired by contemporary trends and political statements, yet the vast majority of my work is based off the people and world that surround my life. Thus, aiming to shed light on the inner positivity and truth that sometimes gets hidden within the monotony of routines so many people share.  Although my pieces are meant to embody my translation of a particular topic, they can also be interpreted in the literal sense.

The use of abstract expressionism is evident in many of my pieces through the use of deep, broad brush strokes and loud, vibrant colors. By utilizing this form of expression I am able to portray the movement of the world that is both fast paced and harsh, but at times can also be smooth and sensual. By switching between a more controlled style of painting and my own choices of artistic communication, I can bring about a needed contrast of uniformity and individuality. As a mainly self-taught artist, a lot of my training was received as a child in New York thumbing through various comic books to pass the time; marveling at how mere lines and colors could draw as much excitement as if I was watching the battles in person. As I sketched the work of Batman’s Bob Kane and Superman’s Jerry Siegel, I strived to be able to create work that could inspire millions, as as well as be a positive distraction to whomever stumbled upon it. My aim with each of my pieces is to not lead the viewer to what my intention for the work was but instead to aid them in forming their own understandings. I find solace and inspiration in the work of artists such as Jean Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, and Keith Haring, whose paintings not only led to a change in the social conception of art but inevitably led to entire movements based solely off of their collections. My hope is that my work will excite the world as their work did for me, and that I too may one day be the basis for another young onlooker to pick up a paint brush for their very first time.