New York native Justin BUA represents what urban art is all about. Raised in New York City’s Upper West Side, between Manhattan and Brooklyn, BUA was fascinated by the raw, visceral street life of the city. He commends his immersion in the hip hop culture in its early days as one of the heavy influences in how he views the world.
In his first book, The Beat of Urban Art, BUA lays out his unique vision, melding urban rhythms, graffiti, and classical art training. This visually arresting book is about his life, his work, and the birth of Hip-Hop. As we follow BUA through his turbulent youth, navigating the streets and underground worlds of the urban jungle, we recognize the powerful evolution of BUA’s distinct style–”Distorted Urban Realism.” Following in the footsteps of the great masters, BUA represents the lives of both the revered and the marginalized, the heroes and the underdogs of his time–New York City during the 1970s and ’80s.
Currently, he teaches figure drawing at the University of Southern California, while continuing to be a leading innovator in both the fine and commercial art worlds. BUA’s energetic and vocal worldwide fan base ranges from former presidents, actors, musicians, professional athletes, and dancers, to street kids and art connoisseurs.
