THE BIGGER PICTURE: FROM THE STREETS TO THE GALLERY

INTERVIEW XPONENTIAL CURVE

To truly ‘Enter the Mind’ of Richard Bravo Art, is to first recognize what it means to stay dedicated to the vision. From designing Graffiti concepts in blackbooks and on flyers in school lunchrooms Bravos love of Hip Hop led to his encounters with countless influences, collaborations, obstacles and triumphs all culminating to produce some of the most celebrated visuals and style concepts for the Icons of our time. When you mix these elemental foundations with undeniable talent and street appeal you get a next level visionary. Add Loyalty to Legacy and you might be able to catch a glimpse of what it takes to maintain a 25+ year career in the game.

Colombia Native, Queens-raised Richard Bravo had to overcome adversity on every level. Losing his father at a young age during the HIV/AIDS epidemic almost led him down what would’ve been an all too familiar destructive path. It was a teacher's ability to recognize raw talent with the fortuitous opportunity to move in with his Aunt on Long Island just before the streets could fully take over, that ultimately led Bravo to Knowledge of Self. He found himself exactly where he needed to be to align with his destiny. It’s in overcoming opposition that proves time and again how greatness is truly achieved. With a little help, the Sky’s the Limit.

When the opportunity to collaborate with RZA and Photographer Daniel Hastings of ‘Cartel’ production for the Iconic Shaolin Wu-Tang Clan ‘36 Chambers’ album cover arose; Bravo infused both his street upbringing and art style into creating one of the most celebrated Hip Hop Album Covers of all time. In the early 90’s Raps' dominating force was on an unstoppable surge towards becoming what is now the most influential music genre of our time.

“I was approached and asked to develop and enhance an idea to create a temple similar to a Shaolin Temple in the middle of New York City. It was definitely something different. I would never expect that so many individuals could be on an album and not fight throughout the entire thing. Here’s a little in sight, Method Man never made it to the photo shoot, and that’s why they all needed to wear a stocking mask. Just like the album showed, The Old Dirty Bastard (R.I.P),was an oddity compared to the rest of them . Each of them having their own personality but all of them coming together and mixing like a salad bowl of hip hop. The good thing was, they allowed us to create freely and without boundaries. The idea came to fruition after listening to the album. It definitely made us work harder to try to come up with an impeccable concept.”

As a classically trained artist with a Bachelor of Art with Distinction from New York’s FIT, Bravo was later able to further integrate his lifestyle into his career as the Creative Director behind streetwear brand ‘Willie Esco,’ styling all the greats of the True School Hip Hop era.

“When it comes to Collaborations in fashion, we worked with Juvenile and the rest of his group Young Buck. They were a collective group that really showed me the South had something to say. It was also good to work with Big Pun, God rest his soul. He worked with us as one of earlier artist. He would’ve been the spokesperson going forward before Nas if it hadn’t been for his passing. Moving forward into videos one of my favorite was Eve’s “What Ya’ll Niggas Want.” My contribution was the construction of the 1940s big band feeling for the video. Please don’t get it twisted, I didn’t do the entire video. I set the designs and created scenic paintings for specific scenes in the video like the jewelry seen for “FIRM BIZ” or the nightmare sequence in DMX’s “Slippin” or the Dayglow seen in Busta Rhymes “Put Your Hands Where my Eyes Could See” … Album covers varied from ‘Built for Cuban Linx’ with Raekwon the Chef to ‘Boom Bap,’ KRS-One to Fat Joes ‘Jealous Ones Envy’, etc…”

Bravo describes himself as “Not just an Artist, but a Creative.” The deeper we dive into the mind, you’ll recognize a style that maintains a balance between Artist and Artisan; readily seen in his multimedia use of Coogi Sweaters for his Notorious BIG piece “Livin Better Now,” or the Versace scarfs used in Tupac’s tribute entitled, “Prodigal Son.”

“As far as fashion influences, I can get really technical and talk about the YSL, Ralph Lauren Giorgio Armani, Gucci and all the labels that came along around that time, but there were a lot of influences from Patrick Kelly which a lot of people don’t know anything about. He was one of the original big designers and he passed away of AIDS and had a huge impact in my life. I mean, I definitely loved Mecca, ENYCE, Maurice Malone and all urban designers.

With Bravo’s artworks stroking the line between conversation and controversy, there are 2 pieces which come to mind. His ultra-powerful ‘Sponsored By,’ illustrating a terrorist rockin social media logos - to his “St. Pa-Blow” canvas depicting his vision of how Pablo Escobar would be rockin his drip today. Striking a conversation from the match that can burn it down is really something to behold. This is how we keep that fire Burning.

“Art is Religion to me… Pablo is a Parallel image of the sacrifice of the glorifying of sin.  Drug Lord…Get it?”

As a collective, we are bearing witness to a resurgence of artists who in their own creative space are voicing the broad spectrum of our reality through unfiltered perspectives.  Brilliantly innovative creatives are, as Bravo puts it, experiencing ‘The Second Renaissance.’ Having struggled in the post 911 urban market when companies were holding back on marketing budgets, Bravo recognizes how Covid has brought in newer ideas for artists to market themselves through tech. Reinvention and innovation are major components to advancing the business aspect of artistry.  

Blending Business with Brush strokes, Bravo is ready to take his knowledge to the youths in schools and prisons as a motivational Speaker. With decades in the game, theres a wealth of knowledge he’s ready to share about this Hip Hop Culture and it all starts with paying homage to the Legends by keeping their legacies  alive.  Collaborating once again with Willie Esco for the DROPtv launch produced by LG – a technology which allows viewers to purchase what they see from movies to music videos on demand and reconnecting with Heavy Hitter DJ Camilo, Richard Bravo Art is gearing up for a 5 borough tour - Set to take his art...

“From the Streets to the Gallery Wall.”

At what age did your family migrate to Queens from Columbia and what year? 

“I migrated to Queens, New York from Columbia in 1968.  At that time, New York City was on fire because the heroin epidemic was in full force.”

Was there an element of culture shock and how, if at all, did this influence your creativity?

“Well, I have to say that besides the language barriers, there was an element of racism from both blacks and whites against Hispanics.  Black people wanted us to stop speaking Spanish and white people didn’t want us here at all.  So being that I was experiencing racism from all sides, it was like being in a bumper car of culture shock.  It affected my creativity because I wanted to be more political and send a message that would counter the feelings that I had growing up.”

What is your earliest Art memory that made you want to pursue a life as a creative?

“The destruction of the space shuttle “Challenger”.  It was a tragedy when it exploded over Florida.  I drew a sketch of the Astronauts and the explosion.  It was a catalyst for my pursuit of an art career.

Are there any artists in your family that inspired you?

“Both my older brothers are artists as well.   I can proudly say that we all attended the Fashion Institute of Technology together.  We have collaborated in the “Bravo Brothers” Art shows.  They are both my greatest competition and my greatest inspirations.”

How and at what age did you get into graffiti art?

“I got into graffiti at the young age of 11.  I was in a gang called “82 boys” and break -dancing crew called “GMC” (Grand Masters Crew).  So for both of these things, I was doing graffiti everywhere and tagging.  My tag name was Dever.”

Can you describe your art styles and is there any one you feel more drawn to?

“I’d like to express that I am a classically trained artist who paints everything from fashion to politics, and interior/exterior murals.

What are some of the primary themes of your work?

“Surrealism, realism, pop art, and political satire with a strong emphasis on fashion and the human psyche.” 

Which artists would you say impacted you the most during the seasons of your life?

“Artist that influenced my career were Salvador Dali, Jean Michael Basquiat, Patrick Kelly the designer, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Norman Rockwell. I’m drawn to the Surrealism of Dali and DaVinci’s ability to capture anatomy“

I understand you attained your Bachelor of Art with Distinction from New York’s FIT, was it at this time you were brought on board as the Creative Director for Willie Esco Sportswear?

“No, the position to work with Willie Esco Sportswear came a little bit later.  I worked in the fashion industry for about six years.  Then, I got into Set designing and scenic painting for a while.  It was after that, when Will called me to help him try to figure out how to market the brand and I eventually developed commercials and print ad campaigns for him.”

What is your relationship with Nas?

“My relationship with him was strictly a business relationship.   I did get to know him and at the end, found him to be as amazing as a person as I find his music.  I believe this made him more comfortable around me knowing that I appreciate his body of work and ultimately was able to convince him that this was a perfect marriage between hip-hop and fashion.  I also would have to say that the Juvenile project was just as important because it allowed us to bring Esco to the South.”

You define yourself as “Not just an Artist but a Creative,” – Can you tell me what that distinction means to you?

“Well you have to be very diverse in this business.  If you think that you’re going to come in and be a one trick pony then you’ll only earn what a pony makes.  You gotta be several types of animals in this business if you want to survive.” 

In a video short I heard you say- and I’m paraphrasing- artists throughout time celebrate their cultural leaders – and how you’ve adopted that approach to revering our modern-day Icons of Hip Hop… Do you consider this ideology a core part of your legacy’s contribution and why?

“You’ll hear people talking about Kurt Cobain for generations - I just hope to be able to do the same for our legends I felt that there wasn’t enough being done about hip-hop culture and it’s treated as if the only thing it’s good for is a few six dollar posters that your children hang in their rooms and then after your children grow up the posters are trash.  I don’t see that happening when somebody has a portrait of Willie Nelson in their home or portrait of John Lennon, why can’t we have portraits of the people that affected our lives in Hip-Hop culture?  I hope that my contribution to the culture can be hung  in living rooms, offices and studios all across the country.   Hip-hop culture shouldn’t be something  just for the youth,  cause hip-hop culture transcends time.

Work In Progress- KRS-One Entitled, “The Philosopher”

When and where is your next art exhibit?

“At this time, I’m in the middle of developing a Collection of paintings that embrace the culture.  It will be a Five boroughs pop up show that will begin in  Brooklyn.  The show entitled “IT WAS JUST A DREAM” an homage to hip-hop.  The location and the dates are to be announced at a later date and the show is projected to begin in the Fall of 2021.  You can always check out my entire collection at www.richbravoart.net.

As a family man and mentor, what message do you want to impart to any up-and-coming artists?

“I believe just like anything else you have to have a passion for this.   If you do not have a passion for this and you just like to doodle or you think that you’re a pretty good artist sometimes, that’s the same as you not being funny enough to think that you might be a comedian. If you have no passion for it, you’ll just fail.   So please make sure that you have a passion for art.  You must cultivate your craft by embracing your creativity like sleeping with your paint brushes the way a basketball player sleeps with his ball.   That’s something that’s not going to be inside a book.  It’s in your heart and make sure that you understand that you have to be a creative because life is not going to give you exactly what you’re looking for.  You may have to change yourself; you may have to be just like Mystique in the X-Men just to make sure that you fit into whatever creative puzzles you are handed.  I wish you all the luck, blessings and prayers as a young artist.”