Works to Inspire Creativity, UR New York’s ‘Destroy’ed and Rebuilt’ at Thinkspace

Rachael McDonald

A brazen and genuinely inspired graffiti duo from New York City have brought their work to Los Angeles this summer at Thinkspace gallery. “Destroy’ed and Rebuilt” presents vivid urban art by UR New York: Fernando Romero and Mike Baca. The mixed media works of the artists strongly instill a sense of independently bold and vivid self-expression to the viewer, carrying through the pair’s artistic mission to unleash the powerful potential of daring creative freedom and expression from their audience.

Romero and Baca began collaborating in ‘06 and have since shaped and defined the brand of their work with a distinctive urban-industrial aesthetic. Playing with the diversification of both context and environment, prolific urban artists of every variety and the industrial urban landscape serve as both the tools and the clay by which Romero and Baca mold their work. Their shared mission is one of philanthropy with their highest ambition to connect with and inspire creativity in the youth both within their own community as well as elsewhere. The urban-industrial aesthetic that the two have branded is uniquely New York City, to say the least, boldly inspired by the city’s streets and meant to generate a sense of familiarity and resonance with New York’s urban youth. Stretching their work over the city that inspired them, graffiti and murals by the pair can be found throughout the streets of New York City as well as its subways. The mediums most frequently used in the pair’s work draw from the rich fountain of NYC inspiration; Romero and Baca experiment with mediums including photography, silk screen printing and graffiti.

Despite the NYC roots, influence and presence, the artists’ concurrent efforts to reach beyond the limits of their own city are far from passive; the pair regularly travels to other environments and cultures with their own brand of artistic philanthropy, spreading the message of creative empowerment and self-expression. Thinkspace gallery is proud to host an L.A. chapter for the artists, facilitating a space for their powerful conduits of self-expression and creativity.

UR New York’s “Destroy’ed and Rebuilt” will be on view through June 18 at Thinkspace gallery.