SMART Fair

DAVID VEGA aka SHEK

ARTIST biography

Born in 1981 and raised in the Mexican-American working-class neighborhoods of the South Side of San Antonio, Texas, David “Shek” Vega has been an active street artist for over 12 years; in the last six years, he has been a presence in the local art community. The self-taught artist has been commissioned by corporations to produce large-scale mural works, while his more refined mixed media pieces – highly influenced and informed by graffiti materials and technique – have gained the attention of and garnered praise from collectors, curators, and gallerists. His artistic style has its origins in the incredible underground art subculture, but has earned its credibility in contemporary gallery culture.

ARTIST statement

The graffiti art form is often negatively characterized as criminal and destructive, but I found, early on, that painting afforded me a creative outlet through which I was able to confidently develop a legitimate identity as an artist – in spite of the pressures of gangs and gang-related activity prevalent throughout the working class neighborhoods of San Antonio in the mid-‘90s. Graffiti was my singular form of expression, and opened up a dialogue between me and my community that continues to this day through my artwork.

My subject matter has always been those familiar, accessible things of everyday life in my neighborhood, in my community, in my culture – those seemingly commonplace people, places, and situations that are so frequently overlooked or taken for granted, but can and should be recognized as really remarkable things with so much potential for greatness. I am proud of and I am inspired by where I come from, and my work documents feelings, moments, or specific images that define me in terms of self and community.