UPFEST 16
I Know I Have A Heart, Cause It’s Breaking

Upfest 2016 I set out to push my artistic boundaries and up my previous years piece by creating what remains the most intricate stencil work I’ve done. This mural required a staggering 57 stencils—an intense process that I scaled back on in later works because of how overwhelming it was. Still, the result was worth every effort.

Upfest 2016 was absolutely brilliant. The vibe, the incredible street artists, and the supportive community made it an unforgettable experience. I also made lifelong friends with amazing artists, further enriching the event.

For my mural, I created a sequel to one of my most successful paintings, Not in New York Anymore. In the original piece, I re-imagined the Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz as Iron Man, depicting the scene where Dorothy oils the Tin Man. This time, I wanted to explore a deeper emotional moment from the story.

The new mural captured Dorothy’s heartbreaking farewell to Iron Man in a poignant recreation of the Tin Man’s iconic line: “Now I know I’ve got a heart because it is breaking.”

This piece reflected not only my growth as a street artist but also the beauty of combining pop culture icons like Iron Man and The Wizard of Oz in a thought-provoking mashup. The mural resonated with viewers at Upfest and reinforced the magic of storytelling through street art.