Houston street artist to showcase artwork at ONS Festival
Mario E. Figueroa, Jr. (aka GONZO247), was born and raised in Houston, Texas. GONZO was exposed to graffiti and began his pursuit as a self-taught artist in 1985. He opened Aerosol Warfare Gallery, founded The Graffiti & Street Art, Art Museum of Texas (2015), produced an Aerosol Warfare video series, established a Houston Wall Of Fame (the city’s first largest art production of its kind), has participated in over 50 exhibitions and art projects, while also working with top brand campaigns that speak to urban communities. He has evolved his studio art from aerosol on canvas to aerosol on layered plexiglass using a backwards painting technique. He creates art on a local, national and international level. He is well known as an upstanding artist and an early-on pioneer in the graffiti and street art genres in Houston, Texas; he manages Aerosol Warfare and continues to create art, murals and team-based productions.
In connection with ONS 2018, the Houston delegation in collaboration with ONS, invited GONZO to create a work of art on Skur 6. The decoration takes place in cooperation with Stavanger Municipality and Stavanger Region Havn IKS.
"It's a lot of fun that GONZO, from Houston's friendship city, will decorate Skur 6. Stavanger and Houston have many things in common. We are both energy cities and both cities are known for their street art. The artwork at Skur 6 will therefore be a good way to emphasize the close relation between the two cities, says the Mayor of Stavanger Christine Sagen Helgø.
The artwork is part of the ONS Festival. During ONS, the Stavanger harbour is turned into a colorful festival. Here there will be pavilions, boats and stands filled with food, entertainment and activities. Stavanger Mayor Christine Sagen Helgø will make a formal opening of the GONZO mural on Monday at 16:30.
