SPETO
Paulo Cesar Silva, known as Speto, is a visual artist, illustrator and one of the main names in graffiti in Brazil. He was one of the precursors of this artistic manifestation in the country and already had, since his childhood, the ability to draw, when he illustrated forms of skateboarding, a sport he practiced in the streets of São Paulo. Speto's interest in graffiti began in the 1980s when, at the age of 14, he watched the movie "Beat Steet" in the cinema and ended up buying his first spray paint to color the walls. of the city, taking inspiration from one of the characters in the film. Alongside Binho, Vitché and OsGêmeos, Speto represents the first generation of graffiti artists in Brazil, which emerged after the end of the military dictatorship, when hip-hop culture in the suburbs of New York invaded São Paulo. Inspired by the folkloric tradition of Cordial literature and northeastern woodcutting, Speto has developed his own original style, which imbues his work with an authentically Brazilian expression. The idea of looking in popular art for support for the development of his works came to him when he saw the cover of the album Dead Man's Party, by the Californian group Oingo Boingo. Although self-taught, the artist took several courses at the MAM, Museum of Modern Art, as well as woodcutting courses with Bruno de Oliveira, whom he considers his master engraver and printer. Among his artistic references we also find the painter Pablo Picasso, Jeff Koons, Damien Hirst, Takashi Murakami, Vânia Zouravliov, Di Cavalcanti, Ademir Martins, Cândido Portinari, Muhammad Ali, Bruce Lee and Oscar Niemeyer, in addition to his inspiration in the traditional tattoo and manga designs.
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Throughout the 1990s, the artist helped shape the visual identity of bands like Raimundos, Planet Hemp, Nação Zumbi and O Rappa. However, he only began to be recognized for his work in the 2000s, when graffiti began to be recognized as an art form in Brazil. Currently considered one of the leading names in street art in the country, Speto's work has been exhibited in over 15 countries and he has previously participated in Miami Art Basel, where he graffitied an American city wall in the Primary Flight, the largest outdoor arts event on the planet. His works have been exhibited in museums such as the Palais de Tokyo, in France, the Museu Afro Brasil, in São Paulo, and in various galleries in the United States and Europe. The artist was also the curator of Paulo Borges' HotSpot movement and painted squares, buildings, viaducts, hotels and even churches. Speto has also worked with acclaimed music artists from Alice Cooper to Elba Ramalho, and his work has appeared in music videos for O Rappa and pop singer Beyoncé. Speto has also illustrated advertising campaigns for major brands such as Brahma and Coca-Cola, when he was responsible for the visual identity of the global campaign for the FIFA World Cup 2014. The artist also collaborates with various NGOs and projects around the world, such as SOS Racisme in France, Viva Con Agua in Germany, Gol de Letra Foundation and Instituto Criar.
