Joel Blenz

A native of Queens, New York, Joel Blenz is an abstract painter working in conversation with textured surfaces, blending and writing as it is defined in the context of graffiti. Blenz current mixed media work has found its form and language through a transitional period; one where Joel’s work evolved from primarily a street based practice into a studio practice. The studio as a meditative site has emerged as a counterpoint to the adrenaline of street based art making, offering a context for the reflection and evolution of a painting style developed over multiple decades of work as a graffiti artist.
Process is central to Joel’s approach to his newer works, which can be characterized as abstract paintings that play with perception. His geometric objects function formally with a heavy regard for texture, color, materials, and abstraction. Several of his pieces echo small cropped sections of Blenz blockbuster fill ins where he skillfully blends with remnants of colors left in near empty spray paint cans.
Blenz studio work retains the grime, grit, and detritus of a street aesthetic through his manipulation of surfaces that range in size. Working in a smaller scale is a sharp contrast to past work on walls as large as 10 feet by 15 fe...

No formal art classes

2020-When things fall apart-Group show Brooklyn, NY
2020-Bronx Brewery Mural-Roses
2020- Wet Paint exhibition at Museum of Graffiti- Miami, FL
2020- Downtown Hollywood Mural Project- Hollywood, FL
2019- Smart Bites Mural- Miami, FL
2019- Corporate Towing Mural- Miami, FL
2019- Museum of Graffiti, Art handling services- Miami, FL
2019- Bronx Brewery “Blockbuster” can release- Bronx, NYC
2019- Bierwax solo exhibition- NYC
2019- See Me gallery-Scope Art Fair- Miami, FL
2019- Blue in Green patch/jeans art exhibition- NYC
2019- World Trade Center pillar murals- NYC
2019- MOMA exhibition- “Beauteous” Andrew Freedman Home- Bronx, NYC
2019- Outlaw Arts Group show- NYC
2019- Wallworks group show- “Don’t Sweat The Technique”- NYC
2018- Wall Therapy Mural Project “Magnificent Monday”, Rochester, NY
2018- Prohibition Mural Project, Lexington, KY
2018- World Trade Center pieces- MRM Productions, NYC
2018- Merchant River House restaurant Mural, NYC
2018- “Transitions”solo exhibition Hausammann Gallery- Miami, FL
2018- Magnificent Monday-Wall Therapy- Rochester, NY
2018- “Some Strange Reaction” group exhibition 212 Arts, NY
2018- Resident Artist Group Exhibition- The Andrew Freedman Home
2018- DRIHSCS Art handling & I...