This past weekend, Irish artist Maser finished a massive wall for 352walls/Gainesville Urban Art Initiative in Florida. Maser’s signature bold colors and vibrant geometric shapes envelope the entire two story Fine Arts Department Building at Santa Fe College. The gorgeous project is a collaboration with Santa Fe College’s Department of Fine Arts and supported by the National Institute of Urban Art.
Under the moniker Maser, Irish-born, graffiti artist Al Hester began painting on the streets of Dublin in 1995. After studying visual communication in his hometown, he went on to establish himself as one of Europe’s leading urban artists. His early work was strongly influenced by typography, lettering and sign painting. Soon after, his style began to transition toward graphic representation and geometric abstractions. Currently Maser’s works demonstrate common techniques, while emphasizing simplicity of form. Combining the linear style of his urban work with his formal art education, Maser creates works that build on his graffiti foundation, exploring a figurative aesthetic that relates to both 20th century artists and spray cans. In recent years, Maser’s body of work has expanded to canvas, video, 3D installations, woodblock prints and copper plated etchings.
His spectacular murals and collaborations with renowned street artists such as JR, Conor Harrington and Fintan Magee have won him notoriety in the graffiti world, while helping to establish him in the contemporary art scene. Maser’s murals can be seen across the world in places such as Africa, Ireland, Israel, U.K., Austria, Germany, Denmark, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the U.S.
In 2016, Maser was the subject of a major exhibition at Lazarides Rathbone, the gallery founded by one-time Banksy agent Steve Lazarides. Most recently, Maser opened Inspiration and Rivalry: After Vermeer at the National Gallery of Ireland.
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