Sueworks - Graffiti Artist Interview

February 2010

Interview with Sueworks, a graffiti artist from New York with an interesting 3D style who represents 004Connec Writer Team, Monster Paint Team, MTA Crew and UFC Crew to name but a few.

Graffiti piece by Sueworks

How old are you?

I'm 37 going on 25, LOL!

Where are you based?

New York City, Washington Heights, Uptown.

When did you begin painting graffiti?

I first got involved in the art-form back in 1980, at the tender age of nine.

How did you get into graffiti and what made you start painting?

By hanging out with older cats from my neighborhood, they all used to write. I was so taken by it, that by the time 1987, I made my debut.

How did you choose the name SUEWORKS?

I'm a workaholic. I'm always either designing, painting or doing something in the arts. My friends always cracked on me for always working so much, so as a joke, I told them "They don't call me SUEWORKS for nothing!" I liked the sound of that, so I started to use it as my designer name. That's how SUEWORKS was born.

Do you write under any other names?

No, writing one name is good enough. I've put a lot of energy and time into this one so I find there's no need for another one. It'd be just like starting all over.

Do you write with any crews and if so which ones?

Yes, I write for:

004Connec Writer Team
Monster Paint Team
MTA Crew
UFC Crew
Silver Caps

How would you describe your style?

I have a particular 3D style that I call '3D Perspective'. My letter structure consists of 3 dimensional properties; perspectives, lighting source, and knowledge of color pallets. These are the elements needed to achieve this style.

Graffiti piece by Sueworks

Where did you paint your first piece?

My first piece was at an abandoned Two-Guys Store on Route 440 in Jersey City, NJ. It was during the good old days when 5-O was too busy fighting the crack epidemic to worry about graffiti.

Graff in New York City is on a hold these days, with big huge fines and even jail time you kind of want to stay on the down low and go out only once in a while.
SUEWORKS

What are your feelings on the graffiti and street art scenes in New York at present?

I think the street art scene is a little stronger than the graffiti scene right now. You have literally hundreds artists from all schools putting up wheat paste prints all over the city. Some of it is cool, but then you have all these other yuppie types killing the street scene. So much so that now everybody is a street artist. It's getting out of hand!

I think the street scene has to be raw… that's how it started, in the streets, not in a classroom! That's what people love about graffiti; the raw energy. Graff in New York City is on a hold these days, with big huge fines and even jail time you kind of want to stay on the down low and go out only once in a while. But never giving up is the name of the game. Finding new ways of bombing is what's happening right now. Graffiti in general is going to make a big come back this summer… and I'll be right there when happens. "ORGANIZED RESISTANCE!"

Have you done many collaborations with artists overseas or travelled abroad for your art and if so then where is the most exciting or interesting place you have painted?

Yes, I have. I've done collabs with:

004Connec Team at the Art Basel Miami this year
FUA Crew in Rochester, NY
MTA Crew all over the tri-state area
Shiro from Japan
Up in Boston with Pea Soup
Trenton, NJ with MEK
Philadelphia with KOMAR
Bronx with LOUIE 167 and RE
Paterson, NJ with TECK, MASIVO and SOCO
Orlando, FL with Silver Caps Crew

I'm going over to California this year. Also, I'll be going overseas to places like Japan, Puerto Rico, Barcelona, Spain and also to the UK.

Graffiti piece by Sueworks and Rone

Have you done much commercial work and if so what would you say was your most well known piece?

Yes. I have done work for:

VH1
Dollhouse
Multitude
Syndicated Clothing
Worrier Girl
Interactive One
Urban Legends
Hush Tours
Beat Camp
Modern Day Miracles Documentary
004Connec
Frontline Comics

…and many more. My best known pieces has to be the ones I did on some VH1 commercials, I was in two of them!

SUEWORKS - 004Connec commercial

SUEWORKS promo

Have you ever had your work published in any books or magazines?

I've been featured in:

Uptown Magazine
Bombin' Magazine
Liquidteks Magazine
Platform 58 Magazine
BlokHedz comic animation
Habit Magazine
Livewire L.A. Magazine
Fuk Graff DVD
Hard Grafft European Magazine
Peel Magazine & book
Format Magazine
Puregraffiti website
Headquarters website
Art Crimes website
and now Canned Goods, a'ight!

Graffiti piece on a truck by Sueworks

Sueworks bombin'

Is there any one point in your career you would class as 'your big break'?

Yeah. When I sold my first canvas for $2000! That was my big break and also a turning point in my career. That gave me the confidence to turn my passion for art into a career. It's been a long road out of hell, but I've never looked back, I'm going full steam ahead!

Don't get me wrong, the streets is where it's at… but when you have been pumping work out on the streets for more than 20 years, as I have, hitting the galleries is the next stage in the art scene.
SUEWORKS

What are your thoughts on graffiti being just as likely to be found in a gallery as on the streets these days?

I think if you've paid your dues in the street, put out mad work and become serious about your art then it's only natural to show case your work. Don't get me wrong, the streets is where it's at… but when you have been pumping work out on the streets for more than 20 years, as I have, hitting the galleries is the next stage in the art scene. I'm glad that people are finally taking notice that graffiti is an art form and not just some fad that came and left with the times.

Have you ever displayed your work in galleries and if so, is there any one show which stands out from all the rest?

Absolutely. I've displayed at:

AA Museum in Long Island, NY
The Stanton Barrett Gallery in Soho, NYC
Arts Cyphere in Staten Island
Graffiti Gone Global gallery show in Miami
Art Whino Gallery show in Miami, Fla
Primary Flight and S.O.S Gallery in Soho, NYC.

The ones that really stand out were the Art Whino and the Graffiti Gone Global show in Miami Art Basel. I was surrounded by the best of the best in the scene and very happy to be part of that. I met so many artists that I'm going to do collabs with in the near future! And that's what's it's all about… just putting out as much work as possible.

Do you see yourself as an artist or a graffiti writer?

I'm an artist. Saying I'm a graffiti artist just puts me in one category. I'm more than that! Yes graffiti has been my passion for all these years, but being in the graphic design industry as opened my mind to new concepts and applying that to my work has helped me evolve through two decades.

There seems to have been a sudden surge of interest in graffiti and street art recently, why do you think this is?

Because Graffiti has become mainstream. Just as tattoos have been accepted by the masses, graffiti is going through the same.

There is a very fine line between those who view graffiti as art and those who see it as vandalism, what are your views on this?

The name says it all. It's where you apply it that makes a difference.

Graffiti piece by Masivo, Teck, Sueworks and Soco - Rochester, New York (2009)

Do you paint legal or illegal pieces?

I rock both.

Have you ever 'felt the long arm of the law' because of your art and if so can you tell us about it?

Yeah, I gotten caught bombing. I've been arrested four times for graff. Even did a bid for a couple of months, did community service, paid fines and I've had probation for 5 years. It's all part of the graff game.

Do you try to keep your identity anonymous where possible?

Not any more. I'm on a different level now. One where I have to be professional if I do exhibitions. I can't hide my face if I want to network with the big dogs. That is why I go under SUEWORKS now… just in case. Ha! Ha! Ha!

What is the biggest risk you have ever taken for your art?

One time, me and HEC (my bombing partner) started to hit rooftops at an abandoned building that faced onto the highway. In the dark, we started to walk on the roof and didn't notice the roof was half gone. We had to walk on a slim beam to get to the spot we wanted to hit, so HEC went in front of me and slipped. His leg came off the beam and his body started to fall sideways. I squatted down and grabbed him by his back pack while at the same time, trying not to loose my balance! My heart came out of my ass! So now we are stuck up there and I have to pull him up. HEC was holding on to the beam for dear life. All the while, I was trying to tell him what he needed to do so I could pull him up. After what seemed like an eternity, he got back on the beam and once both of us were safe we started to laugh about it. We still hit that spot. I will never forget that day! R.I.P. HEC ONE, UFC CREW FUH LIFE!

Where is the most obscure place you have ever left a tag or piece?

I think the last Question answered this one.

Graffiti piece by Sueworks abd Lust

Which other artists work do you admire?

CHUCK CLOSE, if you don't know about him, then it's Google time.

Which other artist would you most like to work with if you were given the chance?

RON ENGLISH

What is your preferred medium for making marks with?

A marker or a mop.

What is your colour of choice?

Orange.

Checkout my paint color "SUEWORKS ORANGE" by Clash, order it by name at www.004connec.com.

SUEWORKS ORANGE - Paint by Clash

Graffiti piece by Sueworks

What is your favourite surface to paint on?

Concrete walls is where is at.

Do you have a favourite piece of all time?

Yeah! I did a sick brown 3D that popped out of a baby blue background with my name in white. It was an illegal joint so that made it even better! Ha Ha!

What kind of music are you into?

Alternative Metal, Progressive House, Drum & Bass, Classic Hip-Hop

What is the last album you bought or downloaded?

Deftones - Saturday Night Wrist

What are you working on currently and what plans do you have for the future?

I'm currently working with 004Connec creating SUEWORKS mops and markers.
With Multitude designing T-shirts, sk8-boards and hoodies.
I am working Syndicated Clothing designing t-shirts, sweaters and jackets.
With Earloomz - I'm designing graphics for cell phone earpieces.
For Spray Ground - I am designing graphics for backpacks, T-shirts, caps, and headphones.