the street is our gallery

-What would you like to drink? Coffee, Tea, Beer, Soda or something else?

A coffee please!

-Introduce yourself to us !

Hi I’m Zabou, I’m a French street artist based in London. I create large-scale realistic portraits, in black and white and with spray paint. I’ve been active for a few years now and I paint around the world.

-How do you define yourself and why? Artist? Street artist? Something else?

I generally define myself as a street artist as most of my work is focused on painting murals in the street, rather than studio work. But labels are not important.

– How did it all start for you, and what is it nowadays?

I’ve always been painting and drawing since very little. I moved to London from France for my studies, and I was very impressed by all the graffiti and street art pieces I would see around. So I decided to give spray-painting a try. After a few years of practice, I developed my style and technique – finally leading me to quit my job to become a full-time artist. No regrets!

-What is the first thing you do when you get up in the morning?

Hugs and a cup of coffee.

-Street art is mostly a visually stimulating form of art. To add one more sense to it, what music would you pick to accompany your artwork?

Tough question! Each of my murals is really different in terms of themes, colours, moods – I think they could be associated with all kinds of music.

-In all forms of art, inspiration is crucial. What inspires you and how does that end up in your art?

Everything around me is inspiring – it can be something I’ve seen, read, heard, talked about, or felt myself.  The wall or space itself plays a crucial role in the design of a mural, as well as the history and social background of the location.

-What is the hardest part while working on a piece of art?

Working on a really large-scale mural takes a toll on your body, it can be really exhausting and all your muscles will hurt! It can also be exhausting mentally. There are always unexpected issues when painting a mural (harsh weather, lack of supplies, technical problems with the elevation, deadlines etc.) so you need to be ready to adapt.

-Do you have any artist(s) you admire? Can you pinpoint what it is that makes them so special for you?

I love and follow hundreds of other artists, and not just in the street art field, there is soooo much talent and creativity out there! It’s too hard to pick just a few.

-What other passions do you have apart from art?

I love music, food, travelling, reading, sports and binging Netflix ha!

-Tell us a bit more about your art; does it include symbolisms, messages or repeated patterns? How has it evolved?

My art has evolved a lot since the start; it went from small simple stencils to full large-scale realistic pieces. Both the use of black and white and the portraits are a constant thread since the beginning. Now my portraits look quite realistic, expressive, almost alive.

– How long does your artwork, on walls, usually survive for?

It varies depending on the location and the space, usually from a few months to a few years.

-What do you think, people feel or think of, when they see one of your works on the street?

I hope that my murals can touch or inspire people somehow, that they might make someone’s day.
Art and tastes are subjective so I’m definitely not expecting everyone to like them.

-What are your creative plans for the future?

This year, 2020, I’m focusing a little more on studio works to prepare for my first solo show at Saatchi Gallery in London. Other than that, I’ll keep painting murals!

-Is there a specific thought or message you would like to pass to our audience out there?

Thank you for supporting street and graffiti artists! Let’s keep making and sharing art, and be kind to each other.

Thank you! It’s been great to get to know more about the mind and person behind such talented and inspiring works.
‘’I Support Street Art’’ team.