ARYZ (ES)
ARYZ, whose real name is Octavi Arrizabalaga, is a Spanish artist well-known in the art and street art scenes. He was born in 1988 in Palo Alto, California; however, he moved with his parents to Cardedeu, Spain, at a young age, where he currently lives and works. As early as the early 2000s, he made a name for himself in the graffiti scene around Barcelona under the pseudonym ARYZ. A few years later, he began painting on the facades of abandoned factory buildings using telescopic poles and old house paint. In 2010, he began to receive widespread recognition for his work and increasingly participated in cultural projects and events. Since then, the scope of his work has expanded significantly—Japan, France, Finland, Denmark, Poland, China, Madagascar, and the U.S. are just a few of the countries where ARYZ has left his mark over the past decade.
Octavi Arrizabalaga, also known as ARYZ
He is particularly drawn to the interaction with the surroundings and the existing context of a mural in progress. Characterized by a harmonious interplay of muted colors and pastel tones, his murals often depict people and animals. ARYZ prefers to let his works speak for themselves—rather than discussing them or himself. For some time now, he has been focusing more on his studio work and limiting the number of murals he creates each year. In 2018, ARYZ published the book *Outdoors*, which compiles a large portion of his public works from 2008 to 2018. He also curated the three-part exhibition *Pugna*, which took place in France in 2019. It explores the movement and dynamics of the human body through a distinctive gestural line and unexpected shifts in color.
About the ARYZ Mural in Mannheim
“El entreacto”, ARYZ, 2022, A4 1, 68159 Mannheim
Learn more about ARYZ on its website or Instagram
Photos: Alexander Krziwanie