One of the most populous cities in the US, Charlotte is a bustling city that is rapidly growing in size, industry, and green initiatives. This large city also is an artistic hub that boasts many museums, performance halls, and other art facilities.
Charlotte is known to house a thriving art scene and a haven of talent. The city has many multidisciplinary artists who use public art to express themselves, ranging from loud to subtle, small to large.
Here are seven WXLLSPACE artists from Charlotte continuing to innovate the art world in this growing city.
Hobo Husband
Based out of Charlotte since 2019, Hobo Husband – real name Brian Michelotti – specializes in large-scale murals and lettering for local businesses, combining elements of graffiti and classical arts. His usage of spray paint and acrylic paints creating glowing atmospheres and deep textures in contrast 3D elements in the space.
Learn more: https://explore.wxllspace.com/artist/hobo-husband
DaFlemingo
With no classical training, DaFlemingo, or Darion Fleming, was commissioned by a brewery he worked for to create a mural. He became a professional artist in 2018, working with chalk and learning from trial and error. The artist now specializes in realistic murals with an element of childlike wonder and fantasy.
Learn more: https://explore.wxllspace.com/artist/daflemingo
Deadfolks
Valentin, or Deadfolks, is an artist based in the Carolinas known for his hyperrealism and fluorescent murals. He has always been invested in the art world, and trained under an arts master in Italy, picking up a style similar to Renaissance artists, as well as mastering colors.
Learn more: https://explore.wxllspace.com/artist/deadfolks
Makayla
Makayla Binter is a creator and organizer located in Charlotte, who has a bachelor’s degree in Biology and Studio Art, and a Master’s Degree in Urban Design. Binter is focused on community artworks, such as the Black Lives Matter mural in Spartanburg, SC. She uses art to reclaim space and facilitate difficult conversations throughout North Carolina, from Davidson College to the West End.
https://explore.wxllspace.com/artist/makayla
Osiris Rain
Osiris Rain is an internationally acclaimed muralist and post-contemporary figure artist, backed with formal training at the Angel Academy of Art in Florence, Italy, and his apprenticeship under master painter Odd Nerdrum. Rain’s work has been featured in private and public collections such as the European Museum of Modern Art and the National Portrait Museum.
Learn more: https://explore.wxllspace.com/artist/osiris-rain
Carla Garrison-Mattos
After graduating from Winthrop University, Carla Garrison-Mattos got her start doing commission-based pet portraits. Over the last seven years, she has worked as a muralist, focused on animals, nature, and the environment as her subject materials. Her work evokes a loose but painterly style, with a dash of humor.
https://explore.wxllspace.com/artist/carla-garrison-mattos
Swych
With his bold and quirky murals, Swych helps bring colorful and inviting street art and graffiti to businesses all across Charlotte, from Condado Tacos to Moo & Brew. A longtime artist, he started out working on canvases, but slowly worked his way into mural painting. His work is dedicated to bringing smiles to people’s faces, as well as supporting other artists in the area.
https://explore.wxllspace.com/artist/swych
Charlotte is a shining hub of art and creativity in the South, bringing fresh and different perspectives to different audiences. These artists prove the diversity of artistic styles and mediums in the Queen’s City. To learn more about these artists and others in North Carolina, visit WXLLSPACE today.