cONvERSAtIONS WItH rICArdo rICHEy (APExEr)
P: Where did the name APEXER come from?
A: Apex means peak, or highest point. Within the rising street art
culture, you can add different endings to your name like “ing” or
“er,” and I picked “er.” It was my sophomore year of high school
when I came across the word “apex” in English class. As a
young boy trying to find his place and hierarchy,
that name was incredibly cool. Fast forward
to now, and it represents the exact
opposite. If all of us try to do our best,
to reach our peak, the most
important part is to enjoy the
process as you try and find your
way.
P: Abstract art can
sometimes be hard for people
to decipher. What do you
hope people gain from your
work?
A: Early on, I learned all the tradi-
tional practices of art. It felt like I was copying,
so I wanted to create something new—something that
was pure imagination, aside from the art classics. I pull from
that same child in me for inspiration. I want people to
remember that child in themselves and that moment of
questioning, freedom and curiosity about the world. That’s
what I want people to get from my work. If my work can grab
the passerby for even a second, I have accomplished what I
wanted.
Studying design and architecture, learning the goal-to-ratio
of classic structures as the way we view the world blew my
mind. I wanted to stand out in competition of billboards and
other traditional styles, so color theory became a big part of it.
Layering my work all together creates an explosion of positive
energy that I’m giving to people. I like it to be colorful and
abstract so that it goes against the norm.
P: You tend to use brilliant colors in your artwork. How
does color help you get your message, story or purpose
across?
A: My work is very layered. If there are 10 layers of my work, only
three of them are controlled. It is completely meditative. A lot of
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vibrant colors grab your attention and then it gives you a moment
in your day-to-day life to reflect and breathe. You might like a
particular green, pink or blue, and you pick something out that’s
uplifting or it changes your mood completely. Having all the
colors there is the balancing act—it isn’t pulling you to
happiness or anger, it’s allowing you to just be.
P: What would you consider to be the
hardest part of your work? How do
you overcome these challenges?
A: To stay motivated when I’m not
working, and to stay humble when
somebody is complimenting me on
a new piece. After a piece of my
work is finished, I say that it is 18
years old, has matured, and is ready
for the world to experience it.
The hardest part has become
explaining my viewpoint on
ownership of who deserves credit.
After my work has been released, I don’t take
ownership because it’s for everyone else at
the Apexer’s
mural located in the
that point. People should be giving
Mission district of
themselves
a compliment for appreciating it.
San Francisco.
P: What is the most rewarding part of your work?
A: There are a lot of rewarding things like being able to travel
and see different cities, and meeting all kinds of people around
the world and hearing their stories. But the most rewarding part
is people connecting with it. It’s a sign that I still have my finger
on the pulse. Understanding how to navigate the art and
communicate that with different cities and different walks of
life is amazing. We are all connected and that shows when we
relate to the work. Seeing that so many people can relate to it
and appreciate it is rewarding. n
GET
INSPIRED!
Don’t miss Apexer at the 2017 ISPA Conference & Expo
gENErAL SESSIoN H tuESdAy, oCt. 17 H 9:30 A.M.