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Justin BUA was born in 1968 in New York City's untamed Upper West Side and raised between Manhattan and East Flatbush, Brooklyn. He grew up on the streets of New York in the late 70's and early 80's, when modern urban culture first took rise. BUA was fascinated by this raw, visceral street life of the city; the graffiti artists, the DJs, masters of the microphone, and the birth of hip hop. He attended the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music Performing Arts, and completed his education on the streets by writing graffiti and performing worldwide with breakdancing crews. BUA went on to the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in illustration. Starting in the world of commercial art, BUA designed and illustrated a myriad of projects from skateboards and CD covers to advertising campaigns. He developed the look and feel of the opening sequence for MTV's Lyricist Lounge Show, EA Sports video games, NBA Street and NFL Street, and the world of Slum Village's award winning music video "Tainted", among others. He also designed the BUA line of apparel and limited edition shoe line with PF Flyers that sold out completely. Currently, BUA teaches figure drawing at the University of Southern California, while continuing to be a leading innovator in both the fine and commercial art worlds. BUA's energetic and vocal worldwide fan base ranges from former presidents, actors, musicians, professional athletes and dancers, to art connoisseurs. In addition, BUA has written a book entitled "The Beat of Urban Art", laying out his unique vision, melding urban rhythms, graffiti and classical art training. BUA's masterful paintings, infused with both the rhythms of the street and classical training, tell the tales of urban life through his cast of city muses. BUA has been interviewed on NBC's Today Show, BET's The 5ive and STARZ The B-Side; as well as had his fascinating story told in The New York Times, Spin Magazine and URB. His art hangs in the collections of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Eva Longoria, Berry Gordy, Elmore Leonard, et al. RECENT EXHIBITIONS: 2010 Los Angeles Museum of Art Los Angeles, CA 2010 Pop Gallery New York, NY 2009 319 Gallery Los Angeles, CA 2009 4th Wall Gallery Dallas, Texas |