risk

RISK (b. Kelly Graval, 1967) is a multifaceted contemporary artist, sculptor, and pioneering graffiti writer who was celebrated for more than three decades in the Los Angeles art community before gaining global acclaim. Emerging as a founder of the West Coast Graffiti movement, RISK now draws A-list celebrities, artists, musicians, fashion designers, and actors, such as Shepard Fairey and Dave Navarro, to collaborate at his sprawling Risk Rock Studios Compound in Thousand Oaks, Calif., a contemporary manifestation of Andy Warhol’s Factory. RISK was deeply inspired by a conversation about Buddhism with the late painter Ed Moses, a seminal figure in the Post-War, West Coast art scene. Images of Buddha appear in his neon and Crossroads series, evoking a zen-like spirit amid recurring motifs such as butterflies, repurposed spray paint cans and labels, and myriad music and pop culture references, all coming alive with bold use of color. RISK’s enduring mastery of street art embodies elements of commercial art, Pop Art, and color field painting.