MARCELO MENT INTERVIEW
““What a privilege it is to make a living from creating, painting, traveling, and doing what I love.””
Your mural in Dorchester became much more than public art—it sparked conversations throughout the neighborhood while capturing attention across the international street art community. How did the opportunity come together, and what was it like immersing yourself in the local community as the mural evolved?
I was invited to Boston by my friends, Greg Childs and Laura Brown. They both work at the Brandeis University of Liberal Arts and organized a talk and also a live painting demonstration with the students at the “Leonard Bernstein Festival of the Creative Arts™”.
When I travel, I always try to find a way to paint some wall in the streets. My time there was short, so Laura contacted people from the “Great Ashmont Main Street” in Dorchester and they said that at this neighborhood it was possible to paint a mural. They organized a meeting to introduce me and talk about some ideas with the neighbors. I showed them some of my work and it was decided that I was going to paint some kind of a freestyle wall. Before that, I had painted a dog mural. That was the first step to gain confidence from them and gave me the freedom to create. I had two sunny days where I was getting positive reactions from people of all ages who passed the wall. I made new friends and the final result made me very happy.
There's an undeniable optimism that runs through your work. Your bold color palette and expressive portraits radiate warmth while inviting viewers to pause and reflect. Where does that creative energy come from, and what do you hope people take away after experiencing one of your murals?
What a privilege making a living from creating, painting, traveling, and doing what I love to do. Every person has unique and wonderful qualities and skills. We have different physical and cultural characteristics, but our essence is the same. We are born, grown, reproduce (some) and die. We are here to learn and share, not just to make personal ego competitions, to hate, or to kill. Our worst enemies are inside of us. At the same time, we need to live life and stay positive. We need to change ourselves to make the world a better place. We still have time!
From Brazil to cities around the world, your murals have become part of very different urban landscapes. Every destination has its own rhythm, architecture, and culture. Are there any places that have left a lasting impression on you as an artist?
Honestly, I do not have one favorite city. I travel to other countries, even other cities within Brazil and I feel grateful. Traveling used to be a very distant reality in my life as the youngest of five children in a low class/poor family. Each opportunity to travel is unique in its own way. You have the ability to learn, to share and exchange knowledge, and to make new connections. I'm just blessed and grateful. My favorite city will be the next that I'll go.
Your work has a distinctive visual language that's instantly recognizable. It feels spontaneous yet incredibly refined. Can you walk us through your creative process, the materials you enjoy working with most, and any new artistic directions you're hoping to explore?
Thank you! I once read a text saying that almost all major decisions that humans make in their lives are basically based on love, or fear. I truly believe that and started painting, trying not to worry about the end result, trying to leave my fears behind my actions. I got a development that I didn't expect but I'm still far away from something that I believe could be a reflection of my feelings.
My background is graffiti. As a self-taught artist, I always like to try different mediums and use what I have in my hands. I also love challenges. That's why I started to paint women. It used to be very hard for me to draw female characters. I grew up with the strong presence of my mom and two older sisters. They were my life teachers, full of knowledge and love.
I need to say that spray paint for sure is my favorite tool. I love to draw and my first memories are connected with it. A good wall, a big canvas, or a new spray paint are some examples that always make my stomach shake. Ha ha! In the future I'm thinking of working in sculpture.