justin tolentino profile picture

justin tolentino

The object of art is not to reproduce reality, but to create a reality of the same intensity. Albert

About Me


studiotolentino.com
i live to paint, and i paint to live... all my work is for sale so if you are interested in some work you see on the site please hit me up and i will get back to you with a size and price for that piece or pieces.
Bio
Justin Tolentino was born 1978 in St. Louis. He currently resides there making his art known to the ever evolving city of St. Louis along expanding both nationally and internationally.He has been a part of the hip hop and graffiti scene since the early age of 15 when he took to the streets bombing. Earning a scholarship from Memphis College of Art right out of high school he studied traditional techniques, realism, minored in printmaking and majored in illustration. After he graduated from Memphis College of Art and trying to secure a job in the corporate world, he decided to pursue his dream of being a true artist, one that paints for himself.He works in various mediums, can paint just about anything on almost everything and does so with great ease. Because of this he has won several awards, has been in shows to numerous to count and his work can be found in almost every aspect of society, from murals, prints, shoes, fine art, bottles, cars, clothing, live demos, etc. His art employs characters to express a multi-faceted self-portrait of what is true, what is comforting and what is good. These paintings convey humor and the irony of being human. He laughs back at life. He sends in the clowns where others would remain in quiet despair.The art he creates is constantly evolving and changing. Taking from both worlds the high art world along with the underground art and translating his experiences into a style with the feeling and power of the underground. There is one thing for sure he will always be creating, painting, pushing the envelope to achieve a different look, style, allowing him to be himself.
i also wakeboard, snowboard, swim, get as close to the beach as possible for the longest time as possible, meet as many people that i can and have a good laugh with all of them... enjoy spontaneity and fly by the seat of my pants...
peat wollaeger and i did and installation called "nice and mean" check it out...Check out this amazing video by the talented Bill Streeter of LOFISTL.com
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click here to pick up some new merch!!!

My Interests

my artwork... and beautiful things... studiotolentino.com... go check it out...

I'd like to meet:

the people under my bed...

Music:

hip hop, reggae, dub, sappy emo, new and older rock, not too much happy shit for real...

Movies:

sexy beast... snatch... mine... donnie darko, 25th hour, fight club,... more than i can think of right now.....

Television:

too much reality... adult swim...

Books:

too many letters and shapes for me form any real opinion...

Heroes:

clyfford still, jasper johns, brice marden, cy twombly, obey, kaws, barry mcgee, os gemenos, banksy, any one clever enough to make me say "shit why didnt i think of that..."