.. width="425" height="350" ...... width="425" height="350" ....James De La Vega, born and raised in Spanish Harlem, has gained international recognition for playful, and often thought provoking art. His murals have transformed the walls of Spanish Harlem to tell the story of the people who live there.
De La Vega attended Central Park East elementary school and Academy of Environmental Science. An excellent student, he was awarded a full scholarship to attend York Preparatory School, and after graduation valedictorian, received a scholarship to Cornell University.
After graduating with honors from Cornell in 1994, De la Vega returned to Spanish Harlem to share his experiences as a teacher in the classroom. Convinced that he could reach a larger audience outside of a classroom, he left teaching and established a studio on East 103rd Street that came to be know as the Fishtank.
During this time the motto, "Become Your Dream," was coined and though he has since penned many other, it is this saying that he continually throws out as a challenge when speaking at schools and universities.
Although his message has been carried around the world, De La Vega Continues to focus his efforts on his community including health issues, affordable housing, and inequality of our public education system. Most importantly, he works tirelessly to inspire us all to believe that we are capable of doing something powerful with our lives.
Influences
Become Your Dream .
Picasso
Dali
Warhol
Basquiat
Supporters
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