Greg Mike in Studio. Photo by Dave Roland

Greg Mike is a contemporary artist known for his signature characters, bold street art, mural paintings, and Loudmouf icon that blends colorful designs with pop culture. His iconic characters exude energy and movement and inspire viewers to feel a sense of nostalgia and happiness.

He has painted murals in Atlanta, Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, and the Swiss Alps. His studio work is on view in galleries and museums around the world. Some notable clients include Nike, Coca-Cola, Facebook, Google, Spotify, BMW, and the Atlanta Braves, and collaborators include DeadMau5, NGHTMRE, and Big Gigantic. Additionally, Greg Mike’s work has been collected by Justin Bieber, Diplo, Scooter Braun, Swizz Beats, and Nina Dobrev.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you came to be an artist. Was there a particular moment where you “knew” that you were an artist?

Ever since I could remember I’ve always had art supplies in my hand. We didn’t have much growing up so my art supplies were mostly crayons from local restaurants and cardboard scraps. I remember always going to the garage as a kid and painting on old boxes and newspapers as canvases and supplies were too expensive. Later down the road, as my friends were going to baseball practice after school, I was taking painting lessons from the basement of a local artist. Looking back it wasn’t very safe, but allowed me to pursue my dreams and passion for the arts. I’ve always known the arts were my calling, but didn’t go professional until 2009 when I toured my first solo exhibition to San Francisco, Miami and Atlanta.

You have an impressive showing of murals in North America, Europe, Asia, and Switzerland. Is there one that is particularly memorable for you?

Out of all the wild places I’ve painted, I think the one spot that left lasting memories was Crans Montana, Switzerland. I was there painting for Vision Art Festival which takes place in a Ski / Snowboard town in the Swiss Alps. All the artists painted on the mountain and in the town which was beautiful. I specifically remember after finishing painting a 130ft wall, taking the chairlift up to the top of the mountain, sitting at the peak, looking down and having one of those “pinch me, is this real?” moments. It was so surreal to think that art has the ability to take people around the globe, to exhibit and install their work. That for me was something I could have never imagined as a young artist.

How have you seen peoples' reactions to murals change throughout your career?

I think with the introduction of social media, people have become more aware of murals and street art. There’s a ton of excitement for folks who find artists on social platforms and then come across their work in the wild. This is something that didn’t happen 20 years ago as everything was on the streets and rarely online. I remember growing up with websites like artcrimes.com and it being one of the few sites at the time to find works on the internet. Now street art and murals are a part of most people's lives with their phones in their hands allowing them to view walls worldwide. Property owners are more open to murals being painted on their buildings and brands now see the value in art and authentic collaborations. All of this is possible I believe due to technology.

You also create paintings in tandem with your murals. How do you think about your work as you transition between the canvas and wall?

I try to keep a balance between both. Usually I’ll travel, do a ton of murals, then need a break and go back into the studio during the colder months. There are things you can do on canvases that you can’t do on large walls and vice versa. There are opportunities to experiment on both sides, but then also different tools you must use for both. For example, I may use an airbrush on a canvas to do gradients or shadows, but while on a wall this would all be done with transparent spray paint. With my canvases there’s a lot more planning that goes into them, where I find more freedom on the streets. While traveling and working on an outdoor wall I love being inspired by the proportions of the building, people I meet in the community or the history of the city.

Between being an artist, a gallery owner for 14 years, and running a creative agency, there must be little that you haven’t seen in the art world. Is there “one thing” artists who are just starting their careers should know?

I’ve seen a lot and learned a lot along the way. One thing I’ve always believed in is the idea of just getting out there and doing it. So many people sit around and wait, wonder and waste time. With the internet at your fingertips, you can literally hop on YouTube and get a degree in anything you want to learn. I’ve always had an underdog, DIY mentality and approach with art, business and life. Get out there and get your hands dirty. Create work and find out what works. It will shape and mold you and move you forward along your path. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and at the end of the day just be a good person and enjoy it. If it’s your passion it will all work out if you put in the time.

Greg Mike Makes His Mark Around the Globe