Transforming Cities Through Public Art with Sign Painter and Illustrator Cayetano Valenzuela

Ryan sits down with artist Cayetano Valenzuela, known around the world for his imaginative paintings and illustration that have been shown in galleries from New York to Puerto Rico. In Syracuse, NY, he has put his stamp on the city with two famous murals: “We Are The Mighty Salt City” off of Fireman’s Park and “And I Still Rise” on Syracuse’s West Side. Both of these remarkable works have had such a tremendous impact that locals have shifted the manner in which they describe their relationship to the city. Outside of galleries and murals, Cayetano is known for commercial sign painting (Recess Coffee), band merchandise (Deftones, Incubus, Difficult), and comics (Night Moves).

In this conversation, Cayetano talks about transitioning from city to country life during his school years and finding collaborators at a young age. He humbly talks about his artistic gifts and finding the confidence to start a company that matched his artistic integrity. And he shares his transition in mediums from traditional illustration, to conceptual works, to signs and murals, to his most recent obsession with making comics that have appeared internationally in the pages of Savage Dragon. It’s a remarkable chance to see inside the powerhouse that is Cayetano and let his inspiring story empower you to go change the world with your imagination.

Check out Cayetano’s work online at https://www.theblackrabbitstudio.com/ as well as on Facebook (BlackrabbitstudioNY) and Instagram (@cayetanovalenzuela, @blackrabbitstudio, @blackrabbitcomics)

For more information on the Meditations with Ryan Zlomek podcast, you can find The World of Ryan Zlomek on Instagram and Facebook or email meditations@ryanzlomek.com.