About El Bocho

The young protagonists of El Bocho’s larger-than-life murals gaze out across the city, their expressions hard to read. Who are they? Where do they come from? What stories do they have to tell? The enigmatic Berlin-based muralist and… Read more

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Work Info

The young protagonists of El Bocho’s mural series Citizen gaze out across the city, their expressions hard to read. The artist’s signature imagery of ribbon-like hair, fashionable clothing and x-shaped marks make his portraits instantly recognizable, creating a unique, manga-inspired visual language that connects every El Bocho artwork. Their melancholic, enigmatic atmosphere results in a body of work that is both complex and vividly direct.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The young protagonists of El Bocho’s larger-than-life murals gaze out across the city, their expressions hard to read. Who are they? Where do they come from? What stories do they have to tell?

The enigmatic Berlin-based muralist and artist El Bocho is a prominent figure in the contemporary street art scene. His “paste-ups” – large-format artworks printed on paper and glued directly onto street corners and buildings – can be found in cities across the world, immediately recognizable by their signature combination of typography and imagery. The stylized and brightly-colored portraits recall Japanese manga art, whilst simultaneously reflecting their urban surroundings to create a thrillingly cosmopolitan mixture.

In his Citizen series, El Bocho depicts a range of young people from across the world, their direct gaze inviting passersby to stop and think. His street artworks differ from graffiti in the way they incorporate elements of their surroundings within the art itself, creating an almost living dialog with the urban environment. The fleeting nature of the medium means each of his paste-ups is a temporary installation, eventually succumbing to weather, rain or other artists. Despite international acclaim, El Bocho still conducts his work in secret.

El Bocho was born in Frankfurt, Germany in 1978. A generation X-er, the former graphic designer remains deeply involved with youth culture. He continues to honor his street art roots, working in anonymity and displaying his portraits in cities across the world. Ultimately, he sees himself as an observer of everyday life - the public response to his Citizen murals inform and inspire his other works, creating a never-ending dialog of action and reaction between artist and viewer.

Exhibitions

Solo Exhibitions

2021	2.Big Mural-painting at Checkpoint Charly
2019	Big Mural-painting at Checkpoint Charly
2018	Tokyo – 104 Gallery
2017	Raab Galerie – 10 Years „Goldene Zeiten“
2016	Tokyo  Kenia – Nairobi / Mural painting
2015	Ostrale Dresden
2014	Rosenheim / Museum – Städtische Galerie München / Galerie Neuheisel Galerie Neuheisel – Saarbrücken
2013	Raab Gallery Berlin
2012	Kunstverein Ludwigsburg
2006-2011	Raab Galerie Berlin   Paris – Galerie Ligne 13 Berlin – Raab Galerie London – Brick Lane Gallery Sao Paulo – Red Bull “HOUSE OF ART” Neurotitan Berlin Cologne / Artyfarty Galerie Urban Affairs / Tapeart-world-record (1100m²) / Berlin Raab Galerie / Berlin  Hamburg / Mono Concept Art Karlsruhe / Karlsruhe Stattbad Berlin – No more sugar for the monkey / Berlin Berlin – Sticker Museum Raab Galerie / Berlin Berlin – Found Gallery / Los Angeles Berlin – Urban Affairs Napoli – Bazar-one Berlin – Gallerie Tristesse – Streetart goes Fineart

Group Exhibitions

2017	"TheHaus“- Groupshow Berlin
2016	Amsterdam / GO Gallery
2013	Urban Art Völklingen – ( Jef Aérosol | Cope2 | Dondi | El Bocho | Shepard Fairey | Invader | Mick La Rock | Phase2 | Reso | Seen …)
2012	Raab Galerie – group exhibition (with Salome, Lüpertz, Fetting, Dreyer…)
2011	Museum Permm – Russia
2011	Raab Galerie – group exhibition (with Lüpertz, Fetting, Hödicke, Lagerfeld…)