Gamma Acosta grew up in Longmont, another poor kid on the street, but he had a gift. The world was his painting surface, he discovered, and he had a way with a spray can that took him beyond the hardened parameters of street writing. Today, he's working all the time: creating murals inside and out for businesses across the Front Range and even showing off his talents at Art Basel Miami and other out-of-state venues.
See also: Graffiti porn of Colorado Crush 2012
Chances are good you've even seen some of his work around town at this point -- some of it controversial and some of it community-building.
And if you haven't, you can catch Acosta's handiwork this weekend at Colorado Crush, a live graffiti jam of national proportions going down beginning at noon Saturday, September 7 at Casselman's, with live music and before- and after-parties.
We asked Gamma to share his thoughts by tackling our 100CC questionnaire. Continue reading for a taste of a life turned around by raw talent.
Westword: If you could collaborate with anyone in history, who would it be, and why?
Gamma Acosta: My younger brother. He would have become a great graffiti artist. Together, we could have been unbelievable.
Who in the world is interesting to you right now, and why?
Astrophysicist Neil Degrasse Tyson.
What's one art trend you want to see die this year?
Street-art self-righteousness. Just because you paint or create doesn't mean that you're above anybody or more aware of anything.
What's your day job?
What's a job? I wouldn't mind being an astronaut or someone on the frontier of exploration.
A mystery patron offers you unlimited funds for life. What will you do with it?
The most massively incomprehensible art projects conceivable.... Hard to say. Buy influence? Change the world? Disappear to my own private tropical island? It's not good to think in this way....
Continue reading for more from Gamma Acosta. What's the one thing Denver (or Colorado) could do to help the arts?First of all, COMPENSATE artists for what they do, and this does not necessarily mean with cash; you always hear that bullshit excuse about "exposure." Exposure doesn't buy your supplies, food or transportation costs. Daily, I see visual artists getting screwed over. Promote, trade, barter, incentive.
Support those who take chances, and push the envelope -- perhaps through a non-profit gallery with no cost to the striving artist to display. Take more chances.
Who is your favorite Colorado Creative?
Hard to say, Too many choices. At the moment: SWEK.
What's on your agenda for the rest of 2013 and beyond?
Boston, New York, and Art Basel Miami this year. Some huge, complex and impactful ideas in the works.
Who do you think will get noticed in the local arts community this year?
-Emily J. Moore -MPEK -Pony Butter -Yiannis Bellis For more information about Gamma Acosta, visit Gamma Gallery online. Throughout the year, we'll be shining the spotlight on 100 superstars from Denver's rich creative community. Stay tuned to Show and Tell for more, or visit the 100 Colorado Creatives archive to catch up.
Do you have a suggestion for a future profile? Feel free to leave your picks in the comments.
