Nick Sweetman

What makes it so special to be from Toronto?

Toronto is a beautiful city, for the most part. It has a ton of parks and green space, which means it has a vibrant ecosystem for such a huge urban centre. It is also very diverse and growing up here exposes people to so many different kinds of people and cultures that teach you about the rest of the world. It has massive art and music scene that brings so much talent into the city and makes it really exciting to live here, but it’s so big that even though I have lived here 30 years there are still hidden gems I am discovering for the first time.

Do you practice other art mediums? If so, can you elaborate on it?

I have a studio practice that I try to maintain, simultaneously with murals and outside projects, in which I paint canvases and panels as well as create mixed media assemblages that resemble old decaying objects you might find overgrown with decay after being left in a forest. I like to make people confront their own idea of “nature” and see that it’s really just an idea, that everything around us, including ourselves and the stuff we make, is just matter, and all of it is in constant transition between form and formlessness. In my future work, I am planning to explore the ways we humans are doing things that are interrupting these natural processes of transition – by introducing plastics, for example – and will leave an indefinite mark on the planet as a result.

What is your favourite sneakers/brand of sneakers? Why?

I go for comfort while I’m working, nothing fancy. I’ve worn through numerous pairs of New Balances. Preferably all black with no logos or brand names - it’s just gonna get covered in paint so who cares.

What inspires your style daily?

Basically just whether or not I’m painting that day. If I’m not, then I wear whatever T-shirt and shorts/jeans are clean.

What independent music artists/DJs are you currently listening to?

I listen to a lot of Rufus Du Sol these days, Odesza, and like good vibes hip hop beats. Spring/summer vibes. I don’t make time much anymore to dig for music - I’ve become a passive consumer of music, listening to what I discover by chance, and rarely getting into much new music. No idea what artists/DJs I listen to are “independent”…

Where is the most impactful/inspiring place you have visited internationally? Why?

Melbourne, Australia is beautiful and an amazing city for graffiti and murals, easily as good as Montreal, New York, or Amsterdam. Cannot wait to go back one day!

Where is the most impactful/inspiring placed you have visited locally? Why?

Leslie Spit (Tommy Thompson Park) is my favourite spot in the city. It feels like downtown is a million miles away and the sky always looks incredible standing way out in the lake at the end of the point. Also recently checked out the Luminosity light installations throughout the Beaches, many of which were outstanding.

You have several murals that you’ve painted and/or contributed to that are scattered throughout the city, is there anywhere you'd like to paint that you haven’t gotten the chance to yet?

It would be a huge honour to be involved in painting the Keele wall before it gets demolished. If I could paint anywhere in the city it would be the big concrete silos along the waterfront - when are we gonna cover those in art?? Really though, I am interested in painting wherever there are walls. There are lots of areas in the city I haven't worked yet, so I have to keep pushing into neighbourhoods that don't get as much public art. I'm in talks with an organization trying to get some public art projects going in the Jane and Finch community, for example. Most of all though, I love finding those hidden spots out there where it's quiet, nothing but you and the wall. For obvious reasons, I can't really speak on those locations.

“Well shoutouts to my crew ACK obviously, you can see some of our productions if you scroll up and down but I gotta show love to Tensoe2, Ctr, Spy1, Getso, Bern, Miles, Rites, Fathom, Peru, and all the ACKs in Toronto, Montreal, California, South Africa, all over the world! I’m really loving to see the ways graffiti/mural artists employ brushwork along with spray to get a wider range of textures and effects. Jarus has been pushing that relationship a lot in recent years at a massive scale and internationally. Elicser has been a favourite of mine for years, both on walls and on canvas where he really blends those techniques into each other. Luvs is the young artist I would say I’m watching most closely. He is really moving in interesting directions with his art, merging classical and modernist painting with graffiti. Also, I just discovered an incredible artist called Emstro who is starting to get more public walls with his super-intricate abstract brushwork – I would definitely be looking out for more from him. And Christina Mazzulla is consistently making beautiful, super original artwork both on the streets and in the studio. Graffiti-wise definitely keep an eye on the BFD crew: Steam, Sadar, Pastor, Croem, Xscape – young, hungry, all really talented, and lots of variety in their styles. They will be worth watching in the years to come.”

All photos are courtesy of Nick Sweetman (unless otherwise stated)