It's about time Phoenix sees some serious mural love. In the interest of giving credit to their artists and because we're losing track of the times we've said, "Whoa, when did that go up?", we bring you Mural City, a series on the murals springing up around town -- their artists, their hosts and their inspirations.
Over the weekend, Phoenix-raised and now Chicago-based artist Joseph "Sentrock" Perezand painter Mikey Jackson got to work on 15th Avenue and Grant Street.
Tim Phelps of iCoat, a creative concrete studio in downtown Phoenix, approached Sentrock to transform the building's north-facing wall. Sentrock drew a few sketches and called a couple friends and a few days later, " " was complete.
See also: - "Los Tres Grandes": A Collaborative Tribute to the Great Muralistas on Calle 16 - Aaron Chamberlin Says Plans for Downtown Restaurant Include Knocking Out Exterior Wall -- and Sentrock's Mural - Mikey Jackson in Jackalope Ranch's 100 Creatives
Sentrock left Phoenix last year for art school in Chicago, but came back to town for the holidays. He's been busy painting walls since, including the backside of Barrio Cafe on 16th Street and 8th Day Coffee on Second Street.
Jackson was born in Seoul, South Korea and says he bounced around Japan, Hawaii, and California for a while before landing in Phoenix and made a go for it in the arts community. When he heard Sentrock needed help with a mural on Grant, he jumped on his bike.
The two finished up the mural last night and hopefully plan to work together again very soon.
