The beginnings of Bublegum in graffiti art

Bublegum started painting murals in 2004 in his hometown of Lugo. Graffiti became his unstoppable passion, and his skills in transforming the city walls quickly caught attention. Over time, Bublegum decided to move to Barcelona, a vibrant city that became the perfect canvas to develop his distinctive style. It was in this city where he began to professionalize, collaborate with other artists, and expand his creative horizons by participating in international festivals.

FIRSTS YEARS PAINTING IN LUGO

What motivated him to start painting

From a young age, Bublegum already showed his passion for art through his drawings on paper. However, there was something about graffiti that exerted an irresistible magnetism on him. The tags, the pieces, and everything related to this form of street expression sparked curiosity in him. The possibility of finding art on the streets, without the need to go to a museum, became something truly positive for Bublegum. It was in this way that one day, along with his friends, he began to unleash his creativity on the walls of his hometown, Lugo.

First encounter with graffiti art

Bublegum's beginnings in the world of graffiti were a constant exploration of different themes and techniques. From his early strokes, he experimented with a variety of elements: from characters and animals to letters. Sketching was crucial for improvement, and at that time, Bublegum didn’t use references, so his ideas were very creative, blending all the elements he liked.

He also began the process of finding his identity. Initially, he adopted the alias "Judas" to sign his first interventions in the world of graffiti. However, he soon decided to change it to "Motes," seeking a name that better suited his style and personality. With "Motes," he explored new techniques and experimented with different forms of expression in the streets. However, it was in 2009 when he finally found the artistic name that would accompany him to this day: "Bublegum."

During that time, the possibility of seeing other graffiti pieces was limited for many artists, as the internet was not highly developed. He drew inspiration from other writers in his city, which was partly positive because each one had a defined style. Concept Circo, a powerful crew in the city, organized a festival called Style Fighters, where graffiti artists from other parts of the world came as Logan, Revok, Belin, Aryz, Can2, Does, Nash... For Bublegum, this experience was revelatory as he had the opportunity to contemplate a wide range of artistic quality. The admiration for the exhibited works aroused even greater interest in him to paint and evolve in his own style.

Bublegum + Sfhir | Style Fighters Festival

It wasn't until later that he started creating his first portraits. Since he was young, he had felt an innate attraction to capturing the beauty and delicacy of women in his artwork. He was clear that he did not want a conventional job, although at that time murals were not in vogue, and living off art was unimaginable. He dedicated himself to developing his personal style and obtaining sporadic commissions without expecting much more. For three years, graffiti served as his way of life until, in 2014, he made the decision to move to Barcelona in search of an alternative source of income: the art of tattooing.

MOVING TO BARCELONA

Early Years

Bublegum made the decision to move to Barcelona with the purpose of specializing in tattooing, an artistic field that sparked his curiosity and offered an economic alternative. With innate dedication and talent, it didn't take long for him to excel in this discipline and start tattooing. However, he never fully immersed himself in this world as his passion for graffiti remained his top priority. Graffiti continued to be the language with which he identified the most and the medium through which he expressed his creativity and conveyed his message to the world.

Barcelona is a city with a special charm and a reference in urban art, as it serves as the gateway from Spain to Europe, constantly attracting writers from all parts of the world, making collaborations with other artists much easier. The graffiti scene is vast and alive, as can be seen throughout the city with new pieces every day. The bombing scene seems unstoppable.

During his first year, Bublegum combined his beginnings in the world of tattooing with constantly painting on the streets. Unlike Lugo, it was very easy to paint on walls in the city center of Barcelona and also coinciding with other artists. Painting in an environment where people could see and appreciate it directly added a special component to his artistic experience.

In that conducive environment with numerous opportunities, Bublegum immersed himself in a constant creative flow, allowing him to further develop his artistic style. It was in Barcelona where he focused on perfecting his technique in realism and experimenting with 3D letters, enriching his art with influences from other disciplines. This vibrant and energetic city provided him with the space and freedom to explore new forms of expression, combining his passion for graffiti with his ability to capture reality in an astonishing way. Bublegum managed to evolve his artistic style and create works that reflected his unique identity and constant pursuit of improvement.

This wide range of influences has shaped his creative approach and enriched his aesthetics in an unparalleled way. He soon began to participate in local and international events.

Meeting of Styles Miami

Consistency has always been a distinctive characteristic of Bublegum, who never grew tired of painting and experimenting with new ideas to propel his artistic evolution. He started participating in international festivals, seeking to expand the horizons of his art. However, it was at the Meeting of Styles event in Miami, during Art Basel, where he realized that his art had the potential to transcend borders and reach much further. In that artistic gathering, surrounded by talented creators from around the world, Bublegum understood that his artistic vision could leave a lasting mark on the world of graffiti. From then on, he would embark on an even more ambitious journey, determined to take his art to new heights and inspire others with his dedication and constant pursuit of excellence.

PRESENT

Currently, Bublegum continues living in Barcelona. What started as a passion has become his way of life, where he constantly undertakes new creative projects. He has developed a unique style that combines realism with 3D letters and graffiti elements, creating dynamic compositions imbued with a special touch. His skills have led him to paint murals in emblematic cities around the world New York, Los Angeles, Houston, Madrid, London, Glasgow or Paris, Bublegum has left his mark in the form of colorful and vibrant murals. Although his work has been recognized and appreciated in numerous places, his thirst for improvement never diminishes. Always in search of excellence, Bublegum continues to evolve and perfect his technique, committed to continuously improving and surprising with each new creation he leaves on the walls of the cities he visits.