Caleb Neelon

Hospitals, schoolyards, railroad tracks, and deserted streets are just a sampling of the places Caleb Neelon has beautified. When the prolific graffiti artist isn’t making the world more attractive with his brightly colored murals, he’s writing about street art and culture for publications like Print, Juxtapoz, and Swindle and collaborating on several book projects. His forthcoming book, (co-authored with Roger Gastman) recalls graffiti styles in the early 1970s that inspired a generation of artists. Check out what inspires Caleb in his 10 ANSWERS below and be sure to to get a comprehensive dose of this talented artist.

1. How would you describe your work in three words?
Keep it moving.

2. Who is your creative role model?
Anyone who gets it that this should be fun.

3. If you had an extra hour each day what would you do with it?
Passeggiata.

4. What place in the world most inspires you and why?
Standing in front of whatever otherwise crummy wall I’m painting that day is one of my favorite feelings.  But I’ve always tried to travel for people, not places.  I need a nature fix from time to time, but we’re social animals that need to meet one another and share laughs and food.

5. If you could do a different job for a day what would it be and why?
I’d play second base for the Red Sox, of course.

6. What is your favorite homemade gift to give?
Food.

7. What is your favorite object in your home?
What I’m eating.

8. What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
Pay attention to the people who pay attention to you.

9. What websites do you use for inspiration?
Anything with music.  When I was a teenager I used to spend so much of my time and pocket money digging in record stores for music that my classmates weren’t up on.  Then of course I’d be all teenaged conflicted about whether or not to share it with them, since I’d put in all this time and money.  What a total waste of energy – especially since it wasn’t like the musicians were getting a cent when I bought some dusty-ass used record from the 1970s.  I love that now I can just type in any musician’s name on youtube or whatever and then share the link in seconds and for nothing.

10. When do you consider a piece of your work complete?
When I walk away from the wall, have the show opening, or approve the final draft of the written piece for publication.