„When you grow up in the banlieue, you have to take trains to move. So I started to take trains and see graffiti on and by the tracks. The first time I discovered it on trains, it was magic and I wanted to do this“
Wemoto Artist Series with
David Bruce for Spring & Summer 2023
In order to play basketball with other kids, young David Bruce took the train to different basketball courts and playgrounds. That was the moment when he came into contact with graffiti for the first time and was the initial ignition to start spraying himself. He began making drawings in a sketchbook, but quickly progressed to painting along railway lines and possibly trains, He was enthusiastic about leaving a trace of himself in the form of a piece. Through his innovative and eclectic body of work, David Bruce soon explores a wide range of mediums, including painting, sculpture, and installation art. We’re happy to welcome David Bruce to Wemoto Artist Network.
For those that don’t know, what and who is David Bruce?
David Bruce is just a kid from the "banlieue" who discovered and started graffiti early.
You grew up near Paris. What was it like living there and to what extent did it influence your artistic work?
When you grow up in the banlieue, you have to take trains to move. So I started to take trains and see graffiti on and by the tracks. The first time I discovered it on trains, it was magic and I wanted to do this…so I started to paint on my line and it became a sport for me.
You lived in Berlin for a while and now are based in Liège, Belgium. Was there a specific reason you moved there?
The reason I moved to Berlin and now Liège in Belgium is because I was a little bit tired and I felt like needed to find a new city to live… Berlin was my first plan, it was easy to live inexpensive - and with a lot of cultural events. But after some time it was just too far East, so I decided moving to Belgium, the middle of Europe for me. It’s just very easy to go everywhere from Liège.
Last year, you became an artist in residence at Nike. Can you tell us how it came about?
With Nike, it was a nice and very simple story. I received an email from …@nike.com. The guy just wrote he was following me on IG and he liked my stuff, and asked me if I wanted to be part of this project. The day after we talked by phone and after this everything was fast, I received a mood board the same day and I started to work on the T-Shirt, 3 models to do. Sometimes things just work flawless..
„I like when things are simple, and I like to smile when I’m painting“
When it comes to art, how do you kick-start the creative process? How do you approach a project?
The process: just playing with few colors (mostly the same I use during a phase), some icons and mixing them. I like when things are simple, and I like to smile when I’m painting.
How and where do you find inspiration and are there any artistic heroes that have influenced you in your work?
Inspiration comes from my everyday - I move through the world and sometimes it clicks. It’s hard to explain :)
Music has always played a big role for us. Is music also important to your creative process? If so, what records are you listening to at the moment?
Oh definitely. I listen to a lot of French rap all the time in and out of the studio…
