BIOGRAPHY


ISAAC PELAYOb (1996)

Isaac Pelayo is a head on crash collision between The Renaissance and Street Art.
In a household where constant turmoil and violence were more apparent than most a youngPelayo met escape and peace within the confines of himself and his own creativity. Hispanic bornin the heavy beating heart of Los Angeles on the seventh day of June 1996. Pelayo was caught inthe crossfires of everything that surrounded him but art served as his only guidance. Afterdropping out of college Pelayo turned from his hyperrealistic pencil portraits to oil paintingwhere his passions grew more immensely.

As of today Pelayo’s work is most influenced and fueled by the crème de la crème of old masterpainters like Da Vinci, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, and Velazquez as well as graffiti artists such asRETNA, Shepard Fairey, and EL MAC. In 2017 his work caught the attention and landed inthe firm grasp of renown rapper and collector Alvin “Westside Gunn” Worthy. He has createdseveral album covers and artworks for the Buffalo rap moguls music label Griselda Recordsincluding his personal collection. Pelayo’s paintings are widely recognized and sought out fromall over the globe. His collectors include Sean “Diddy” Combs, Westside Gunn, Benny TheButcher, Jeff Hamilton, Shepard Fairey, Jaysse Lopez, and Everlast of House of Pain just toname a few.

Pelayo is often described as the coming of A New Renaissance. The juxtaposition between hismeticulously rendered brushwork of classical style imagery and loose expressionistic carelessdrips with the use of oil paints, spray paint, and oil sticks create a dramatic atmosphere that isnothing less than a sexy intoxicating marriage of two worlds that don’t inherently belong. Themotifs we see in his paintings feature a third eye accompanied by a smiley face which was alsoadopted by Westside Gunn on several projects during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic which led toIsaac’s recent growing success. After a month long trip in 2022 throughout Europes mostprominent museums and cathedrals Isaac Pelayo is proud to announce his fourth solo show titled“THE NEW RENAISSANCE” presented by Westside Gunn himself September 17th 2022,Los Angeles, CA, Naked Eye Studio. 

Artist Statement:

Street Baroque explores innocence and influence, unveiling the depths of my personality and interests. Growing up I was most inspired by the Renaissance and Baroque Periods, and the Street Art Movement--studying the first and observing the second. I’ve long been drawn to the combination of new and old, the juxtaposition of two things which don’t inherently belong together. I’ve always painted with the intention of learning from the masters before me, and continuing the line of old artists inspiring new ones. With this collaboration between the parts of me that are poetic and joyful and the parts of me that are rebellious, and carefree, I know that I am doing what I’m supposed to do. Maybe someday years after my demise a young striving artist will pick up my brush and continue where I left off. Until then I have a cheap date with insomnia and some paint to push...

Isaac Pelayo

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