User:Megs1790/Joseph Nuke Montalvo

Joseph "Nuke" Montalvo (b. 1970) is a Chicano street artist based in Los Angeles, California. He is a renowned graffiti artist, archivist, and gallery curator for art projects throughout Los Angeles and abroad.

Biography
Joseph Manuel Montalvo (also known as "Nuke") was born in 1970 and raised in the Mexican-American neighborhood of Boyle Heights in Los Angeles. Inspired by the murals and images throughout the area, Nuke embarked in making art in the 1980s, with local graffiti crews. During this time Nuke joined to what now is a notorious graffiti/writing crew called Under The Influence (UTI Crew). In the 1990s Nuke proceeded to contribute to the murals and images he seen throughout his neighborhood with painting murals in Los Angeles and abroad, with other artists like himself. As a young adult Nuke spread the understanding of street art and the message behind what most seen as defacement or vandalism. He is a vocal advocate for arts activism, and art as a form of social protest. Nuke along with another member of the UTI Crew Erick "Duke" Montenegro, 23 and 24 years old at the time, were asked to be guest speakers for a group of UCLA graduates by Judith Baca for her World Arts and Culture course in 1993. There they expressed how graffiti was an "outlet for self-expression" and an alternative to other violent scenes. Nuke also traveled to Chiapas, Mexico in 1994 to demonstrate his knowledge of graffiti art and how to use a spray can to the locals, staying with a local family of coffee growers who he painted a mural for with the words "New Dawn."

Over the years Nuke has become a renowned street artist and influencer leading after school workshops throughout the Boyle Heights area. Throughout Nuke's artistic career he has accomplished works for album covers, documentaries, television episodes and even logos for a popular clothing line JNCO, Along with becoming an archivist repairing and conserving historic murals around Los Angeles, as well as featuring his other works at art shows and exhibits throughout L.A. Nuke describes his artistic form as "Eastside Style" reflecting the inner-city culture of L.A. largely being Latino along with other cultures surrounding the city.

Works of Art
Throughout Nuke's career he has produced many pieces of his own works along with a ton of collaborations pieces throughout Los Angeles.

Sociedad=Suciedad (1996) and Mex-America (2000) - independent compilation albums

Nuke designed the album cover art along with artist Chaz Bojorquez.

 Undiscovered America 


 * Painted in 1992, restored in 2018, Originally done by Erick "Duke" Montenegro, Benjamin James Frank Jr., Rogelio "Angst" Cabral, and Joseph "Nuke" Montalvo. Promoted by the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs along with being commissioned by SPARC as one of the citywide "Neighborhood Pride" murals.



 La Abueltia 


 * Collaborated by El Mac, Augustine Kofie, and Joseph "Nuke" Montalvo in 2015, based off a Navajo blanket weaver named Martha Gorman Schultz, done entirely of spray paint, on a building built in 1901.

Exhibitions
 Notes From the Other Side 


 * May 1994 hosted at The Venice center, presented by Erick "Duke" Montenegro, Joseph "Nuke" Montalvo and Tony Quan featured 12 graffiti artists.

 Al's Bar Mural Workshop 


 * June 12, 2014, Joseph "Nuke" Montalvo presented a unique and engaging painting experience, in the parking lot of Al's Bar veterans of the bar call "the yard."

 Bloomfest LA 


 * November 20, 2014 at the American Hotel, in Los Angeles the UTI Crew presented: "UTI - If These Walls Could Talk," spot lighting the graffiti crew's 20 plus years of collaborations there at Al's Bar located next to the American Hotel.

 Art at the Rendon 


 * "Stories" was presented November 9th-11th, 2018 at the Rendon, in Los Angeles Art District. Joseph "Nuke" Montalvo designed a room with a Zoot-suited dancer, who interacted with guest as they entered the small showroom, set as a Chicano style bedroom.