Whether on the side of buildings or on the pavement you walk down every day, street art is everywhere – especially here in Baltimore! Street art is one of the most important art forms we have, but it seems to be the one we know the least about.

Ernest Shaw is one of the most prolific creators of street art and he has made some of the most recognizable murals around Baltimore. As your instructor, he will teach you the basics of street art, including:

Unspoken codes and guidelines

Necessary equipment needed to create street art

And the techniques that will take your designs from the sketchbook to the wall!

Join Ernest as he creates a brand new piece in Graffiti Alley!

Meet in Graffiti Alley on Saturday, October 17th from noon to 3pm. We will have the alley to ourselves for 3 hours where you can learn.

We would like to thank MotorHouse for collaborating with us on this program!

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

Ernest Shaw is a Senior Artist in Residence at Motor House. His work defines the duality of the African American experience, exhibiting this dichotomy through an array of media and concepts. The most prevalent aspect of the artist’s work is his use and understanding of figure and color. The figure in his work is a continuation of a rich history of African and African American figurative art, and his use of color demonstrates a deep level of understanding of rhythm taught to him by several West African drum instructors.

Ernest Shaw, Jr. was born and has lived most of his life in Baltimore, Maryland. Mr. Shaw comes from a family of visual and performing artists. As a youngster growing up in West Baltimore, there was never an absence of influences or inspiration thanks to the support and encouragement of his parents. He appreciates them all the more, as he recognizes that it is not easy to raise a child artist. Ernest is a product of Baltimore City Public Schools, where he graduated from the Baltimore School for the Arts—and where he currently teaches. He continued his education with a B.A. in Art from Morgan State University and an M.F.A. from Howard University in Washington, D.C. In addition to teaching in Baltimore City, he is also an adjunct professor at The Maryland Institute College of Art.