James De La Vega (born approximately January 15, 1968) is an American visual artist of Puerto Rican descent who lives in New York City. He is best known for his street and muralist art, which has led to his occasional arrests, and for his innovative storefronts where he sells his paintings and merchandise.[1]
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James De La Vega was born in East Harlem, the son of Jaime De La Vega and Elsie Matos, and studied at York Preparatory School and later at Cornell University, where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1994.[2] He is a former teacher.[3] He is a member of La Unidad Latina Lambda Upsilon Lambda fraternity.[1] De La Vega continued his studies at the Sorbonne and University of Oxford.[1] The artist lives in Soho[1] and works in New York City, Paris, Italy, and Tokyo.[1] For five years, he had a store on St. Mark’s Place in the East Village called the De La Vega Museum, and 3 other locations in Tokyo, Paris, and Italy.[1][4] The Museum closed in 2010.[5] De La Vega has now shifted to online sales at CafePress.
Zorro is James De La Vega's kind of hero, especially since he shares his name with the masked swordsman, formally known as Don Diego de la Vega. Both of them—in their own ways—defend the poor and outcast from the rich and ruthless, donning disguises and leaving their marks.[6]
When he is not painting, De La Vega travels across the country as a motivational speaker.[7]
For much of the Occupy Wall Street protest in Zuccotti Park, De La Vega has spent his days spreading his sidewalk philosophies with flyers, signs, and stickers, giving contrasting hope in the midst of anger and resentment.
James De La Vega is known primarily for his murals and the chalk drawings he creates on public surfaces such as sidewalks. His murals can be found all over Spanish Harlem, and his chalk drawings may show up anywhere in the city. His street drawings are usually accompanied by aphoristic messages such as "Become Your Dream." Legally, his outdoor work qualifies as graffiti, although many put them in a separate genre. In 2004, Salon.com called him "probably the most revered street artist in New York."[8] The De La Vega was a recipient of a Joan Mitchell Foundation Painters & Sculptors Grant in 1999. Christie's auction house has sold his art for thousands of dollars, and many see him as an inspired cultural figure.[9]
In 2011, De La Vega collaborated with Tory Burch to create a line of accessories that benefited the Tory Burch Foundation.[10]
"He's an outstanding artist," says LeRoy Neiman, who has served as a mentor of sorts to De La Vega. "I have quite a few people come up out of the blue and show their work. And his was outstanding. I allowed myself to become familiar with it, and the development was phenomenal."[9]
De La Vega's artistic practices have generated controversies with the law. In July 2003, De La Vega was charged with vandalism for a mural he painted on a blank wall in the Bronx. He was offered one year’s probation in exchange for a guilty plea, but that would have required him to state that his intent was to “damage” property. He refused to say this. As a result, in June 2004, he faced trial for the offense, and a judge found him guilty.[2] After apologizing to the building’s owner, De La Vega was sentenced to 50 hours of community service.[9]
De La Vega has been portrayed in an episode of season 8 of the children's program Arthur.