Joe Iurato and Rubin415 have been painting together at Welling Court for a few years now. Their collaborations are always a seamless fusion of two distinct, clean styles into a unified and beautiful masterpiece. We got a chance to talk to Joe:
How did you meet each other and what made you start working together?
Joe: “We painted together for the first time about 5 years ago in a friend’s backyard. It was a collaborative piece between Rubin, Chris Stain, and myself. We felt there was a nice flow and synergy to the work, not to mention we also got along really well. Since then, we’ve become good friends and have steadily collaborated on a number of walls and projects.”
What do you bring to the collab and what does Rubin bring that makes it work well?
Joe: “I think it works well because, visually, our styles are so different, but we’re both super critical about clean lines, balance and composition. We approach the work with the same mentality: There’s no front and center. It isn’t about you or me. The only thing that matters is the final piece.”
How do you feel your own work is affected when you collab with Rubin?
Joe: “We’re both really into music. I look at it similarly as when musicians collaborate. Separately they have their own voices. Together, those voices are still identifiable but a unique sound is created. And as long as there’s harmony, it works. At least, that’s what it feels like to me.”
What is this particular mural about?
Joe: “It’s inspired by the band Graveyard’s “Hisingen Blues” album cover. I recently discovered their music and have had them in steady rotation for a few months now. If you haven’t heard them, these guys kick rock and roll ass, and it turns out they’re also from Rubin’s hometown in Sweden. So our piece is basically that album cover re-imagined.”
Check out Rubin’s new book HERE.
Photo of completed piece © Joe Iurato