LouieBlaka, a prominent painter & muralist, fuses contemporary techniques with street art. His artistic practice delves into the immigrant experience, expressing themes of assimilation, cultural loss, and identity through a layered process that utilizes color, texture, and gesture to captivate viewers, encouraging reflection on cultural identity.

Louie’s work has been featured in galleries, exhibitions and publications such as the New York Times best-seller “Crushing It!”, NBC’s Emmy award-winning show “George To The Rescue” and Essence Magazine. He has also created thought-provoking murals in cities in New Jersey, Miami, Brazil, and Croatia. Louie holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Painting from Montclair State University.

 

Collaborations

 
 
 
 
 
 

 EXHIBITIONS

2020

  • “Glimpse” Gallery Aferro, Newark, NJ

2019

  • 49th Annual BRAG Gala, New York, NY

  • Gallery Aferro, Newark, NJ

  • WATT Hotel Artist in Residency, Rahway, NJ

  • Warburton Gallery, Yonkers, NY

  • “Dulce” Equal Space Gallery, Newark, NJ

  • “Zones Vol. 1” BX Space Gallery, Brooklyn, NY

2018

  • "Between Us" Group Exhibit

  • Perth Amboy Art Gallery "Red 6"

  • 3rd Annual Miracle Art Show

  • “With Your Permission” NYC Solo Exhibit

2017

  • 2nd Annual Miracle Art Show

  • Perth Amboy Art Gallery "Red 5"

  • "Wake Up and Smell the Roses" Exhibit

2016

  • Perth Amboy Art Gallery "Red 4"

  • Miracle Art Show

  • New York City's Coffee Art Festival Art Showcase (2nd Place Overall)

2015

  • "Fire & Ice" Artist Showcase

  • The Musae presents: "Manifest"

  • FAMNOW NYC Artist Showcase

  • Joe Canal's presents: "Wine & Art Showcase"

  • Conception Gallery's "NYC Emerging Artists" Showcase

  • Conception Gallery's "Woman Up" Exhibit

  • Perth Amboy Art Gallery's "Red 3" Exhibit

  • NJ Drug Enforcement Agency/Gateway Center Gallery's Heroin Art Exhibit

  • LouieBlaka presents: "Paint It Forward" Exhibit

  • Hota'te presents: "WE R'TIST" Exhibit

2014

  • Sigma Lambda Upsilon's "Arte De Expresion" Exhibit

  • "Maid in America" Exhibit

  • Perth Amboy Art Gallery's "Red 2" Exhibit


 

PRESS & DISTINCTIONS

  • 2024 Artist in Residency - Calabar Gallery

  • 2023 Hispanic Heritage Month Guest Speaker - TD Bank

  • 2023 “Artist to Watch” - TapInto NJ

  • 2021 Bloomberg Philanthropies Asphalt Art Grant Lead Artist

  • 2021 Featured as lead segment on NBC’s “George to the Rescue”

  • 2021 - 2021 New Jersey Individual Artist Recovery Grant

  • 2021 - Newark Artist Accelerator Grant 2020 (Courtesy of the Andy Warhol Foundation)

  • 2020 - NBC NY “Artist creates BLM mural with a message”

  • 2020 - ABC 7 “Artist spreads positive message through art”

  • 2020 - Home News Tribune “New Brunswick features artist’s Black Lives Matter Mural”

  • 2020 - News12 NJ “Mural highlights resiliency of African American Community”

  • 2020 - Middlesex County Cultural Center Mural Grant Recipient

  • 2019 - ESSENCE Magazine Feature - 49th Annual BRAG Gala

  • 2019 - City of Perth Amboy & AARP Intergenerational Mural Grant Recipient

  • 2019 - WATT Hotel - Artist in Residency

  • 2018 - New York Times Best Seller “Crushing It!” by Gary Vaynerchuck

  • 2016 - New Jersey Stay Ledger- 2016 NJ Drug Enforcement Agency’s Heroin Art Exhibit