WHAT'S
UP?
Staff
Editor-in-Chief
T.K. Mills is an art journalist based in New York City. After receiving a Master’s Degree in Global Affairs, he discovered a love for graffiti while backpacking through Cuba. T.K. has written for several art publications including SOLD, Global Street Art, and Arte Fuse. Additionally, he manages the street art blog, Well Pleased We Dream. Beyond art, T.K. loves reading and traveling.
Editorial Director
Vittoria Benzine is a street art journalist and personal essayist based in Brooklyn, New York. Her affinity for counterculture and questioning has introduced her to exceptional artists and morally ambiguous characters alike. She values writing as a method of processing the world’s complexity. Send love letters to her via:
Managing Editor
Christina Elia is a freelance writer with a BA in Art History Communications from Fordham University. Born and raised in New York City, she writes about topics ranging from creative nonfiction to street art, culture, travel and leisure. Christina’s work has been published in publications such as The Odyssey, Select City Magazine, CURA Magazine, and The Tishman Review. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find her wandering the streets of Chelsea or the LES, taking advantage of whatever free galleries she can find and wondering if she’ll ever be able to make rent in Manhattan.
Director of Videography
Lonnie Richards is a native of Morrow, Georgia. Lonnie has been doing street photography for seven years. He specializes in taking candid photos of the people he sees. Lonnie likes to photograph the street art and graffiti he observes as he strolls through the city. An Iraqi War Veteran, Lonnie served eight years in the United States Marine Corps. In addition to being the photographer for UP Magazine, Lonnie is a history buff and likes to research American history whenever he can.
New York Contributors
Writer
Caitlin Sowers grew up outside of Pittsburgh, PA and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts and Art Education. She was first exposed to street art when she saw Shepard Fairey’s solo show at the Andy Warhol Museum in 2009. A former high school teacher, she moved to New York in 2017 to pursue a Master’s Degree in Art Business and graduated from Sotheby’s Institute of Art in December 2018. Caitlin also loves fostering kittens, going to art openings, and spending time in Prospect Park. In addition to writing for UP, Caitlin leads tours of New York City’s subway art.
Writer
Savannah James is a freelance writer based in Brooklyn, New York. After completing her bachelor’s degree in Art History at FIT, she felt called to pursue writing as a way of further exploring art and culture and its evolving relationship with society. She is interested in storytelling and the various ways life can be documented. Savannah is also a contributing writer for the Bushwick Daily and Bklyner.
Writer
Tyler Bruett is a writer and musician from Minneapolis, Minnesota, who is now based in New York City. Fascinated with contemporary culture, he finds pride working with emerging artists, street artists, and musicians alike. He is passionate about using his experience to bridge the gap between artists and the city they inhabit.
Photographer
Ana Candelaria is a Lower East Side based photographer. She is currently an active contributor for Street Art NYC and member of Shooters Street Art. Ana’s work has been featured in YV Magazine and displayed at MIKEY Likes It Ice Cream Shop and was featured in Unbound: Authentic Visions and Voices as part of a series. Within the past two years she established herself as a street art photographer and has received recognition for her photos by street artists from all over the world. She is currently working on her first photography book to accompany her upcoming exhibits. She enjoys traveling and nature.
Photographer
Caitlin Sowers grew up outside of Pittsburgh, PA and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts and Art Education. She was first exposed to street art when she saw Shepard Fairey’s solo show at the Andy Warhol Museum in 2009. A former high school teacher, she moved to New York in 2017 to pursue a Master’s Degree in Art Business and graduated from Sotheby’s Institute of Art in December 2018. Caitlin also loves fostering kittens, going to art openings, and spending time in Prospect Park. In addition to writing for UP, Caitlin leads tours of New York City’s subway art.
Writer
Savannah James is a freelance writer based in Brooklyn, New York. After completing her bachelor’s degree in Art History at FIT, she felt called to pursue writing as a way of further exploring art and culture and its evolving relationship with society. She is interested in storytelling and the various ways life can be documented. Savannah is also a contributing writer for the Bushwick Daily and Bklyner.
Writer
Tyler Bruett is a writer and musician from Minneapolis, Minnesota, who is now based in New York City. Fascinated with contemporary culture, he finds pride working with emerging artists, street artists, and musicians alike. He is passionate about using his experience to bridge the gap between artists and the city they inhabit.
Photographer
Ana Candelaria is a Lower East Side based photographer. She is currently an active contributor for Street Art NYC and member of Shooters Street Art. Ana’s work has been featured in YV Magazine and displayed at MIKEY Likes It Ice Cream Shop and was featured in Unbound: Authentic Visions and Voices as part of a series. Within the past two years she established herself as a street art photographer and has received recognition for her photos by street artists from all over the world. She is currently working on her first photography book to accompany her upcoming exhibits. She enjoys traveling and nature.
LOGO DESIGN
Pitch Black is a New York City ar tist who uses cultural iconography to make pop art. Black star ted painting modular work that would accommodate people living in limited urban environments. Inspired by the very definition of pop art – finding, procuring or otherwise repurposing images from our cultural collective – Black gets excited by taking these found elements and combining them in surprising ways. He also draws upon his publishing and marketing
background to utilize all aspects of art and design.
COVER DESIGN
Fumero is a New York-based artist whose work incorporates aspects of graffiti, street art, and contemporary muralism. Known for his iconoclastic style, Fumero is the subject of the documentary, Fumero-ism: The Grafstract, directed by Keith Arnowitz. As a professional artist, Fumero travels the world painting.