FABEZ: Spray & Bones
Written by Brian Bloss
Published on March 5, 2026
In a dusty alley in Los Angeles, behind a pile of refuse, bicycle parts, and sprawl of makeshift encampments, FABEZ quietly works on a new piece. His presence is far less assuming than the art he creates. FABEZ is actually much more subdued than many of the characters that seem to frequent this unusually hot alley. Homeless people performing god-knows-what commerce, dudes posted up on corners, and an endless barrage of trucks backing in and out of the alley. None of which really seem to faze FABEZ, and he channels his concentration into the zone. The scene has an uncanny feeling of normality. Apparently so much so that the police cruiser doesn’t even come to a stop as it rolls past him working on his piece.
Bumping music blasts from the back of his car. His trunk is constantly stocked with a variety of spray cans and other tools because you never know when the perfect wall will appear and the creative muse will take hold.
Bumping music blasts from the back of his car. His trunk is constantly stocked with a variety of spray cans and other tools because you never know when the perfect wall will appear and the creative muse will take hold. But what’s in the trunk is only really a small part of his arsenal. Today he is working on a collab featuring one of his most recognizable symbols, the skull. If you’ve ever seen FABEZ work, it’s hard to forget. His signature, a skull with his name FABEZ where the eyes would normally be is classic, stylish, and memorable.
FABEZ got into the game through an unconventional manner. He began as a ghostwriter for the infamous Alec Monopoly. That was really his introduction to spray paint and street art down in Miami. He would take half-used cans from work and throw up his own pieces on his own time. He had no idea he was working with upper-tier tools at the time. “So I started meeting other graff kids, and they’d have some cheap-ass cans. I’d pull up with Gold because I’d get it from work.” he chuckled.
“Some dudes act tough. They’re like, you know, where you from? And then they say their crew and stuff? Yeah. And I just always give them a sticker. They’re less likely to snap me if I give them a gift.”
FABEZ passes out stickers to everyone who passes by. “Some dudes act tough. They’re like, you know, where you from? And then they say their crew and stuff? Yeah. And I just always give them a sticker. They’re less likely to snap me if I give them a gift.” FABEZ vinyl peace offerings seem to do the trick as passersby interrupt him as he flows.
His current collaboration is for an upcoming show. FABEZ’s piece will sit in the background of a photo, with sculpted elements emerging from the frame’s edges. But FABEZ has a history of making work that goes beyond the wall. FABEZ also does a fair amount of three-dimensional work, particularly with wearable masks. He made a stunningly crafted Mars Attacks! alien mask. “It was a perfect movie because everyone loves it, but you don’t see it a lot. I’d go to conventions and I’d wear it, and so many people would take pictures of me. And then I was like, this should be my own mask, with my branding.”
That was the impetus for the large piñata-like masks FABEZ can occasionally be seen cruising around in from time to time. They look like legitimate piñatas, complete with moving mouths.
That was the impetus for the large piñata-like masks FABEZ can occasionally be seen cruising around in from time to time. They look like legitimate piñatas, complete with moving mouths. He actually repurposes the mask over and over, giving it infinite variations. Before he got into the masks, FABEZ once made a giant piñata-themed skull complete with his name for eyes that he would use for shows. He seems to spend about equal time on the street as in the gallery, constantly lining up gallery shows, mural commissions, and various festivals. “I like them both equally,” he said, reflecting on the importance of “finding the right balance.” It’s an interesting note as graffiti becomes more and more embraced by the fine art world. “I try to make money, make a living off of it but not, like, get arrested.”
FABEZ is constantly creating work. “I do art full-time.” He pulled up a series of postal stickers he’s been painting characters on. He currently has about 200 finished, but is aiming for 300 to fill a gallery wall. It’s been a hard number to hit because many of them sell as he creates them. He’s also working on a series of hand painted street signs for a solo show. Ironically, he’s never had to steal one as there seems to be an abundance of street signs lying around LA. In fact, there was one discarded in the alley where he was working on his latest piece.
Whether it’s in an alleyway or in a trendy gallery FABEZ constant flow of creation is truly bone deep.
Brian Bloss is a Los Angeles based artist, writer, and photographer. He enjoys long walks on the beach and anything wrapped in bacon.
