Behind the Murals with KeyDetail
Written by Emma Riva
Published on September 14th, 2026
Anyone who’s walked by New York’s Hudson Yards has seen muralist KEY DETAIL’s work, but he’s painted all over the world. The artist, who’s originally from Belarus, has become one of the most recognizable aesthetics across the United States, Europe and Asia. His mixture of surrealism and figuration is both whimsical and mysterious, drawing from his background in architecture and design. We sat down with him to learn more about his process and put a face to the artist behind the striking murals.
UP: How did you start doing street art?
KEY DETAIL: I started doing street art from a background in architecture, design, and studio painting. At some point, working only indoors started to feel limiting. I wanted my work to interact with real spaces and real people. Street art gave me that opportunity. In the beginning, I experimented on a small scale. Over time, I became more interested in how art can transform public spaces and connect with communities, not just exist as an isolated object.
That naturally led me to mural work. I started taking on larger projects, learning about the character of each place, and reflecting that in the design. Now street art for me is not just about painting walls. It’s about creating something meaningful within a specific environment and making art accessible to everyone.
“Now street art for me is not just about painting walls. It’s about creating something meaningful within a specific environment and making art accessible to everyone.”
UP: How did you develop your style?
My style developed gradually through a mix of formal training, experimentation, and working on real walls in different places. With a background in architecture, I’ve always been sensitive to structure, composition, and how a piece fits within a space. That foundation shaped the way I think about large-scale work from the beginning.
With a strong base in realism and classical painting, I started to move toward a more stylized and graphic approach. Working outdoors pushed that even further, because you have to adapt to scale and distance, so the style naturally becomes bolder and more readable.
Another important part of developing my style has been traveling and painting in different communities. Each project brings new cultural references, stories, and visual elements, and I try to absorb those influences rather than repeat the same formula. Over time, that process shaped a style with dynamic color, light, and composition, something that feels both site-specific and recognizable as my work.
UP: When you’re not muraling, what do you like to do?KD: When I’m not working on murals, I’m still very much immersed in art. I spend a lot of time studying and constantly thinking about new ideas and concepts that I can develop further in my work. I’m also always sketching, even if it’s not for a specific project. That’s usually where new directions and visual ideas come from. At the same time, I try to balance that with family life. Spending time with my wife and kids is really important to me. It helps me reset and brings me fresh energy.
“Every wall, every city, every community brings something different, and that’s what keeps it exciting for me.”
UP: Do you have a favorite place to paint?
KD: I wouldn’t say I have one specific favorite place. Every wall, every city, every community brings something different, and that’s what keeps it exciting for me. I really enjoy the process of arriving somewhere new, learning about the environment, the people, and the story of the place. That sense of discovery is what inspires me the most, so each new location feels like a new favorite.
UP: Are there any memories that stand out from your experiences making murals?
KD: I would say one of the most memorable periods for me was when my girlfriend at the time, now my wife, and I did a painting trip through Europe. We spent a couple of summers traveling through different countries, meeting new friends, and painting almost every day in new places. Every day felt different. We would stay on friends’ couches and feel completely happy and free. We also gained a lot of skills during that time, and it was a very important period for us. We had so much fun! It was full of experiences and moments that stayed with us. I’m really grateful to all our friends who supported us during that time, with our art and ideas.
Emma Riva is a writer, editor, and wine professional originally from New York and now based in Pittsburgh. She is the founder of Petrichor, an art magazine covering the arts and culture scene in Pittsburgh. Her work can be found in The Art Newspaper, Artforum, Whitehot Magazine, Newcity, and more.
Website: emmawithglasses.com
IG: @emmawithglasses