Hemispheric Conversations: Urban Art Project is pleased to announce its 2025 visiting artists in residence will be arriving in Pittsburgh on September 5th for 10 days of programming in the city.

This year’s resident artists are Venazir Martinez from the Philippines and Musa 71 and Harry Bones from Spain. HCUAP is the one of the few official residencies for writers and muralists in the world, and we are especially excited for this year’s programming. Venazir, Harry, and Musa will be participating in a group exhibition, running a youth workshop at the Carnegie Library, and speaking on a panel at the Andy Warhol Museum. In addition, the artists will be creating mural works in the city of Pittsburgh for anyone in the public to see and enjoy and will be onsite during a paint jam in Garfield.

About HCUAP

Hemispheric Conversations: Urban Art Project (HCUAP, pronounced, “hiccup”) seeks to create platforms for conversation and education about urban art production (graffiti, street art, and muralism, among other genres) to explore aesthetic and historical connections between post-industrial cities.

Beginning in 2016, we have sustained nine years of programming that focus on the intercultural exchange between the post-industrial cities like Pittsburgh, Chicago, and León Guanajuato, Mexico. HCUAP’s team is scholar Dr. Caitilin Bruce of University of Pittsburgh, journalist Emma Riva, and artists and community organizers Max Gonzales, and Shane Pilster.

Funding for the residency is provided by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, University of Pittsburgh’s Global Studies Center and Nationalities Room and International Exchange Program. Housing is provided by Pedantic Artist Residency. Paint sponsorship is provided by NBQ ProSpraypaint.

About the Visiting Artists in Residency

Musa71 is a graffiti writer from Barcelona who started doing graffiti in 1989. She has been painting since then, developing her art in the street, focusing on letters and the use of colors to transmit emotions. She is also the founder of the Breaking Down the Rules podcast, which provides crucial education on the history of graffiti.

Venazir Martinez, a street muralist and visual “anthro-preneur” from the Philippines, intertwines souls and spaces with her signature red thread, weaving a vibrant tapestry of intersectional narratives that explore the evolving relationships between human traditions, cultures, memories, and the landscapes that shape them.

Harry Bones, from Sabadell, Spain, started doing graffiti in 2001. Harry Bones is a multidisciplinary artist known for his unmistakable style that fuses graffiti art, illustration, and chromatic mastery, creating captivating works ranging from hyper-detailed to minimalist.

The events programming for HCUAP’s resident artists is as follows. All events are free and open to the public.

Entangled Histories: Urban Art and its Diasporas Art Show
Featuring, HCUAP Visiting Artists in Residence and local artists Matt Spahr, Val Kollwitz, Mads Suquet , Corey Ochai, WRKR, Zim Syed, Pedro Ibarra, and Tom Ndiaye.
Slanted and Enchanted, 5015 Penn Ave
September 5, 5pm-8:30pm. Show runs through September 24

Teen Art Workshop
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, East Liberty
September 9, 4:30-6:30

Artist Talk with Musa71, Harry Bones, and Venazir Martinez, moderated by Caitlin Bruce and Emma Riva
Andy Warhol Museum (Free but registration is required)
September 12, 6PM-8PM

Community Paint Jam

Wings Over Pittsburgh, 4905 Penn Avenue

September 13-14, 12PM-6:30PMThe artists will be available for interviews during the duration of their stay in Pittsburgh, through 9/15. We hope you can join us for the public-facing events and get a chance to meet these incredible artists.