Dalek is one of the artists such as Shepard Fairey, Dave Kinsey, and Twist (aka Barry McGee) who are taking the old school styles of graffiti and while at the same time they are keeping it on the streets (keeping it real), they are also taking it to new arenas and exposing the work to whole new audiences. Fortunately, Dalek and other artists like him are taking the old influences they've inherited and taking them steps further. The work is young, raw, and energetic

"I was always been interested in art although I was never any good at it. I never really tried painting until I started college in 1988 (VCU in Richmond, VA). I took a few art history courses and messed around a bit painting abstract messes... but that was really about the extent of it. I didn't get into graffiti until 1993 when I was living in Chicago. Although I had messed around with tagging, if wasn't until '93 that I started painting walls and came up with the tag name dalek."

It's not surprising then that some of his biggest influences are his contemporary surroundings. One can notice that his paintings are brightly colored with funny little creatures he calls monkeys. He says, "The monkey image evolved out of painting graffiti.... trying to find something to set myself apart from the other writers... it just came from messing around." This image came into existence in part due to the "subconscious melting pot of excessive cartoon viewing." Another huge influence is his contemporary writers. In addition to paintings and wall drawings, Dalek also produces posters and stickers (the dlv philosophy); an idea and images helped refined by Shepard Fairey. He taught Dalek the "beauty and power of simplicity" as did virus and giant. Other influences are Twist "the Michael Jordan of his (dalek's) art world, tdee, jaser from scribble, Dave Kinsey, Rich Jacobs, Tobin Yelland, Mark Gonzales... the list could go on.

What's important about these images of Dalek's is that he is trying to convey a meaning through all of this... he's putting this meaning not just on canvas but on the street as well where people, everyday people, walk by and soak it in. It's the beauty of public art. He says, "I just want people to stop being idiots. I am just beyond sick and tired of how ridiculously insecure everybody is... that they always have to constantly exude this false sense of importance. So, I hope to reach people on that level, break them down, so they can realize what hypocrites they are... reevaluate themselves... hopefully commit suicide or get their act together. One or the other."

Dalek, who currently lives in Richmond, VA and attends graduate school, grew up all over the world in places such as Japan and Hawaii. He plans on moving upstate after graduation where he can have a lot of space to work in and just paint. Past shows include involvement in the modart project in San Diego (a group show of artists involved in or around skateboarding), the Move Shows curated by Rich Jacobs, a group show at 111 Minna in San Francisco this past February, a solo show at Alive Gallery in Richmond, and the Modest Behavior show with Shepard Fairey in June. He like pizza and can't touch his toes... imagine that.