Today we’d like to introduce you to Dahveed “skeez181” Flores
Hi Dahveed “skeez181”, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I began my art career in 5th grade while drawing flyers for high school skip parties that my brother and his friends would get me to do. I started spray painting in my hood at the age of 12 and quickly fell in love with the art form. My first commissioned to paint was for a local car wash. After people began asking the owner for my number is when I started getting more work. I began painting freight trains for the adrenaline rush which shortly turned into an addiction. Unfortunately I was arrested in 1996 for painting a kaboose train. After my older brother posted bail and got a lawyer for me, I decided to be a good boy and just focus on legal works. In the same year I was asked to paint murals for a high school art program called “”The Art of Harmony” which was sponsored by Coca Cola Comoany. I painted for that program for 12 years. It’s funny because in my last year painting for the Coke company I was commissioned to paint a restaurant that was built inside an old-stand alone kaboose freight train car! It’s funny how my art came full circle from train yard to commercial art commissions!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The biggest obstacle for me happened in 2003 when my home was burglarized. The thieves decided to break into my home while I was at an all night party. I use to have a recording studio in my garage which took me years to acquire! All gone in one night I even found 2 empty packs of bolony next to the dog houses! Smh. Found out 19 years later who it was and unfortunately turned out to be someone I thought I could trust.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
The thing I’m known for the most is my spray paint works. I paint a lot of street art in my hometown and in cities I visit. My style is heavy influenced by tribal Aztec culture, futurism and graffiti. My specialty is sculpting lifesize tribal face masks out of ceramic clay. I’m very proud of becoming an art instructor in 2014 which has led me to teaching art in juvenile detention centers, homeless missions and teachers art workshops from numerous school districts in Texas.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
In my youth I use to organize community breakdance parties and competitions in my neighborhood. I also DJed and hosted some of these events which were in Northside Houston Texas
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.skeez181.net
- Instagram: @skeez181
- Youtube: Channel skeez181
