David Brunning's Sought-After Graffiti

He started out tagging trains and painting the shadowy walls beneath bridge decks. Five years later, David Brunning is one of Calgary’s most sought-after visual artists.

Working under the artistic alias TheKidBelo, Brunning has moved on from the more illegal aspects of graffiti to become a darling of big business. Holt Renfrew and Adidas have commissioned his work.

His art lines the halls of the City of Calgary’s Water Centre and his 100-foot-long mural commissioned by the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation provides a much-needed bright spot in the mostly vacant East Village. And athletes including pro golfer Stephen Ames and Flames star Jarome Iginla have paid big bucks for Brunning’s work.

Brunning dubs his style “graffiti abstraction.” Think of it as a sophisticated version of artistic expression that began, as you might expect, with teenage interests in skateboarding and hip-hop. “I take everything I learned from the street and apply an abstract feel,” says Brunning. “Mine is a raw, natural approach to art, combined with talent and technical skills. It’s not just splashing paint onto a canvas; there is precision and cleanliness.”

His mash-up of technique, creativity and business savvy means he can make a living off of customizing graffiti for clients ranging from homeowners looking for a canvas, to Art Central who asked for a mural on the outside of its building.

At just 32 years old, the self-taught artist is already at a reflective phase in his career. He writes about his life and experiences as an artist on his blog richbeyondbills.com. “I got into graffiti through my love of writing and handwriting, in particular, so this is full circle for me,” says Brunning.