Austin Beiv grew up on the tough streets of Brooklyn, where the expression of oneself was usually done through wall tagging—or as they say in Italian, graffito. Austin was influenced by many different artists, particularly Fernando Carlo, who was well known for his expressive graffiti. This influence from his childhood provides the edge and contemporary look found in his art pieces today. After graduating from Pratt Institute in the early ’90s, Austin now travels all over America to look for inspiration, whether it’s a tagged wall or an art museum. He loves to embrace all the unique and expressive simplicities life offers.