Collection: Miguel Paredes Artist Biography and Art Gallery Collection

Miguel Paredes was born in New York in 1966. He is an artist and urban realist who combines cutting-edge techniques of street art, pop art and Japanese animation to create his own genre of trend-forward pieces. Growing up on 72nd Street in the Upper West Side of Manhattan, Paredes exuded early signs of artistic ability and accepted an invitation to New York City’s prestigious Fiorello La Guardia High School of Music and Art – immortalized in the musical and movie Fame – in the early 1980s. His studies at Fiorello coincided with the explosion of street culture in the city. Miguel Paredes drew inspiration from notorious pop artists like Andy Warhol and Keith Haring and plunged headlong into the world of graffiti and pop art taking the name “Mist” as his moniker. Another influential figure in Paredes’ artistic career is his mentor, Ronnie Cutrone. Cutrone was Andy Warhol's immediate assistant at the Factory during the notorious pop artist's most productive and prestigious years. To Paredes, his mentor's paintings are the essence of pop: colorful, lively and highly accessible. Cutrone’s constant use of bright and fluorescent colors not only influenced Warhol’s return to such hues, but shaped Miguel Paredes’ color palette choices as well.

Miguel Paredes' combination of street graffiti, landscape and pop art have propelled his crossover from street walls, during his days as a student at the prestigious Fiorello LaGuardia High School of Music and Art in the ‘80s, to becoming a highly regarded creator of fine decorative art, prized by collectors from Los Angeles to Seoul. As an extension of his artistic career, in 1998 Paredes created a graphics and printing company by the name of PKGRAPHICS.COM back in 1998, the success of the company grew nationally making PKGRAPHICS one of the leading companies in the nation commercial printing and today still serving clients nationally.. Paredes, now Miami-based, has become one of the local arts’ scenes most prosperous artists. “Pulgha World,” an 18x26 mosaic mural donated by the artist on August 2010, is a colorful landmark located in the heart of Wynwood Arts District and his nearby new solo space, Miguel Paredes Fine Art Gallery, opened on February 2011 to rave reviews. He recently became the first Miami-Dade resident to ever receive simultaneous proclamations from the City of Miami Beach and Village of Pinecrest honoring his artistic donation to the Miami Design Preservation League’s Art Deco Welcome Center and support of historic preservation, devotion to the city and positive impact on the community.

Miguel Paredes continues to make his mark by further expanding his inspirational environment while simultaneously showcasing his works at local, national and international shows, including Artist In Residence at the iconic National Hotel during Art Basel Miami Beach, 2010.In February 2011 The artist relocated Miguel Paredes Fine Art Gallery to a larger Wynwood space and unveiled his first 3D interior mural entitled “Brownstone Lounge”, a collaborative project with Miami-based interior designer, 3D specialist Jeff Vaughan and celebrated Broadway scenic designer and producer Antonio Marion, CEO of Marion Theatrical Productions in New York City. A month later, Paredes donated a mosaic mural entitled “The New Yorker/Senator” to the Miami Design Preservation League’s Art Deco Welcome Center located in the heart of South Beach. In an effort to continue his commitment to the community and dedication to charitable public art works, Paredes was joined by Mayor Cindy Lerner to unveil two separate charitable art projects at Pinecrest Elementary in October of 2011: an expansive, permanent 24-foot, tile mosaic and a custom-painted dog sculpture, which is part of the SmARTy Dog for SmART Schools program, commissioned to raise money for electronic “Smart Boards” to be installed in classrooms.

Miguel Paredes was named the official artist of the 12th Annual Latin Grammy Awards. The Latin Recording Academy announced at the September Nominee Press Conference that Paredes has received the highly acclaimed honor of being the commissioned artist to create the artwork for the VIP event invitation, commemorative show tickets, collectible poster and official program book for the industry’s pinnacle recognition of Latin music. As a judge in the 2011 Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series, Paredes supported the efforts of Bombay Sapphire, Russell & Danny Simmons’ Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation and Complex Media to launch a nationwide search to identify the finest undiscovered talent in the field of visual arts. South Florida’s regional competition was held at his gallery during a semi-finals event on October 22, 2011. The finale event took place during Art Basel 2011 co-hosted by Russell Simmons.

Miguel Paredes has also signed on with ACME Archives to create custom artwork for Disney Underground, which celebrates the interpretations of a new generation of visual artists stemming from the urban underground pop art movement. Chris Jackson, Acme’s Director of Creative Affairs and Product Development notes, “Miguel’s inspired take on the urban-pop movement makes him a perfect fit for Acme’s Disney Underground line. Mr. Paredes’ Disney work is showcased among the top tier of Acme’s licensed art in galleries worldwide including the new Acme Gallery at FAO Schwartz Fifth Ave in New York.

Miguel Paredes is well known for his iconic, Japanese anime-inspired digital series Pulgha & Birds. In this delightful collection, Pulgha, a magical flea, and her friends, the spirited Birds Yori & Kosue, join forces for good. The William Morris Endeavor Agency has signed on to represent the Pulgha collection to develop a branded cartoon series as well as other licensing opportunities for Paredes’ designs and products. An additional animated sitcom, “The Wheelies” is under development.