Behind The Brush with Disem
Welcome to Behind the Brush, where we offer a peek behind the curtain through the voices of talented artists within our community. This week, we’re featuring Disem, a dynamic artist who has made a significant impact on the Miami art scene. Known for his large-scale murals, Disem has brought his bold, expressive style to a variety of canvases—including walls, basketball courts, vehicles, and more—creating striking activations for clients across the U.S.
Q: Miami is a place full of movement, energy, and culture. How has that shaped the way you create?
A: “Miami is one of my biggest inspirations. It has molded me in many aspects, from my pink and teal color palettes to the subject matter of my work. I’d go as far as even the way I dress and talk. A significant inspiration and driving force behind my initial work was seeing the lack of representation of our own culture in my city. Initially, there were murals of Biggie, Tupac, and Marilyn Monroe—typical pop art murals. I took it upon myself to show love to those who inspired and built our community and culture, such as Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Dwyane Wade, Trick Daddy, and others.”
Q: Your murals are seen by hundreds of thousands—maybe millions—of people. What do you hope they take away? Or does that change for you each time you create something new?
A: “It depends on the piece and its location, but I usually aim to inspire. I often think of a younger audience and try to make my subjects relatable, so that they can feel inspired if it’s a person I’m using as the subject. I’m a strong believer that good art doesn’t necessarily have to be visually appealing, but it does need to spark thought.”
Q: Being a muralist is a balance of art and business. How do you navigate that?
A: “I think that’s the most difficult part of what I do. Painting murals can be both physically and mentally draining, especially in this Miami heat. I tend to start my days slowly and use my mornings for what I consider office work—emails, calls, and so forth. Then I move on to producing and painting. I usually do my design and conceptualizing work late at night because I feel creatively inactive until the sun sets.”
Q: You’ve worked with some of the most recognizable sports leagues and teams around the world, often painting their current superstars or icons of the past. How do you approach painting legendary figures while still bringing in your own style and individuality?
A: “I take the research aspect of my work just as seriously as the painting. I start by looking into the subject matter and learning about them, researching what images have been previously painted and steering away from the more popular ones. I look for the “B-side” images for these projects, as I often work from photographs. I then adjust and recompose the image to fit my aesthetic before finalizing the composition. My ultimate goal with these pieces is to inspire and motivate the viewer.”
Q: What’s been one of your favorite projects and why did it stand out to you?
A: ‘I’ve had a few favorites. I think the piece I did of Udonis Haslem was particularly strong. At the time, he wasn’t the most popular player on the team for those outside our city, but he was a strong, if not the strongest, representation of our city on the team. He was born and raised here, made sacrifices for the team both physically and financially, and remained loyal and humble, giving back to the city on and off the court. Usually, with these athletes, we glorify moments of victory. In the mural I painted, he has a cut above his eye, with blood dripping down like a tear, mixed with sweat. Sometimes success isn’t pretty; often, it takes blood, sweat, and tears to reach the finish line. For that and many other reasons, I consider it one of my favorites. Recently, I also had the pleasure of exhibiting an installation in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. I created an installation with a large “Dism” tag in the background, painted almost as a ghost image. Above that, I placed a painting interpreting “Anacaona.” To view the painting, one had to stand under 27 machetes, each screened with my pattern. Each machete represented one of the 27 “Zemi” ancestral gods, or spirits, of the Tainos. That’s probably one of my other favorite pieces, and I look forward to creating more work and experiences like this.”
Q: How do you decide on a color palette for a piece? Is it instinctual, or do you have a process for it? It feels like you can spot your work from miles away!
A: “Long before the pink and teal trend took off in Miami, I started trying to make my work identifiable when painting in other cities. I wanted to leave a little bit of Miami wherever I went. The pink and teal, although more in pastel tones, strongly represented Miami, so I began using those colors but updated the look to make them more vibrant, incorporating magenta and cyan. I’m not sure if it was my influence or just a collective thought/energy that started moving forward with these colors, but they are currently much more actively used in our city, and I love it.”
Q: You’ve activated beautiful murals on some pretty big walls. What are some of the key things an artist should consider when designing large-scale murals?
A: “Thank you! I think an artist should first consider the culture and demographics of the area, then analyze the space, and finally consider the time and schedule they have to create what they want. A lot of times we go overboard in designing without considering how much time and effort we have to put in to create it.”
Q: Miami and Wynwood are held as an epicenter for street art and talented artists. To succeed there, I imagine you have to be at least a little bit competitive. How do you balance that, while also being community-forward?
A: “I think having my roots in graffiti and staying somewhat active in the “sport” has kept my competitive nature alive. Although in my younger years I sought to outdo others in a respectful manner, now I find myself paying a lot less attention to others and focusing on outdoing myself. I love what I do. Even though I’ve been in this for a couple of decades, I feel very fresh in this game and want to keep it that way. As for being community-focused, this community built me, so I try to give back as often as possible. I’m a strong believer that big change comes from cumulative smaller actions. So I do my part to bring about the change I want to see in my surroundings and in the communities I have the honor of visiting.”
Q: What directions or themes are you excited to explore in your upcoming works?
A: “I want to work more with installations and sculptures, building interactive pieces. I look forward to creating works that continue to inspire and touch on subject matter that might make us somewhat uncomfortable to discuss. However, by presenting these topics in a tasteful manner, we can help open discussions and spark thought.”
Q: Let the people know where they can follow you and keep up with your journey!
A: “Instagram: @Disem305
Thank you, Muros, for sharing the spotlight and taking an interest in me and my work. I appreciate you! I’m looking forward to coming out to Chicago! And a huge shoutout to all my family, friends, and supporters!”
