THE ROAD WARRIORS 2019 Graffiti Road Trip Across the American West

The Road Warriors project was created around a simple idea: discovering cities through graffiti and experiencing the diversity of urban cultures across different regions. Rather than focusing on a single destination, the journey itself became the central element of the project.

Covering more than 8000 miles across the American West, the trip connected major urban centers, artistic communities and landscapes that differ dramatically from one another. Each city offered its own atmosphere, history and relationship with street art, making every stop a unique experience.

Graffiti has always maintained a strong connection with movement and travel. Since the early days of the culture, artists have crossed neighborhoods, cities and countries to exchange ideas, discover new styles and build connections with fellow writers. The Road Warriors project follows this tradition by transforming travel into a creative process.

Throughout the journey, murals and graffiti pieces were produced in collaboration with local artists. These encounters were among the most valuable aspects of the experience. Every city introduced new perspectives, techniques and stories that enriched the project far beyond the artworks themselves.

Cities such as Oakland, San Francisco and Berkeley offered direct access to some of the most influential urban art scenes on the West Coast. Their long history of alternative culture, activism and public art created inspiring environments for creative exchange.

Further south, Los Angeles and Las Vegas revealed very different urban landscapes. Massive infrastructures, intense visual cultures and contrasting architectural environments influenced the way we approached public space and artistic intervention.

The route also passed through Denver, Salt Lake City, Sacramento, El Paso and Austin, each contributing its own identity to the journey. Together, these cities formed a broad portrait of the American West and demonstrated the diversity that exists within contemporary urban culture.

Beyond painting walls, the trip was about documenting experiences, discovering local communities and understanding how graffiti adapts to different social and cultural contexts. The same artistic language can take very different forms depending on location, history and local influences.

Traveling long distances also creates opportunities for reflection. Endless roads, changing landscapes and constant movement become part of the creative process. Many ideas developed during the journey would later influence future murals, drawings and larger artistic projects.

One of the most important aspects of The Road Warriors was the human dimension. The friendships created along the route, the artists encountered and the moments shared around painting sessions remain at the heart of the project. These connections continue to shape artistic collaborations years later.

The experience was so significant that it eventually led to a sequel. Several years later, a new Road Warriors adventure was organized, this time exploring the East Coast of the United States and extending the spirit of discovery that defined the original journeys.

Ultimately, The Road Warriors 2019 stands as both a travel project and a creative exploration of American graffiti culture. Through murals, encounters and thousands of miles on the road, the project celebrates the enduring connection between travel, artistic freedom and urban expression.