Back to San José Walls

This year marked our second time being invited to San José Walls. Back in 2018, the festival still had that raw warehouse energy, a gathering space that felt closer to underground jams than anything else. Fast forward to 2025, and the place has transformed into a new building with a gallery and a gift shop, both handled by Empire Seven Studios, who also continue to run the festival.

What makes it rare and precious is that the developers did not erase the past. Instead, they trusted the artists who were here before, letting the culture remain alive within new walls. It is not every day that street art gets such respect, and it felt good to return to a place that has grown without losing its roots.

The murals

We started with the big wall along the tracks, the kind of surface that makes you want to go all in. Bold lines, bright colors, and that mix of graffiti and graphic design that has become our signature. Painting at this scale is always a rush, and San José gave us the perfect canvas.

And because we never leave half empty cans behind, we ended up doing a smaller piece on the side. A spontaneous gesture, just for the love of it. That is graffiti at its core, no schedule, no permission needed, just the energy of the moment turning leftover paint into something new.

When you paint on a festival wall, there are always people who will try to frame it as public art or placemaking. We get it, but for us it is still graffiti first. The big wall is for the city, the small wall is for us. Both are necessary, both are true, and that balance is what keeps us coming back.

The talk and book signing 

One of the highlights of this year’s festival was the Artist Talk + Book Signing at Empire Seven Studios. Together with Kevin Lyons @klyonsnatborn, we sat down for an open conversation about what it takes to turn a personal style into global influence, how graffiti can evolve into a full fledged brand, and how to stay creatively true while working with the world’s biggest companies.

The discussion was moderated by Victoria Velasquez and Ryan Mante of Petals and Peacocks, who made sure the conversation stayed grounded in what matters most, how to build a creative practice that moves between the street and the studio without losing its roots.

The vibe was relaxed, closer to a jam session than a formal panel. We shared stories, Kevin added his perspective, and the audience jumped in with sharp questions. There was plenty of humor too, because sometimes the best way to get a point across is to laugh at it first. We were actually proud that we managed to balance the conversation with Kevin, who is such a strong speaker, passionate and articulate. This time we really bounced ideas back and forth, and that chemistry made the talk even more enjoyable (we love you Kevin).

The exhibition

We also presented “Origin of the Name 123KLAN” at the Skydeck Gallery, right inside the new building. Canvases, prints, and drawings captured the same mix of graffiti and graphic design we bring outdoors, but in a more intimate way.

This deserves its own spotlight, so we will share a dedicated recap of the exhibition soon, with more photos and details.

The spirit of the festival

San José Walls is not just another mural festival. It has roots, and that makes all the difference. From the early days when it felt like painting in a warehouse jam to today, with a full building, a gallery, and a packed week of events, the core energy has stayed true.

A huge part of that comes from the people behind it, the Empire Seven Studios family (Juan Carlos Araujo, Stacey Kellogg, Jennifer Ahn, Tomomi Ito, Lan Nguyen, Kevin Nguyen). It is a small team that quietly handles everything, prep, sponsorship, setup and wrap up, with heart and efficiency. They even made sure we never painted hungry or thirsty, organizing lunches at the murals and treating us toincredible Tono coffee all week long.

As if that was not enough, each artist received a portrait in front of their wall, shot by Nitrate Fox and mailed to us afterward. A thoughtful gift, and another sign of how much care and respect this team puts into every detail.

Credits and thanks

All the murals from this year’s edition remain visible across the city. If you stop by the Empire Seven Studios store, you can also visit the gallery. We left posters and goodies for visitors. The space is right by Japantown, which makes it a great stop when you pass through San José.

• Photography: @lannycatcheswalls @1ill510 @nitrate_fox
• Videography: @nguyen.kev_
• Supported by: @worldwidewalls @empire7studios
• Sponsors: @sjculture @cityofsanjose @exhibitjtown @signiasanjose @crescoequipmentrentals @pacificgasandelectric @montanacans_usa @monsterenergy @monstermusic @montanacans

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• In partnership with: @guadaluperiverparkconservancy @visitsanjose

Conclusion

Coming back to San José Walls felt like more than just another trip. It was a return to a place that has grown without losing its roots, thanks to a team that treats artists like family and a city that embraces its culture. Two murals, a talk, an exhibition, and a lot of memories later, we left San José with the same energy we brought and a few extra reasons to come back again.