Born in 1968, Justin BUA spent his childhood years in New York City’s gritty Upper West Side. Even as a child, he was captivated by the street life that would soon become his artistic muse. While attending Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music and Performing Arts, BUA experienced the birth of Hip-Hop culture first hand; he was a prolific graffiti writer and was a member of the first breakdancing crew to perform in major opera houses and venues across the world. However, BUA decided to pursue his passion in fine art, and attended Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California where he earned a B.F.A in Illustration. Currently, BUA teaches figure drawing at the University of Southern California.

BUA’s work is primarily inspired by the underground urban world, and he uses both cultural icons and society’s marginalized as his subjects. BUA’s pieces feature music dance, politics, history, and emotion, and he paints his subjects with reverence. With his unique style that melds the sophistication of fine art with the intensity of street art, it comes as no surprise that BUA is the leading artist of urban life with pieces featured in the private collections of former presidents, actors, musicians, professional athletes, dancers, and street kids.