Origins in Rebellion

Most kids grow out of their “drawing on the wall” phase. Tom Kiewra didn’t. That was just the beginning.He started tagging school desks and home walls at a young age, picking up his first spray can at twelve. Graffiti quickly became more than a phase—it was an obsession. He studied the full range of street styles: tags, throw-ups, pieces, calligraffiti. He experimented endlessly, driven to find a voice through letters. His visual language became uniquely his own.

From Dropout to Designer

Kiewra was expelled from art school, a turning point that led him toward graphic design. He pursued formal studies in both the Netherlands and New York City, the birthplace of graffiti. There, he honed his skills in branding, typography, and color theory while deepening his fascination with urban lettering. The contrast between traditional design and chaotic street writing became the foundation of his evolving style.

From Illegal Walls to Legal Canvases

In 2019, Kiewra made the pivotal leap from street vandalism to fine art. By 2020, he opened his first studio and began producing large-scale works that merged graffiti energy with design precision. His artworks became vessels for personal stories, fragments of a past filled with chaos, abuse, addiction, and recovery. Each piece is layered with textures, symbols, and letterforms that speak to a life transformed through purpose, self-belief, and faith.

While his work may look clean, refined, and carefully composed, the process behind it is fueled by adrenaline. For Kiewra, painting isn’t calm. It’s electric. Whether he’s taking a risky creative swing that could ruin the entire piece or finishing a work and feeling the physical rush hit, adrenaline is part of the ritual. It’s the same thrill that once pushed him to paint trains and streets, chasing excitement and the unknown. Today, that rush still drives his studio work. Each canvas carries that pulse, transmitting emotion, tension, and movement to the viewer. Beneath the slick finishes is an undercurrent of risk, energy, and release.

 Global Reach, Authentic Voice

Over the past five years, Kiewra’s work has gained international traction. He’s built a worldwide collector base, with notable clients including Chriss Stussy, DJ Chuckie, and rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine. He has collaborated with major brands such as ESPN, The Walt Disney Company, and STRAAT Museum, and has exhibited in shows across Europe and the U.S., including a highlight appearance during Miami Art Basel in 2023 after winning an open call at Miami Art Week.

Style & Mission

At the core of Kiewra’s work is the letter. He treats each piece as a hybrid between painting and coded communication, where some messages are clear, and others are hidden. He experiments with new letter styles, bold color combinations, and intricate layering techniques. His goal: to challenge the traditional perception of graffiti and elevate it. Kiewra paints stories that once belonged to the streets and reframes them for galleries, homes, and collectors, without losing their edge.

Graffiti in the streets can range from quick, singular words known as “tags” to full-scale, multi-color murals called “pieces.” In the world of graphic design, the goal is the opposite of clutter: distill a message to its strongest core, make it work in black and white before adding extras. Kiewra brings that same mindset to his canvases. He strips down the noise and focuses on the essence. Every artwork aims to communicate a message without overexplaining it, highlighting only the most vital elements, letting silence, space, and style do the rest.

Some meanings are obvious. Some are buried. Just like in graffiti, not everything is made to be understood. Some tags are meant only for the writer. That tension, between revelation and secrecy, control and chaos, is what defines Kiewra’s work. It’s art born from adrenaline, discipline, and a need to leave a mark that outlives the wall.