Steve Powers aka "Espo" just opened a new solo show on May 18, 2013, entitled “Visual Blues” at Alice Gallery in Brussels. In Powers’s own words, “I’m in awe of the power and the reach of music. To compete with the majesty of music, I make paintings that are visual blues. I distill my everyday experience into paintings I call Daily Metaltations. They are painted very fast, fresh from the epiphanies that inspired them. The larger paintings draw from those metaltations and go to a deeper understanding of the transactions we make everyday to live our lives.”

This classic photo was taken back when Steve Powers aka Espo, would paint roll downs with a brush in the middle of the day without permission.

For Steve Powers, the mandate of Public Art is entrenched in public service. I hope his mission continues and catches on with others in the field. Beyond offering an inspiring uppercut of double entendre’d messaging, Powers offers a free sign making service to the surrounding neighborhood during his stay. In this way he can give back to the local shops in need of some exterior surface painting outreach. After all, they are the ones permanently hosting the event whether they like Powers’ work or not. That way, he leaves an impression when he leaves an impression.

  Steve Powers aka Espo, offers is sympathy regarding street art in this simple painting. In part of his Daily Metaltation practice. Clever.

We previously reported that for Kurt Vile’s newest album he enlisted the expertise of fellow Philadelphian sign painter/wordsmith artist, Steve Powers aka ESPO. The album titled “ Waking On a Pretty Daze” will incorporate Powers artwork on the cover and in the packaging from a mural he painted in Philly. A short documentary was created on the making of this mural. It includes some of the ideas behind the visual imagery and vocabulary Powers chose to use and incorporate on the wall.

Last week, we posted a video from the New Yorkers project, which aims to document the lives of the unnoticed everyday New Yorker that makes up the diverse population. Their newest installment highlights the work of Steve Powers, highlighting his massive mural project on the parking structure in downtown Brooklyn and talking about his views, and ideas on being an artist.

Anyone feeling the holiday gift-buying panic yet? We sort of suffered through some high-tension shopping this past weekend, but if we were in Brooklyn, perhaps we would have found some peace. Steve Powers, 2x Juxtapoz cover artist, just opened a new storefront, ESPO's Creative Outlet. Residing at 4th Ave and Bergen St, in the Boerum Hill section of Brooklyn, the shop has a range of in-store only prints, along with ESPO-related books, catalogs, ephemera and a raincoat or two.

One thing you notice walking the streets of Johannesburg is everything is hand painted, with vinyl signs having little presence. Espo started another mural that is twice as big as the previous “Stay Up” mural and while they worked away, we walked around. Local artist Faith 47 happened to be putting up work around the corner from where were staying, so we briefly chatted with her.

Often when traveling to unknown lands, in this case Johannesburg, one can create certain expectations in their head and discover the exact opposite. After a few days running around, are initial skepticism of Joburg has been revoked and anything but negative. Aside from countless memorable adventures from our hospitable hosts and curators of the event, /ANDPEOPLE, we have witnessed two massive murals by ESPO and ROA come to completion.

May 2012 cover artist, Steve "ESPO" Powers (and December 2007 for that matter, as well as in Johannesburg with Jux at the moment) just had his film, A Love Letter For You, released on iTunes. Directed by Juxtapoz contributing editor, Joey Garfield, the film is a narrative based around Powers as he returns to his hometown of Philadelphia to paint on 50 rooftops along the market train line.