@tameartz, Philadelphia, PA
Artist Bio Christian “TAMEARTZ” Rodriguez was born and raised in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico until the age of 9. He was drawn to the arts through his mother, who he watched draw for hours. His family moved to Philadelphia where he became infatuated with the graffiti art style, writing and culture. Loving parents allowed him to use his bedroom as a canvas to prevent him from getting in trouble, despite his best efforts to leave his mark on the neighborhood.
In 2018, Chris became the 1st graffiti artist in the world to be showcased in a three-month exhibition, Exploring Sovereignty, at The Philadelphia Museum of Art. The same year he was commissioned by the world-renowned Academy of Natural Sciences, making him the 1st graffiti artist in the world to paint a “graffiti style” dinosaur. In 2019, Chris helped launch Sunflower Philly and is currently serving as its Vice President and Art Director. He continues to be deeply involved in Philadelphia’s art and hip hop scene, hosting live graffiti productions, programming and fundraisers throughout the city..