Presented by adidas Originals, I ART JOBURG brings five world-renowned artists to the Maboneng Precinct, East Johannesburg to paint six large scale murals as an ode to the bustling metropole this September. 

On the tail end of the 2011 successes; namely the I ART WOODSTOCK and I ART SOWETO community art projects – which gave local artists a platform – I ART JOBURG has a distinctly international flavour to it:  

• Hailing from Overbrook in New York, Steve ‘ESPO’ Powers and the Icy Sign Team are sign-writing connoisseurs. They will paint two murals in true Espo-typographic-style.

• Madrid local Remed has mural artworks scattered across the world, which combine strikingly bold colours with strong lines and a raw African-inspired cubism. A photo of Remed accompanies this article.

• Famous for his obsession with painting animals, the unveiling of the mural by Roa from Belgium is eagerly anticipated.

• Best known for documenting the New York graffiti scene, legendary street culture photographer Martha Cooper will be documenting the I ART JOBURG community art project.

Durbanite fine artist Cameron Platter as well as Cape Town-based graffiti artist Falko have also been invited to work side by side with their international counterparts; offering the project a distinctly eclectic and diverse signature.

The first of the murals will be that of Remed and starts on 09 September. Visitors to the Maboneng Precinct during the month will be amongst the first to see each mural as it unfolds.

During the STR/CRD/12 weekend, adidas Originals will also be hosting the screening of the Steve 'ESPO' Powers documentary “LOVE LETTER TO YOU” as well as I ART JOBURG Talks: both free to the public.

Throughout October, visitors are welcome to join guided I ART JOBURG Walks curated by Ricky Lee Gordon a.k.a. Freddy Sam of /A WORD OF ART.

An exhibition of Martha Cooper’s photo documentary of the mural art project will be open for two months in the Maboneng Precinct where after it will move to Cape Town.

The Lowdown

• Visit www.i-art-joburg.com
• Follow @IARTJOBURG and #IARTJOBURG