Artist of the month: Krave

All about the multifaceted artist Daniel Fila a.k.a. Krave

Daniel Fila (Krave) is a multitalented artist whose work ranges from mural installations to and abstract paintings, animations, and urban sculpture. He is best known for The Fresh Monkey, his signature character which he incorporates into most of his works.

Daniel was born in Miami, Florida and raised in the suburb of West Perrine. When he was a young boy he began sketching, being influenced by his father who was a commercial artist. Later on, Daniel attended the Design and Architecture Senior High (DASH), one of the country's most respected art schools, where he was first exposed to urban culture and street art. Graffiti became one of the central themes of his artwork because of the danger, intrigue, originality and urgency associated with this painting style. After he graduated the high school, Daniel attended Columbus College of Art and Design where he graduated with a B.F.A. Then, he returned to Miami where he searched for work as an illustrator and continued to paint in his free time.

Fila has been influenced by many artists, including artists as diverse as J.C. Leyendecker, Os Gemeos, Robert Crumb, Barry Mcgee, and Frank Frazetta, but Bob Marley remains one of the biggest artistic influences in his life.

The artist became notorious after he painted a 13-foot, posterior-view nude called "Erin" on a mural in the Miami Design District and an anonymous passersby protested the sight of the half-naked woman on busy Biscayne Boulevard by buffing it.

Krave collaborated with many companies along the years, including the Ritz Carlton Palm Beach, MTV, Greyhound, SLS Hotel Miami Beach, and The GMCVB. His murals also appeared in the "Pain & Gain" movie which was directed by Michael Bay.

You can find Daniel's street art throughout Wynwood, the Miami Design District and in Little Havana, where you can find the mural entitled "Ladies in White", which was inspired by the Damas de Blanco. The artist is currently working at the El Fresco gallery, located on SW 12th Ave between 5th and 6th Streets.

If you want to see more of his artwork, you can visit his official website.