Etam Cru, of Richmond Mural Project Fame, Plugged on CNN

by | Nov 14, 2013 | ART, DOWNTOWN RVA, RICHMOND NEWS, STREET ART

As part of their ‘On the Road’ series, CNN gave some airtime to Poland’s Etam Cru, a group of street artists who have helped make the Richmond Mural Project world-renowned.


As part of their ‘On the Road’ series, CNN gave some airtime to Poland’s Etam Cru, a group of street artists who have helped make the Richmond Mural Project world-renowned.

You’ll probably recognize Etam’s handiwork right near VCU Campus – The massive blue-haired beauty in a bowl of strawberries.

Here’s what CNN had to say, including calling them “Bigger than Banksy”…

From a tumbling jockey to a fantasy tree house, the artists employ a mix of modern styles and motifs from traditional Polish folklore.

Each piece takes around a week to produce, says Blejzyk, and the reaction from the public is usually positive.

“For us most the important thing is to create an illustration where people could stop in front of it and turn on their imagination for a couple of minutes,” he says.

You can read more about Etam Cru in an interview we did with them earlier this year.

Here’s a sample:

I noticed you used mostly rollers and brushes for your mural here… is that your preferred method for murals?

SAINER: Spray cans too.
BEZT: Yeah, some spray cans for details. It’s just easier to cover a bigger surface with a roller than with the spray paint.
SAINER: It’s faster and you don’t smell the fumes.
BEZT: You can also mix the color that you want and not rely on what is available in spray cans.
SAINER: Yeah, mixing paint is preferred. It’s also easier for our travels because not every country has the whole palate of all of the spray cans, so it’s much easier to use latex house paint. Everywhere has house paint.

RVA Staff

RVA Staff

Since 2005, the dedicated team at RVA Magazine, known as RVA Staff, has been delivering the cultural news that matters in Richmond, VA. This talented group of professionals is committed to keeping you informed about the events and happenings in the city.




more in art

Before Anyone Was Watching

I went to Virginia MOCA expecting to hear Andy Howell talk about skateboarding. Instead, I left thinking about community and how people find each other. Howell's installation opens Seamless, the museum's new exhibition exploring the overlap between art and design. At...

The Strange Afterlife of Virginia’s President Heads

Editor's Note: Reminder, the sculptures are located on private property and are not open for general visitation. Access is available only through scheduled guided tours, with Labor Day weekend currently expected to be the final tour on the calendar. Tour information...

Review | ‘As You Like It’ is Just How I Like It

If you’ve been reading these reviews for a while, you’ll notice I love me some context. Especially surrounding William Shakespeare’s plays. One of my favorite things about the existence of Richmond Shakespeare is that they’ve forced me to go back to the English Lit...

IllumiNATION Tells America’s Story on a Monumental Scale

Editor’s Note: RVA Magazine is partnering with the Virginia Museum of History & Culture on coverage related to America’s 250th anniversary, including Richmond SailFest and IllumiNation. It's hard to impress people with just a building. Yet standing in front of the...

Blöthar: “GWAR Didn’t Change. The World Freakin Changed.”

Richmond metal band GWAR says the Secret Service contacted the group following a recent performance at the Vans Warped Tour in Washington, D.C., that featured the mock execution of a Donald Trump effigy. Video of the performance, which showed band members...

Review | ‘Come From Away’ is the Best We’ve Ever Been

Do you remember the rollerblading guy with the American flag kit on September 12th? We will never forget the 11th for the horrors, but do you remember the 12th? The 13th? If you do, I don’t even have to say which year. If you don’t, let me tell you a little bit about...

Before Richmond Was an Arts City, There Was Best Products

Imagine pulling into a suburban shopping center to buy a toaster and finding a department store that appeared to be falling apart with corners breaking away, walls peeling open like a giant cardboard box, or facades seemingly collapsing under their own weight. For...