Influenced by hip hop and graffiti from a young age, Dovente has a diverse background in fine art and graphic design. Hailing from the Dominican Republic, he proudly represents his country in his work wherever he goes, and has participated in projects in Cuba, Colombia, Peru, and across the US. He is known for depicting children and the simple joys of childhood in his murals, and he aims to inspire the youth in the neighborhoods where he works.
Johann M. Baez, known artistically as Dovente, was born in 1988 in Santo Domingo, DR. He studied graphic design at La Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD). Since he was a child, he collected graffiti magazines thanks to his great love for hip hop. After graduating with a degree in Fine Arts in 2006, he immediately began painting signs in his neighborhood. In this pivotal chapter, he discovered the airbrush, a tool that he used to make graffiti on t-shirts, and this discovery would come to influence his ultimate career as a master of spray paint.
Dovente draws inspiration from the communities he serves; in 2010, he began to participate in graffiti meetings that were held in different neighborhoods of his island, which gave him momentum and inspiration for his work. He continues to participate in these creative meetups to this day.
Throughout his career, Dovente has painted nearly the entire island of the Dominican Republic, and he has proudly represented his heritage in several countries. He has participated in projects globally including the ArteSano Project, Transiting Cuba, Today Santa Barbara, Museum of Urban Art in Peru, Aerosol Fest Cartagena Colombia, Amazonart Peru, Monumental DR, Yaucromatic PR, and Big Walls Big Dreams in Wynwood, Miami.
“I am inspired by the environment, the people. Making art in the street is my passion, because I try to bring art to people who do not know much about this type of artistic expression, or do not have the opportunity to go to a gallery. That is why my gallery is the street.” – Dovente
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