Thomas De Balasy

Born in 1967 in the Paris region, Thomas de Belvata Balasy is a French painter internationally recognized for his unique approach to spray paint.

A pioneer of Pressureism – the art of painting exclusively with aerosol spray – he has refined and elevated this technique by mastering the interplay of pressure, distance, and angle to create works distinguished by exceptional textures, depth, and luminous effects.

During his teenage years, Thomas de Balasy became actively involved in the Hip-Hop graffiti movement in the late 1980s, working alongside many influential graffiti artists. His remarkable technical progression quickly earned him recognition within the scene under the name “BES."

Fascinated by mural painting, he chose spray paint as his sole artistic medium, deliberately rejecting traditional painting tools in favor of a single instrument capable of limitless expressive potential.

His work is based on complete mastery of freehand spray painting, executed without stencils, masking, or any auxiliary graphic tools. Through an extraordinary command of aerosol pressure, he creates subtle gradients, delicate drips, and intricate light effects with exceptional precision.
This approach allows for an extraordinary level of detail, even on small-scale formats, demonstrating that spray paint can achieve the same refinement traditionally associated with classical painting.

Whether producing monumental murals or intimate canvases, he captures the essence of his subjects with remarkable depth and sensitivity.

Today, Thomas de Balasy continues to push the boundaries of his discipline, refining his technique through constant experimentation.
Situated at the intersection of graffiti and classical painting, his work has played a significant role in establishing this emerging artistic language as a legitimate expression within the contemporary art world. In his hands, the gesture and mastery of the spray become an unmistakable artistic signature.

Driven by an uncompromising attention to detail and an ongoing exploration of the expressive possibilities of aerosol paint, Thomas de Balasy continually expands the technical and aesthetic limits of his medium.

Through his practice, Pressureism has evolved into a mature and distinctive artistic movement founded on innovation, experimentation, and technical virtuosity.

By transforming spray paint into a vehicle of remarkable subtlety and sophistication, Thomas de Balasy has developed a singular visual language that firmly establishes him as one of the leading figures in contemporary art.