Daru

Artist Biography

The worlds of pop culture, street art, and cultural commentary collide in the work of painter and graffiti artist, Daru. Born in France and starting his decades-long art career as the cartoonist and author of the comic strip Serial Coxer, it wasn't until he shifted his focus to street art that David Nicolas became Daru. Known for his famous murals and graffiti, such as Le Chat in Clermont-Ferrand, Daru's signature style of art is unmistakable. 

Daru honed his artistic skill through street art, becoming a successful self-taught artist. Though he previously worked exclusively on walls as a street artist, Daru eventually became dissatisfied with the limitations on visibility that working on walls imposed. Rather than have his creations available only to those physically able to see them, Daru began experimenting with new mediums, moving from walls to canvas and eventually wood. Drawing his inspiration from animation, pop art, and social issues, Daru uses his artwork to create parodies that entertain as well as critique contemporary society. The dualistic intentions behind Daru's work as both inspiring joy in viewers while also offering commentary on societal problems, such as greed and social media use, blend to create the multi-layered artwork he is known for. 

Since 2019, Daru has worked with both canvas and wooden planks as mediums to make his street art more accessible to all. His work has been exhibited internationally, having been shown both within France as well as the United States. 

Daru lives and creates from his home in the countryside of France. 

Artist Statement

I approach my work with a minimum of two goals in mind: both to bring happiness to those who view it and to raise awareness of the pressing societal issues we face today. Street art has a rich history as a means of communication for everyday people. With my background as a street artist, I still view my artwork as a method of passing on a message, whether on a wall or a canvas. I first began working on canvas and wood instead of walls to enable any person to access my work, rather than it being limited only to those within the area. Using Posca Acrylic Markers and Montana 94C Graffiti Bomb, I work based on where my mood and thoughts take me, always valuing my creative freedom.

The conceptual side of my artwork is crucial to what I create. Being inspired by pop art and street art, I blend famous cultural figures, like Karl Lagerfeld or Donald Duck, to create new characters that highlight societal issues, like financial abuse. These parodies use dark humor, sarcasm, and recognizable figures to bring light to serious issues while still inspiring happiness and laughter in viewers. The balance between enjoyable artwork and social commentary is a key element in my approach. Whether my artwork focuses on greed, luxury, social media over-usage, or exploitation, I use familiar and entertaining characters to convey serious messages, blending different universes to create parodies that inspire viewers to see old things in new ways. 

Find this artist and many more in our collection of works by provocative artists.