Mike Habs shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Mike Habs is a Los Angeles based contemporary artist recognized for his encrypted rhythmic approach to abstract expressionism, street art, and graffiti. His artwork – spanning murals, studio paintings, and installations – speaks in an energetic, distinctive visual language and communicates inspirational messages of overcoming adversity.
Habs’ unique fusion of minimalist precision and urban spontaneity has earned him critical acclaim, recently being selected as the winner of ABC7 LA’s official design for Los Angeles’s 2024 ‘Pride’ & AIDS Walk LA. Mike’s artwork has also been archived in the National Stonewall Museum Archives, featured on NBC’s “Will & Grace”, commissioned by the LA Giltinis Major League Rugby Team, W Hotel W Beverly Hills, and displayed during Art Week Miami.
Good morning Mike, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: Have you ever been glad you didn’t act fast?
Absolutely. Taking the extra time to step back, be thorough, and do things correctly has become more and more critical to my work.
A lot of magic thrives in that tension between urgency and patience, but especially in my new works I have learned to appreciate letting a concept prove its worth the fight before rushing in, and to trust my gut.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
I’ve learned from many creative people — mentors, fellow artists, even critics — but the group that probably taught me the most about work wasn’t in a studio or classroom – it was my rugby teammates.
I started playing in college, and kept on for many years after. The sport itself demands a lot of endurance, trust, and you have to be able to adapt under pressure…There’s an enthusiasm within that sport that’s pretty difficult to find anywhere else.
Rugby taught me a lot about resilience, discipline and enveloping a ‘keep going, learn, and improve’ mentality. It’s enabled me to navigate countless creative and career challenges over the years.
In many ways my teammates showed me that the hard work in preparing and practicing for matches isn’t just for building individual strength & endurance, but that it’s about building that up in order to elevate the people around you too.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Struggle taught me to appreciate a lot of the unglamorous work behind creation. Success often shines a lite on the destination, but struggle forced me to fall in love with the process. Paying attention to that process and trying to constantly improve became a big part of pushing my style and methods forward.
Successes can be fleeting, but the lessons learned from those tribulations —how to adapt, how to listen deeply to my own voice, translate new ideas, and how to keep going when no one is watching—those stay with you forever
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
They would probably say what truly drives me is creating artwork with depth that connects with people on a visceral level.
Constantly looking for ways to improve that impact & interplay – many times communicating a complicated idea concisely – really keeps me going.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
I paint my works future-focused. There’s been a lot of time spent in my studio understanding and ensuring that all the materials involved – pigment, canvas, varnish etc. are archival, museum grade and will last a lifetime.
It can seem like invisible work, but it’s important to me that the artwork’s vibrance and impact stay in tact for the people who support my work….that the paintings feel just as alive many years from now as they did the day they left my studio.
Especially lately less and less seems built to last. It’s made longevity that much more important to me.
It’s become my quiet little mutiny against disposable culture.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mikehabs.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mike_habs
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mikehabsart
