CLEMENTE MUSEUM MURAL by Kyle Holbrook

Kyle Holbrook is an American digital artist, graphic designer, muralist, author and filmmaker.

 “I want to be an artist.”

From the time he could speak, the family story goes, Kyle Holbrook was declaring his life’s ambition.
He grew up drawing nearly constantly, handcrafting holiday and birthday cards that became sought-after treasures. His parents -- teachers in the Pittsburgh and Steel Valley school districts -- encouraged his efforts and exposed him to new vistas: an uncle’s farm near Ithaca, N.Y.; a Native American reservation outside of Taos, ; a summer-long sojourn with his father, an amateur photographer, capturing images across 40 states. Kyle studied at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, designing T-shirts and clothing in his spare-time. Becoming a father at a young age Holbrook started KH Designs at 19 years old. Gangs were an influence in his teenage years but Holbrook never missed his Saturday Art classes at Carnegie Mellon University. He started KH Design studio at 19 years old working for himself as well as employing artists and teachers at his college. Painting super realistic was an accomplishment he achieved in middle school by the time he started college he was given separate assignments from the rest of the class.

Kyle has completed work for the the (MLB) Major League Baseball All-Star Game in Pittsburgh 2006, the(UN) United Nations with one-million dollar ($1,000,000) grant to do murals post-Earthquake in Haiti 2010, the U.S. Open in 2007 in Oakmont, PA, for the G-20 Summit in 2009, the One Young World Conference in 2013, for Art Basel in Miami 2009-2019, The Miami Heat (2021), Pinnacle Housing (2011-present) the Clemente Museum(2019), St Angela’s College in Ireland(2014) and was the first American to paint on the separation wall in Israel & Palestine(2015) next to Banksy.

In 2021 Holbrook continued his ‘Stop Gun Violence Mural Tour’ to all 50 US States to spread Awareness of the epidemic that effected his life loosing most of his good friends since his teenage years totaling 45 victims of Gun Violence he was close to personally.

One Friday night, during an internship teaching art at the Boys & Girls Club of Wilkinsburg, he was directing a few kids in creating a mural. “Since I grew up in the neighborhood, I knew a lot of the other kids who were passing by. They started crowding around: ‘Hey Mr. Kyle, can I help?’ At one point I paused and thought, ‘Look at all these kids who could be out doing all kinds of stuff, getting into trouble, and here they are, painting.’ “
As that project progressed, “We’d be standing side by side, painting, and they’d ask me all kinds of questions, hypothet cals about things going on in their lives. ‘Mr. Kyle, what do you think of this? What would you do about that?’ People would pass by and tell these kids, ‘You’re doing a great job.' I saw an impact that could be made, and I began thinking, What can I do to further this along through public art?” Holbrook knew the importance art and a positive outlet can make as most of his childhood friend were victims of gun-violence, (45 friends and family).
He formed a nonprofit organization in 2002, Moving the Lives of Kids (MLK) Community Mural Project. The organization brought kids together to paint a mural in the Monroeville Mall the following year, and the Wilkinsburg East Busway the year after that. But it’s not just an “if-I-feel-like-it” endeavor: it’s a job – one that kids compete for, with each participant respon- sible for showing up on time and carrying out a particular set of goals and tasks each day. Wages are paid through grants from foundations, corporate and private donors.

Kyle has exported the concept, employing more than 9,000 young people in creating 800+ murals in Pittsburgh, New York City, LA, Miami, Atlanta and many other U.S. cities, as well as in Brazil, Uganda, England, South Africa, Japan, Haiti and many more (43 Countries and 49 States). The project cultivates kids not just as painters but as future leaders and entrepreneurs.

As an artist and leader Holbrook excels working with groups, collaborating across language, socio-economic, racial, religious or any barriers that can divide people.

International Executive Artist Kyle Holbrook

To create unique visually aesthetic images for and or with your business organization or school with an emphasis on positively influencing the social environment and imagery. Speaking and Training workshops available.

SKILLS SUMMARY

Leadership, Visionary, Creative Savant, great commander of man, listener, learning, Team/solitary.

Strong traditional 2D- Murals in 43 Countries and 49 states.

3D modeling, rendering, digital design and augmented Reality Design.

EDUCATION

Bachelor's degree Graphic - Art Institute 3.8 GPA President’s List.

(Graphic Design, Animation, 3D Modeling, fine arts, painting, drawing, sculpture courses)

FIELD RELATED EXPERIENCE - Executive Director of Moving Lives of Kids Arts Center 2002-2022

Children’s Hospital Installation, Lighting, 3D augmented reality

2023 South Florida Red Cross Headquarters Mural

2022 Formula One Grand Prix

2022 Catan Mural

2021 Super Bowl- Mask Up Mural

2021 NBA Mask Up Mural
2021 All Hands in for Surfside

2021-22 Gun Violence Awareness Tour

2020-21 National Mask Up Tour

2018 Dicks Sporting Goods Commercial

2017 McDonald Commercial

2016-2019 NYC Police Athletic League Murals

2015- Clinton Global Initiative University Mural

2014 Ford 150 Mural

2013 One Young World Conference Mural

2011 BP Oil Spill- One Year Memorial- New Orleans
2010 Haiti Mural project Murals UN funded OCHA
2009 G 20 Summit Mural
2007 US Open Golf Mural- Oakmont
2006 MLB All Star Mural

2005 Tobacco free Allegheny Murals

2002- Simon Monroeville Mall Mural

HONORS / ACTIVITIES

Murals in 43 countries and 49 states.

First Place Award Recipient in contests for the following organizations; Young Teens Black Men Stop the Violence Martin Luther King Jr No Smoking D A R E Penn Hills Big Red Romp and MLK Mural Best Public Art Project CP Certificate of Appreciation from Commissioner Spence Jones and Mayor Regaldo Certificate of Special Recognition from the City of Miami Gardens.

Articles in New York Times, Associated Press, USA Today, Newsweek, Tokyo Times, Miami Herald, NBC, CBS, NBA.com, WWD, The Post Gazette, Next American City, The City Paper, The Courier and hundreds of other papers, TV interviews, newsletters and promotions in several cities. Miami Artist Award from Miami mayor Regaldo. Murals with United States President Bill Clinton and for Vice President Kamala Harris Press Conference 2022, Mural with Miami Dade Mayor Suarez and MPD Cheif. Award from Mayor Grey Washington DC, Awards from numerous other NYC Mayors, PGH Mayors Mayors of various cities, boroughs, etc.