Stephen ESPO Powers

Born in in Philadelphia, USA in 1968
Powers has followed a creative path from the graffiti of his youth, through the sign painting and mural work of his early career, to the mature painting style of the present day.
He is responsible for many projects over the years that have bridged the high art world and the street: ESPO’s Art World (now PEACE Manufacturing) in Brooklyn, and ESPOKYO in Jingumae, Tokyo.
Powers has shown at the 50th Venice Biennale in 2000, Deitch Projects in 2005, the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in 2007, Alice Gallery in 2014, the Brooklyn Museum in 2015, and the San Francisco museum of modern Art in 2019. Powers divides his time between New York City and Tokyo. He feels his work is directly inspired by Tokyo and is looking to return the inspiration. His shop name ESPOKYO, is a portmanteau combining ESPO and TOKYO.