My name is Reuben I go by the artist name Reubszz. I grew up in New Zealand and moved to Australia in 2011.

I am one of five kids I grew up making stuff and entertaining myself and playing loads of sports.

How do you think this affected you on your journey towards being a mural artist?

I think just always being creative in lots of different ways has helped me on my journey. I was very serious about painting specifically since about the age of 15 making all different types of work and simply painting for myself this still remains today, to paint and produce will never fade for me.

I kind of stumbled upon it a friend of mine knew I painted canvases with a brush, and asked me to paint as part of festival. I knew there were going to be a lot of graffiti artists there so I didn’t want to seem like a noob so I went out and started painting walls and fell in love with painting large scale stuff that was in 2017 and a year later I quit my job and just started doing this full time.

How did you learn to do what you do?

I went to Art School I have a BMA in Painting and Illustration. I taught myself how to use cans and paint walls.

Are there any particular challenges or limitations you face as a mural artist, and how do you work around them?

There are always challenges in every piece. Is just a matter of pushing through, realising your mistakes and putting yourself in those positions constantly.

I can’t really think of anything overly challenging, of course there’s always the usual bad weather, high temperatures etc.. but I dunno if I view it as challenging it’s fun I don’t consider it work it’s just painting and im stoked to be doing it.

Could you share any memorable interactions or experiences you’ve had with community members or observers during the creation of your murals?

Not one in particular there’s been lots I love interacting with people on the street, that’s one of the best things about painting in public the non pretentious natures of street art is that everyone gets an impression from it, it’s not like you have to step into a gallery and feel like you need to be able to talk about the work.

Wow there’s a lot um Id say Vesod, Case Maclaim, Dave Sotogi, Mazola, Voyder, Jarus, Eskat, Charles and Janine, Mr G theres so many amazing artists oh and some aussies I love Fintan, Bronte, Claire Foxton, Adnate, Scott and Janne there’s way too many to list I love them all!

There’e been some awesome ones Id say more recently work with Sydney Childrens Hospital Foundation several times getting to be able to meet and photograph the subjects of my mural and hear a bit of their story surviving cancer and doing amazing inspiring things with their lives to help others that are in the same position they once were. These types of projects are very close to my heart and I get the utmost satisfaction out of them.

How do you select the themes and subjects for your murals? Are there specific messages or emotions you aim to convey through your art?

It depends what the project is I love to try an include a metaphor when thinking about developing/putting together a piece and hope that is conveyed through the piece however my intention or idea is irrelevant it’s up to the viewer to draw their own conclusion or idea on what the work means.. im only there to nudge it along a bit.

Paint! Find walls, get your work out there and paint and then paint some more.