As a writer who literally put his word on the street, WRDSMTH didn’t set out to become a street artist, but he’s certainly made his mark that way, and he’s become famous for creating some of the city’s most inspiring, Instagram-worthy pieces.
Chances are you’ve snapped a photo of one of his large-scale works located in The Bloc, or stumbled upon one of his motivational mantras on the sides of electrical boxes scattered across Los Angeles. You may have even caught one in Miami, Paris, or Australia. Yep, WRDSMTH’s words have gone global.
But this message master began his foray into the street art world right here in LA. After sitting behind a desk all day, he realized he needed a to do something active, something to get him outside. An idea sparked to create the image of a typewriter with a page sticking out above, a little nod to his craft, where he would share words of inspiration, something uplifting for his fellow Angelenos trying to follow their dreams.
“I wanted to say things I wished someone would have told me when I first moved to LA.”
The words resonated and people began to take notice of the mystery man’s work popping up around town. Little did he know, what started out as an active hobby would soon turn WRDSMTH into a well-known, highly sought after artist. Now, his signature text and aspirational words have caught the eye of people all over the world, and he was recently dubbed the “city’s coolest street artist” in an article by Forbes Magazine. Not too shabby for a Cleveland kid turned Chicago advertiser who moved west 10 years ago to be a writer. “People ask me if I wish I would have gotten this kind of success the other way, through my original dream of becoming a writer in more of the traditional sense, and I’m like, No! I love that people are responding to what I’m doing because it comes from the heart.”
It should be said that WRDSMTH, also known as Brody, is re-releasing a novel he wrote a while back, so he’s still very much in the writing on paper world, but writing on walls has been a game changer, to say the least.
After chatting with Brody about his work over tater tots at downtown’s Fundamental, it’s clear he believes strongly in what he’s doing and is proud of what he’s accomplished. As he put it, “I’m beautifying the city rather than destroying it and I know I’m making a positive impact on peoples lives.” Indeed, much of his street art is now legitimate public art and has become part of the fabric of the city, brightening up brick walls with messages of love, hope, and dreams. His work has even been the backdrop for more than a few engagements and romantic encounters, and people are sharing the love all over social media.
But this is just the beginning for WRDSMTH. As an LA dreamer himself, he’s got big plans for the future, and for the first time as an artist, doesn’t see the ceiling. @wrdsmth
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