From Boxcars to Bold Murals: How Tino Lopez Turns Walls into Statements of Identity and Defiance

For a young Tino Lopez, the rhythmic clatter of train tracks wasn’t just background noise—it was the soundtrack to his first encounters with graffiti. Boxcars covered in wild, electric color flashed by during trips with his father, leaving a mark long before he ever picked up a can of paint himself.

Lopez, now 40, once hesitated to use aerosol, doubting his skill.

“For a long time, I was too afraid to try because I didn’t think I’d be good at it,” he admits.

That changed a decade ago when he finally embraced spray paint—a creative breakthrough and an act of self-liberation.

“I still use acrylics for details, but nothing compares to the rattle of a can and watching the colors transform before your eyes.”

A traveling muralist from Utica, New York, Lopez turns the walls of Mohawk Valley into reflections of identity, struggle, and resilience. The historic region, shaped by the Mohawk River, spans nearly 6,000 square miles, with Utica at its heart.

Navigating life as a trans man, Lopez uses his murals to challenge convention and demand visibility in spaces that often erase voices like his.

But beyond their visual impact, his murals carry weight. A recent piece calls for a ceasefire in Palestine; another honors George Floyd—a stark reminder of systemic injustice. Through bold imagery, Lopez transforms public spaces into acts of resistance and belonging.

Each mural is its own universe—his identity mapped in fearless strokes and colors that pulse with life.For those looking to experience his work firsthand, he points to Varick Street’s Sickenberger Lane.

“Sicken at 624 had a complete renovation,” Lopez shares. “A team of 16 to 20 artists transformed the space, each with their own section. I was lucky to work on multiple areas, which led to even more opportunities. By the end, my work became the connective tissue of the building.”

Each mural is its own universe—his identity mapped in fearless strokes and colors that pulse with life.

Lopez’s figures are fluid, otherworldly beings—his “monsters.”

“In my work, you can see whatever you like,” he says, embracing open interpretation.

But for Lopez, art isn’t just expression—it’s survival. After years of navigating autism, ADHD, BPD, and PTSD, painting became his lifeline.

“Art is never the hard part. Life is.”

Tino Lopez

Since 2018, he’s also been an artistic force behind Salt City Burlesque in Syracuse, turning stages into immersive environments. Whether crafting sprawling murals or designing risqué props, Lopez ensures his work can’t be ignored.

Case in point: a six-foot, glowing alien vulva—less a prop, more a statement, daring viewers to react.

Lopez continues to push past geographic boundaries, with an upcoming mural in Florida. His advice to fellow artists?

“Don’t give up. You can change the unchangeable. I can change my life one brushstroke at a time. I can create worlds and bring others’ dreams to life. Creating is what keeps me going.”

Tino Lopez at New York State Fair 2023 All Photos Courtesy of Tino Lopez

For Lopez, art isn’t just about murals—it’s about amplifying unheard voices. It’s a mission reflected in Run Away to Mars by TALK, a song he often returns to.

“It captures the surreal nature of life—that sense of being unmoored yet learning to exist within it,” he reflects.

Like the track, his work doesn’t just seek belonging; it redefines where and how it can exist.

As he dreams of his creations stretching across the world, one thing is certain:

Tino Lopez isn’t just making art—he’s making space.

---

See Tino Lopez and His Art in New York State!

– Latino Village at the New York State Fair: August 30 – September 1, 12-4 p.m. daily

– LUMA Projection Arts Festival, Binghamton, NY: September 6 & 7, 9 p.m. – 12 a.m.