The WRENO Interview

Wreno (@WRENOO) is the 24-year-old, Syrian born graffiti artist and clothing designer based out of Los Angeles. He is widely recognized for his clothing brand WRENO®, where he hand-screen-prints graphics and designs that imitate his approach to graffiti. It's no surprise why brands like VIZN® and Sicko® have linked with Wreno on various creative projects. We had the chance to ask Wreno some questions and dive deeper into his obsession with Graffiti, how he got into art and the transition he’s making into fashion.

YMM: Name? Age? Where are you from?

My name is Wreno, I'm 24, I'm from Aleppo, Syria.

YMM: How would you describe your profession?

My profession is delicate, challenging and with a lot of moving parts. It requires fast decision making, and good diplomacy. Colorful, engaging, active. Frequent changes of environment and constantly changing faces.

YMM: How did you get into Graphic Design and Grafitti?

I've been drawing since I was a kid. I always liked the reaction I'd get from people when they'd see my drawings. I kept it up throughout all my years. Graffiti was introduced to me when I first moved to LA. I was 11 at the time, I saw a green and yellow piece thrown on a heaven spot on the 134 freeway. Shit blew my mind I didn't know what I was looking at, but I knew I had to be a part of it. That day I went home and started writing my name. I wouldn't pick up a spraycan until a couple of years later. But that's where my love for letters began.

WRENO for VIZN

YMM: Where do you gather most of your inspiration from?

Inspiration comes from Nature, in all regards. And from other writers of course. The Internet is a big influence in that it lets you see what's going on all over the world. Old timers hate that fact, but I think it's pretty cool.

YMM: Are you obsessed with graffiti?

I am indeed obsessed with graffiti, it's one of my favorite things. I think I understand it better than anything else. I can look at a tag and figure out everything about the writer, and life. There's so much in it. It's gotta represent some truth in the whole of the human drama, you know. It's like Beethoven when you hear a symphony it encapsulates the essence of human life, of joy or fear. Graffiti represents the essence of rebellion. and courage. It's so Punk but it's visual and it's spread all throughout the city.

YMM: Why do you love graffiti?

Graffiti is raw. When you're up on a billboard you forget there's even a world around you. The pieces you leave up represent you and everything about you. So does a collection, but graffiti is far more direct and pure for that matter.