Today to celebrate the coming of Spring, MFADers trek out to Brooklyn to the headquarters of ESPO (Stephen Powers) sign painter and artist and maestro of the urban spectacular.



Powers (also known  by the tag ESPO)  moved to New York City in 1994. He has been an influential contributor to bettering the lives of teenagers from troubled housing projects by teaching art in Ireland, fighting for human rights in Guantanamo Bay, and spreading the love with his most recent Love Letter Street Mural Exhibit for which returned to Philadelphia. The letter, meant for one, with meaning for all, encompasses 50 walls on a 20 block stretch of market street. Drawing input, inspiration, and work from the community Powers created a letter to and from west Philly.
ESPO, meaning Exterior Surface Painting Outreach, is known for his signage on the street as well as huge art installations in galleries such as Deitch Projects, Collette and Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Aside from his successful career as a professional gallery artist, he is also a Fullbright scholar, a participant in the 49th Venice Biennale, and author of artist books.