Rodrigo Carapia is a force in Madison’s street art scene
On a quiet street off East Washington Avenue, Rodrigo Carapia is perched on a ladder. His art supplies — a cardboard box of spray paints — sit on the sidewalk below as he contemplates his canvas, a long stretch of plywood on the side of a brick building.
He works quietly in the sunshine, pausing to smile at passersby or answer their questions about the vibrant scene of flowers, corn, Aztec figures, a jaguar and more that he’s bringing to life. Recently, a couple in town from Los Angeles stopped to ask about his work, adding that they had never seen art like this in Madison.
Photo by Mitch Tanis
THE POSTERS: For several years, Carapia has created game posters for the Forward Madison professional soccer team, thanks to a collaboration with Dane Arts. “I love soccer and I love art, so it’s something fun to do,” he says.
THE MURAL: Carapia’s mural on the corner of East Washington Avenue and North Sixth Street showcases many of his signature elements, such as corn to represent hardworking farmers like his grandfather, butterflies to signify immigrants and the jaguars that have become his artistic calling card. “Everything comes back to Mexican culture,” he says. “Now when people see a jaguar, they know it’s me — and that’s exactly what I wanted.”
THE CATALYST: Nearly seven years ago, through a partnership with Madison Public Library’s The Bubbler program, Carapia painted a mural with kids at the Dane County Juvenile Detention Center. “The concept of the program is to help youths inside learn something they can use outside,” he says. “Now there are more than 10 murals from different artists.”
THE COMMUNITY BUILDER: Earlier this year, Carapia created a mural for Joining Forces for Families. He worked closely with members of the Hmong community that the organization serves, to respectfully represent them in the artwork. “I would love to see more murals representing different cultures in Madison,” he says.
Rodrigo Carapia gallery
THE POSTERS: For several years, Carapia has created game posters for the Forward Madison professional soccer team, thanks to a collaboration with Dane Arts. “I love soccer and I love art, so it’s something fun to do,” he says.
THE MURAL: Carapia’s mural on the corner of East Washington Avenue and North Sixth Street showcases many of his signature elements, such as corn to represent hardworking farmers like his grandfather, butterflies to signify immigrants and the jaguars that have become his artistic calling card. “Everything comes back to Mexican culture,” he says. “Now when people see a jaguar, they know it’s me — and that’s exactly what I wanted.”
THE CATALYST: Nearly seven years ago, through a partnership with Madison Public Library’s The Bubbler program, Carapia painted a mural with kids at the Dane County Juvenile Detention Center. “The concept of the program is to help youths inside learn something they can use outside,” he says. “Now there are more than 10 murals from different artists.”
THE COMMUNITY BUILDER: Earlier this year, Carapia created a mural for Joining Forces for Families. He worked closely with members of the Hmong community that the organization serves, to respectfully represent them in the artwork. “I would love to see more murals representing different cultures in Madison,” he says.
