Voices from the Urban Canvas
Street art, by its nature, is a conversation. It’s raw, public, and often anonymous—a form of expression where the artist speaks directly to the world. But what do street artists think about their work, their audience, and the spaces they transform? One such voice is Francisco de Pájaro, the mind behind Art Is Trash, a renowned Spanish artist whose creations blend humor, critique, and raw emotion. Through his art and his words, de Pájaro gives us a glimpse into the thoughts of a street artist navigating the intersection of creativity and activism.
“Art is freedom.”
For Francisco de Pájaro, street art is about breaking free from traditional constraints. “The gallery walls are a prison,” he says. “The street is where art belongs—it’s for everyone.” This ethos drives his decision to use public spaces as his canvas. He believes that art should be democratic, accessible to all, and unfiltered by the demands of collectors or institutions.
By placing his art in the streets, de Pájaro ensures it reaches a diverse audience, from locals rushing to work to tourists exploring a city’s hidden corners. His pieces, often made from discarded materials, invite everyone to stop and reflect.
“Trash is truth.”
De Pájaro’s signature use of rubbish bags, broken furniture, and street debris stems from his philosophy that waste reveals the true nature of society. “Trash is what we leave behind, the things we think are worthless,” he explains. “But in that trash, you can find the truth about how we live, what we value, and what we ignore.”
Through his art, he transforms garbage into something meaningful. His work forces us to confront our culture of overconsumption and waste, challenging viewers to see beauty in the discarded and question their role in a throwaway society.
“Art should make you uncomfortable.”
While some art seeks to comfort, de Pájaro believes street art should provoke. “If my work makes you stop, even for a second, and think, ‘What is this?’—then it has done its job,” he says. His pieces often feature grotesque, exaggerated figures that simultaneously amuse and unsettle.
By blending humor with harsh truths, de Pájaro ensures his messages stick with viewers long after they’ve walked away. His art critiques power structures, corruption, and societal norms, delivering its message in a way that’s impossible to ignore.
“The street decides the value of my art.”
Unlike gallery artists, street artists work without guarantees of permanence. De Pájaro embraces this ephemerality. “My art disappears quickly, sometimes within hours. That’s okay,” he says. “It’s not meant to last forever. It’s meant to exist in that moment, in that place, for the people who see it.”
This transient nature challenges traditional ideas of value and ownership in art. For de Pájaro, the worth of his work lies in its impact on those who encounter it—not in its monetary value or longevity.
“We are all complicit.”
At the core of de Pájaro’s art is a call to accountability. “Art isn’t just a mirror—it’s a call to action,” he says. His work doesn’t just reflect societal flaws; it demands a response. Whether addressing corruption, environmental degradation, or the obsession with power, de Pájaro uses his art to hold a mirror to viewers and ask, “What will you do about this?”
The Thoughts Behind the Art
For street artists like Francisco de Pájaro, the act of creation is inseparable from the ideas they wish to convey. Their work exists not only to beautify but to provoke, challenge, and inspire. Through their art—and their words—they remind us that the streets are alive with stories, struggles, and voices that deserve to be heard.
De Pájaro’s Art Is Trash is more than an artistic statement; it’s a dialogue with society. And in that dialogue, he speaks with honesty, urgency, and a belief in the power of art to spark change.
Discover Francisco de Pájaro’s transformative street art at ArtIsTrash.es.
