Why do you street paint?

I street paint because it is fun, social and gets me out of the studio. It is a great way to meet people, develop artistic skills and earn a bit of extra money. It has led into other creative work which has enabled me to become a full time artist. Without street art, my practice would not be what it is today.

Why is the Sarasota Chalk Festival important to you?
It is important to me because it is a major centre for Maddonari chalk drawing. I have always wanted to go to Sarasota for the festival and meet other artists and become part of the global chalk community. 

Biography

Anton Pulvirenti is a man of many talents – drawing, painting, 3D illusions, murals, live art, cartoons, visual minutes and conducting workshops are just a few of his skills in addition to being a Doctor of Philosophy (Sydney University). 

He trained for many years in life drawing classes, studied at the Julian Ashton Art School in Sydney and has two degrees in the visual arts. Anton has been a pavement artist for about 8 years and is now a full time professional artist. Anton frequently shows 2D work at the Dominic Mersch Gallery in Sydney and

Redsea gallery in Singapore. Anton trained under Maestro artist Felice Scire in Sicily in 2003 and is well versed in the 18th century practice of Sicilian carriage painting. Anton undertakes many commissions in pavement art and also in gallery and studio based work, both public and private. Anton has travelled to Qatar, New Zealand, Italy working as a pavement artist working on commissions and as a street painter.

Anton's talent won him the title of 'Champion Pavement Artist' at Chalk Urban Art Festival in Sydney in 2007 & 'Highly Commended in 2010. In 2012 he travelled to Italy to represent Australia at the 40th Anniversary of world's original and most prestigious street painting festival Incontro Nazionale dei Madonnari a documentary about this journey, 'Chalk: An Australian Perspective' screened on SBS1 in 2014.

Anton has produced artworks for a variety of festivals, corporate and private events in Australia. He has been feature artist at the Qatar Marine Festival in Doha, has worked with Snoop Dogg and has been featured in a windows segment on ABC TV’s ‘Play School’.  In addition to being a practising artist, producing public art and private commissions Anton has taught perspective and landscape drawing at the University of New South Wales.

His first love is drawing and the work he produces is astounding. Anton makes art looks easy and audiences across the country are enjoying his amazing 3D chalk artworks, live art performances and visual minutes.