“Crescendo” features the work of celebrated artists Levi Robinson (@levirbnsn), Luis Del Valle (@luis202artist), and David ‘DEZ’ Zambrano (@deztheartist76). This exhibition was entitled “Crescendo” to explore the diverse range of expression each artist engages within their body of work and to suggest that the differences between the artists orchestrate a strengthening of the thematic importance of self-expression, self-actualization, and self-representation.

Levi Robinson embarked on his artistic journey after a family member crafted a vibrant mural on his bedroom wall, sparking an early interest in experimenting with artistic expression through comic book characters and graffiti. Following a brief stint considering a career in teaching, he pursued studies in history at North Carolina Central University before eventually settling in Maryland, where he began to raise a family. It was here that he redirected his focus to graphic design, beginning a career in the federal government and marking the inception of a transformative period in his artistic journey. Concurrently, Robinson engaged in his inaugural art exhibition and co-founded the Drawn2gether Experience, a collaborative endeavor aimed at fostering opportunities for emerging artists and cultivating holistic artistic experiences. Amid the adversities of the pandemic and the civil unrest following George Floyd's death, Robinson collaborated with local nonprofits such as the P.A.I.N.T.S. Institute, leading impactful public art projects addressing pressing societal issues. His endeavors gained international acclaim, featuring in prestigious publications like Reuters, the New York Times, and National Geographic. Drawing from these diverse experiences, Robinson and his partners established the Hue2 Foundation, an organization dedicated to serving the art community through art. This initiative culminated in the Unbound project, a groundbreaking collaboration with Illuminus of Boston aimed at empowering underexposed BIPOC artists by integrating technology into their artistic practices and fostering immersive art products and experiences. Levi's artwork now adorns galleries across Washington, DC, and extends to locales as distant as Sierra Leone, where he celebrated the repatriation of African descendants from the diaspora through commissioned murals. Additionally, Robinson plays a pivotal role as co-founder of Grail Arthouse, a small art studio in Rockville, and as a member of the DMV League of Artists art collective, through which he has showcased his creations at prestigious art fairs, including Spectrum at Art Basel Miami.

Originally from Los Angeles, David ‘DEZ’ Zambrano is an urban contemporary street artist based in the DMV. His love for art was cultivated at home at an early age. He credits his devotion to artistic expression to watching the classic hip-hop movie Beat Street in early adolescence. There began a love for graffiti, urban art, bright colors, and passionate statements through color and contrast. Growing up in Virginia and riding the Red Line to Silver Spring on the weekends to see his father, DEZ was exposed to some amazing street art. Presently, DEZ has made his mark in the sneaker community as one of the most sought-after custom sneaker artists in the world. He has worked with companies like Adidas, Under Armour, the MLB, the NFLPA, the NBAPA, and professional athletes from almost every major sport. DEZ maintains an incredibly diverse profile as an artist, specializing in canvas art, murals, and more. Vibrant colors, dark contrast, splatters, and knife strikes make up a small part of the toolkit DEZ utilizes to create stunning images. DEZ aims to evoke emotions as visceral as his work, which must be witnessed in person.

Award-winning artist, Luis Peralta Del Valle was born in Nicaragua in 1980 and migrated to the U.S. in 1986. At 13, he began painting graffiti murals in the District, Maryland, and Virginia. A few years later, at Bell Multicultural High School, he began his formal artistic education. Luis received his first commission from the fitness franchise Body by Jake on his 16th birthday. He went on to continue his studies at the Corcoran College of Art and Design. Since then, he has been commissioned by other businesses, foundations, public institutions, museums, and private collectors to create murals, portraits, sculptures, and paintings of various themes. In 2013, Luis was selected as the winner of the East of the River Distinguished Artist Award. That year, he was also a finalist for the District of Columbia's 28th Annual Mayor’s Arts Awards. These accomplishments preceded the presentation of the National Museum of Catholic Art and Library National Artist Award by Prince Lorenzo Maria De Medici in 2014 and his selection as the artist commissioned for the 2015 Beijing/District of Columbia Sister Cities Project. The latter project resulted in a panda statue painted by Del Valle that was given to the Mayor of Beijing as a state gift from Mayor Muriel Bowser. Del Valle is also the recipient of the 2015 National Museum of Catholic Art and Library Portrait Award. In 2017, Luis was honored with the NCIS Director’s Coin by NCIS Director Andrew L. Traver. In 2019, he was awarded 2nd place in the Chroma International Juried Art Exhibition by Art Impact International. In 2023, he was honored with Mayor Muriel Bowser’s SOMOS DC Award for his notable influence in the promotion and creation of artworks that inspire and enrich our culture. In 2023, he also received the LIT in DC Award for the Arts. Luis has exhibited his works at various museums and institutions, including NCIS headquarters in Washington, D.C., Vatican City, the Embassy of Italy, the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, the Historical Society of Washington, DC, the Vatican Embassy in Washington, DC, and the Frederick Douglass Isaac Myers Museum in Baltimore, MD. Luis continues to grow his unique personal artistic sensibility, remaining an active leader in the metropolitan arts world. His commitment to the arts community is well known in the District of Columbia and abroad.

This exhibition will be on display at Art of Noize from June 21st to July 20th.