Above is a Californian born, Berlin-based international
street artist who has deliberately chosen to keep his identity concealed. He was born in California in 1981 and has been creating public art since 1995. Above is best known for three different styles of street works, his multi-layer, full color social and political
stencils, colorful
abstract arrow compositions, and large text-based painted murals. Above's stencil and text-based artworks usually have a strong message or awareness about social, political, or international current events, while his abstract works are a visual language of shape, color, and form. Above began painting graffiti by tagging 'ABOVE' graffiti on freight trains in California in 1995. At the age of 19, Above moved to Paris, France, where he started painting his trademark arrow icon pointing 'above'. During the past 17 years Above has painted artworks in the streets of over 100 cities in 60 different countries around the world.