Known for her playful pieces and juicy throw-ups, Laia is a long-term friend of the global team of Montana Cans. We had the chance to speak again with the Spanish member of PMS, 5A, and CK about what’s going on in her life recently, touching on aspects of growing up while still being an active graffiti fanatic, exploring the world, and being a dog mom.
Montana Cans: Hey Laia, what’s new? How is Cleo? What has happened in your life since we spoke last time?
Laia: Cleo is doing great, but she already turned 13! I painted a piece with her name and age on it, just like I’ve done every year for the past few years, so I’ll have a keepsake from each birthday she’s celebrated. She’s starting to feel a little old, but she’s doing well! Just as crazy as ever. She’s still got plenty of energy left, although I don’t take her painting with me anymore. Mostly because at night I’d rather let her sleep, and during the day it’s just too hot. After all, who would take a “90-something-year-old grandma” out painting in the middle of the night? Not me! Hahaha. Other than that, I’ve been doing what I always do: traveling whenever I can and as much as my body allows. 😀
Montana Cans: Same here, haha! Speaking about traveling, you are an avid traveler. How does that impact your life? Can you let us in on your experience? I was wondering, do you travel because of graff, or is graff a byproduct of visiting new places?
Laia: Traveling is something I’m just as passionate about as graffiti, so traveling to paint, or painting while traveling, is what makes me happiest. A lot of the time, graffiti is the result of visiting new places. For example, when I’m invited to paint at a festival in a country that I probably wouldn’t choose as a priority if I were paying for the trip myself, it becomes the perfect excuse to paint and discover somewhere new that I might never have experienced without graffiti. I love that. It makes me feel like a little ant, wandering all over the world. Just a few weeks ago, I got back from Japan, but this time it was a “normal” trip. I was there for 15 days instead of the usual two or three months. Japan is always incredible. It’s impossible to say anything bad about it because everything is amazing: the food, the people, the places to visit… And if you’re a bit of a nerd about certain things (like me, I’ve been collecting toys for many years), it’s the best place in the world. Lately, I’ve also been to Germany, and a few months ago, I was in Miami. But the trip that has left the biggest impression on me recently was the one I did in Mexico with Montana Cans Mexico. It was an amazing experience. I spent two months traveling around different cities, painting side by side with the Montana Cans Mexico team and organizing events in several of their stores. It was unforgettable, I can’t wait to go back!
Montana Cans: I can imagine! Speaking about favorites, what is your favorite part about graffiti at the moment? Is it being creative overall, or is it bombing? Also, I heard you moved into a new studio?
Laia: I believe that a graffiti writer should be able to do (or at least have experience in) all the different disciplines. But obviously, there’s never enough time for everything. Life is full of things you want to do, and there’s just no way to stay equally active in every aspect of graffiti all at once. Age also plays a part. As you get older, there are certain things you simply don’t feel as motivated to do anymore. Personally, when I’m traveling, I like to go all in and stay very active across all disciplines. But when I get back home, I slow down a bit. I still paint regularly, just in a more relaxed way. That’s how I keep a good balance. And yes, I finally have a studio to work in. I didn’t have enough space at home, and without space, there’s no room to grow. Now I can also work on paintings and other formats for future events, exhibitions, and different projects 🙂
Montana Cans: I am totally with you on not being able to do everything at once, even though I am struggling with that myself, haha. By the way, how does painting feel in a zero-tolerance environment like Japan, where you are currently located? I assume it must be special.
Laia: I’m lucky to know the distributor of Montana Cans Japan, and he’s been very kind. Thanks to him, I’ve been able to paint pieces in Tokyo in a space he organizes, which is really great. But painting in the street is another story; it’s crazy. As you said, it’s a zerotolerance environment, and anyone who sees you painting at night, even people you’d never expect to snitch (based on their appearance or age), can actually hate graffiti and call the police. Those kinds of things can happen very easily (I’ve experienced it myself), and they make it really difficult. But at the same time, it’s part of the game, part of “unlocking levels” so far away from home.
”I think it’s important to try to be happy, stay positive, and keep a good mindset.” – Laia
Montana Cans: Speaking about the actual painting process, what’s your favorite surface to paint on, and with what paint-cap setup? What do you like about the different ranges from Montana Cans? How was working with Montana BLUE?
Laia: In my opinion, Montana Cans is the best paint. The coverage is incredible, and so is the color range. I consider myself the number one fan of Montana BLACK. Also, the stock cap it comes with is my favorite cap for everything, except for outlining. Montana BLUE is amazing as well. It’s great that we now have this type of paint available, because it’s much better and more comfortable for certain formats. The white in Montana BLUE is my absolute favorite; it’s super, super white and covers extremely well! I don’t really have a favorite surface to paint on, although if I had to choose, I’d say standard concrete and metal are my favorites. For example, a lot of people love brick walls, but I don’t like them at all. And whatever I paint, I always use the same caps, just two. The Standard Black/White cap for outlining (I love how fast it is and that slightly “dirty” touch it gives), and the black cap with the orange dot that comes with all the Blacks, which I use for absolutely everything else.
Montana Cans: That’s sweet to hear! Another thing I was wondering about is the community aspect of graffiti. You are part of various crews. How important is the social element of graffiti to you? Is being part of an all-female crew something you can share your experience about?
Laia: I think the social aspect of graffiti is important, but in a very specific way. When I travel, I really enjoy meeting people, connecting, painting with others, and sharing experiences. That part is, for me, actually one of the best things about graffiti and about traveling. But when I’m at home, I’m completely the opposite. I don’t need that constant social interaction as much. I like being on my own, focusing on my work, and having my own space to also do things by myself when needed. It’s more about switching “modes” depending on where I am and what I’m doing. So it’s not that I don’t value people; I just don’t need the same level of social energy all the time. Traveling is for connecting, home is for balancing myself and focusing. Being part of an all-female crew is just another experience; for me, it’s not something especially different or special in that sense, since I’m also part of another crew where everyone is male except me. I try not to make distinctions between men and women; it’s all the same to me (even though I’m fully aware that women have lived and still live a completely different reality, and that this is something we still need to keep fighting for). But if I’m part of this all-female crew, it’s because they are women I respect and who share a very similar vision to mine, which is: don’t stop, and respect yourself as much as you would any other writer (man).
Montana Cans: Valid Point! By the way, does the iconic heart shape that repeatedly occurs in your works represent your love for graffiti?
Laia: Of course, and also my love for many other things! And the same goes for all the other hearts I add around my pieces. I think it’s important to try to be happy, stay positive, and keep a good mindset. I don’t think I could achieve that if, instead of hearts, I was drawing, I don’t know… lightning bolts or demons, hahaha.
Montana Cans: Totally random question: have you ever played graffiti video games? If so, what do you think of them? I recently tried Roblox for the first time, and surprisingly enough, I loved it.
Laia: When I was younger, I used to play a lot of PC games, and I still enjoy spending a few hours in front of the computer from time to time. But I’ve always been into classic pointand-click adventure games—the 90s classics like Day of the Tentacle, Maniac Mansion, Monkey Island, Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis, Sam & Max… the old Lucasfilm Games stuff. That’s the kind of thing I love. Hahaha! A few years ago, I tried VR graffiti with a game called Kingspray Graffiti VR. It was insane. I spent hours painting the NYC subway, doing throw-ups everywhere. It was really fun in the moment, but then you take the headset off, and none of it was real; you don’t have a photo; you don’t have an actual experience. So I eventually stopped playing it, hahahaha. And about Roblox… I honestly don’t even really know how it works or what’s inside it. I think I’ll just stick with my 90s games!
Images by graffiti artist Laia
Montana Cans: Relatable, makes me nostalgic, too! Anything you would like to add? What about your plans for the future? And thank you so much for sharing your recent experiences with us!
Laia: I don’t like planning the future in a very rigid way. I prefer to keep things flexible and see how they naturally evolve, especially since even my trips (even the long ones) usually come up in a pretty spontaneous, unplanned way. Right now, my focus is on continuing to travel, paint, and develop different aspects of my work, both in the street and in more controlled environments like the studio. I want to keep exploring new places, new formats, and new ways of expressing what I do. At the same time, I also value balance a lot, especially as I get “older”. So it’s not just about doing more and more things, but about doing them in a way that makes sense for me, while still keeping my stubborn “I CAN DO EVERYTHING” mindset, which will probably never leave me in one way or another. In the end, I just want to keep moving, keep learning, and keep enjoying what I do for as long as I can, as long as these two legs and these two arms allow me to.