Paulie Nassar (aka Nassart) is an artist who wears his heart on his sleeve. In an industry that is more known for being jaded than generous, Nassar is a breathe of fresh air. Nassar's artistic ambitions have come full circle due to his work with "Off The Wall Graffiti". Off The Wall Graffiti's mission is to "generate an eduate global unified body of artists who are fully self-expressed and poised to change the world their creativity." Many artists, like Nassas, work with Off The Wall Graffiti as mentors for kids who need a creative outlet. Off The Wall Graffiti gives kids a chance to explore their passion without getting in trouble. Rather than tag a wall and run the risk of being caught by the cops, Off The Wall Graffiti provides wall space.
Long before Nassar and Off The Wall Graffiti crossed paths, he was a college student studying Economics. "My roommate was studying Art. He'd look at me and ask 'What are you doing studying Economics?'". The two would daydream about getting a van, traveling cross country, creating art and meeting fellow artists. It was during a trip to California that this dream came to fruition. Off the Wall Graffiti founder Maura McCarthy approached Nassar about working with the charity and becoming a mentor. "I wish when I was 14 that someone had mentored me, to help me sharpen my skills and point me in the right artistic direction. One The Off The Wall Graffiti campaigns that I worked on was called 'What's Your This or That?' We'd interview graffiti artists and other artists and ask 'What's your this or that? What do you choose, what drives you? Some say 'I choose this (art creativity) because of that (drugs/bad vices/rough family situations).' The streets are real. This crew is their family because their home environment is not good."
With Off The Wall Graffiti, Nassar drove out to festivals like Art Basel and Renegade Art Festival during SXSW in a van. He had kids from Off The Wall Graffiti with him attend the festivals as an opportunity to show where their passion for art could take them. "Can you imagine going to Renegade as a teenager and having the chance to paint there? Real. Imagine what that does for a kid's confidence, for their drive and passion. Everything changed after touring. It changed the way I looked at America and artists. Just art in general. It was the first time I really got to see America coast to coast. All of this has really shown me that you can and should give back. No matter what, you can give back."
Nassar has given to the Arts, but the Arts have also given back to him. It has shaped him and opened his eyes. Nassar is level headed because of his ability to let experiences, not admiration, shape him and his artwork. Take his experience with body painting for example. Body painting has become a staple of his artwork, but Nassar discovered the art form purely by accident. "A friend had asked me to body paint one night and I said sure. Originally I would start the night off by painting models, to break the ice, but now people will come up to me and ask me to paint them. A lot of people have misconceptions about body painting. Some think its all about boobs, its all sexual. That's not true. The body is a unique canvas. It comes in every shape and color. Once, a woman who had undergone a double mastectomy asked me to paint her. She later told me that was the most beautiful she had felt since the surgery. It was one of those moments that just makes you step back and go 'Wow'". I've realized if I'm going to be in this world, I'm going to say the right thing. Your voice is powerful. Not being humble, I just don't understand that."
