Driving past the Toon Town warehouse on Talleyrand Avenue in Jacksonville is like being in a black and white film that suddenly gains color. After passing a couple of insipid warehouses on the same street, steps away from Everbank Stadium, I arrive at the enthralling Looney Tune- inspired mural and am met by the equally interesting muralist responsible for it’s existence, Kyle Bryce Monteiro.
Toon Town is the actual name of the multi-functional warehouse and is recognized under that name as taggable location on Instragram.
Monteiro is a 29-year-old native to Jacksonville who has his heart in DJ’ing, but just as much passion and hard work has gone into his graffiti and other art that has colored much of Florida. His labor of love has not gone unnoticed is paying off and turning into more than he ever imagined, as the owner has plans on turning the warehouse into a music venue.
With the success and recognition he has received, he shows no signs of slowing down as he shares the dozens of ideas and dreams he has for the warehouse. Every corner is of the gargantuan concrete jungle inspires him to share yet another brilliant idea. I don’t think this guy sleeps.
A drippy-style continually makes appearances in Monteiro's work.
He does admit he is a creature of the night. While the rest of the world is catching Zs he is creating, creating, creating while keeping one ear open to absorb some news or Rick and Morty.
The conversation is alive with his upcoming commission pieces and his many influences like Odeith, Lush Sux and even Banksy, who ironically inspired Monteiro to transition into selling his work. (Banksy doesn't want his art to be worth anything).
“Even when I reach my goals, I won’t stop because it will never feel like work to me.”
Much of this motivation comes from his project painting the Jacksonville Jaguars cleats this past season for the NFL campaign “My Cause, My Cleats."
For Monteiro, this recognition is what justified his hustle- one that involved creating, posting and promoting his art on any platform he could, every single day.
While the tables have turned from him having to pay fines for tagging buildings downtown to now being paid to commission his art, his past isn’t completely vandal-soaked.
“I never got into too much trouble growing up. I wasn’t great in school, I was always doodling, but never did anything crazy."
Tagging buildings didn't become a thing for Monteiro until he was 21, and while he appreciates having a space now where he and his friends have utmost freedom to paint whatever they would like legally, he does miss the adrenaline rush. At Toon Town, though, he has the time to put into the art that you don't have on the streets. And access to a lift- so he's pretty spoiled.
He also argues the bad rap a lot of graffiti gets. For Monteiro, graffiti was the only rush he ever needed; it actually kept his nose clean.
“People see graffiti and they think it’s gang related. It's only gang related if it just straight up says, like, blood," he laughs. "We're just a bunch of friends painting together. We're artists. We're mostly nerds."
With his music career in full momentum, and pockets that are always stocked with spray paint, it is only a matter of time before a Monteiro creation crosses your path. Look out for his first EP, cutely titled "My First EP" paired with childish artwork done entirely left-handed that packs a completely juxtaposed sound.
"It was pretty much just used as a food truck commissary until I came in here and started throwing events. Jacksonville needed a music venue like this. I am so thankful for this place and the owner is happy to have us here."