Imagine walking through the quiet streets of Sarajevo at dusk, where the glow of streetlights casts long shadows over weathered buildings and forgotten corners. In these moments of stillness, Spanish artist Sebas Velasco finds his inspiration. His large-scale paintings and murals don’t just decorate walls—they tell stories of resilience, time, and the human spirit. With his latest exhibition, “The Morning Will Change Everything,” Velasco invites us into a world where urban decay meets quiet beauty, and every brushstroke carries a deeper meaning.
Who Is Sebas Velasco?
Hailing from Burgos, Spain, Sebas Velasco started his artistic journey with spray cans and city walls, mastering the raw energy of graffiti and street art. But it was his travels through the Balkans and former Yugoslavian countries that truly shaped his voice as an artist. For over a decade, he’s roamed these regions, soaking in their complex histories, crumbling architecture, and vibrant cultures. What he brings back isn’t just sketches—it’s a profound connection to places where the past and present tangle in fascinating ways.
Velasco’s work is all about capturing the soul of urban landscapes. His paintings often feature solitary figures, old cars, or towering concrete blocks, lit up by the soft glow of street lamps or the stark beam of headlights. It’s realistic, yet there’s a dreamlike quality to it—like you’re stepping into a memory or a movie scene.
The Exhibition That’s Turning Heads
“The Morning Will Change Everything” isn’t just another art show—it’s Velasco’s first institutional exhibition, hosted at the History Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo. That’s a big deal for any artist, but especially for one whose work is so tied to the streets. The title itself nods to a song by Indexi, a beloved Sarajevo band, weaving a thread of local culture into the experience.
Inside the museum, you’ll find oil paintings on wood and canvas that pull you into Velasco’s world. There’s a figure standing alone in a sprawling cityscape, a rusty car parked beside wildflowers, or a brutalist high-rise softened by grassy meadows. These aren’t just pretty pictures—they’re snapshots of life in flux, where beauty and grit coexist.
What’s Behind the Brushstrokes?
Velasco’s art is packed with layers. He’s inspired by photography, using dramatic lighting and portraiture to give his work a cinematic edge. Think of it like a film noir meets a quiet documentary—there’s mystery, but also a deep sense of realness. He loves playing with contrasts: the known versus the unknown, the individual against the crowd, the stillness of a moment in a world that’s always changing.
Take his piece Wherever I May Roam, a massive 195 x 195-centimeter oil painting. It shows a lone person in an urban expanse, bathed in streetlight. It’s haunting yet hopeful, a perfect example of how Velasco captures humanity’s quiet strength amid chaos. His use of light isn’t just a trick—it’s a storytelling tool, pulling you in and making you wonder about the lives behind the scenes.
Why This Matters
Velasco’s work isn’t just for art lovers—it’s striking a chord with people who live in the places he paints. In the Balkans, where history is etched into every corner, his art feels personal. The History Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina calls it a “gateway to complex socio-economic narratives,” which is a fancy way of saying it gets you thinking about the bigger picture—globalization, identity, and resilience.
Critics are raving, and locals see their own stories reflected in his murals and canvases. It’s not every day an artist can bridge the gap between a Spanish studio and a Sarajevo street, but Velasco pulls it off with heart and skill.
Sebas Velasco’s “The Morning Will Change Everything” is more than an exhibition—it’s a love letter to the urban soul. Through his paintings, he shines a light on forgotten corners and fleeting moments, reminding us that even in the mess of modern life, there’s beauty worth noticing. Whether you’re an art buff or just someone who loves a good story, Velasco’s work is a journey worth taking.
Want to dive deeper? Check out his website or follow him on Instagram. And if you’re ever in Sarajevo, swing by the History Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina to see his world up close. Trust me—it’s a morning that just might change everything for you, too.
ALL image via SEBAS VELASCO INSTAGRAM
