THE STORY BEHIND THE ART.
By Darien Davies
Mark Rupprecht, aka Bulk Styles, grew up in his mother’s art gallery. His world was immersed with different forms of art and mediums before he was even aware of what anything was.
Intrigued, he started painting as a little kid and set his sights on art full time when he was in high school. Now, he’s been pursuing art professionally for the past 15 years.
These days, he’s a seasoned artist with his louder-than-life pieces everywhere, including Civil Society’s Brewing’s new location in West Palm Beach, all three Lynora’s locations, and Leftovers Cafe in Jupiter, among others. While his newest piece, “For Teresa,” might be smaller scale, it’s still large and loud.
“For pieces like this, they typically are not planned,” said Bulks, who enjoys the freedom that being an artist allows in every aspect of his life. “An idea pops into my head and I try to make it. I start with a sketch, I usually don’t have measurements or anything. They are freestyled, which is most of the fun; it kind of comes to life on its own.”
Named after a “wonderful human being” and long-time collector of his, Bulks said Teresa was the inspiration for the piece because she always encourages him to freestyle his work and gives him complete freedom. This is exactly what he did when creating this piece, so he named it as a tribute to her.
The piece, made with wood and acrylic paint, currently resides in Styles’ private collection at his studio. He hopes that it will go to someone who enjoys having it as much as he enjoyed making it.
“It is the first piece of handcrafted furniture in a mini-series that incorporates the vintage comic book/pop art style that inspires a lot of my work,” he said, who mentioned that the piece is special because of its uniqueness. “The table displays a more modern look and reflects the sleek minimalistic style I lean toward in decorating. It’s a manifestation of my passion for preserving the old and incorporating it with the new.”
The Incredible Bulk
Graffiti god Bulk Styles has taken the South Florida street art scene by storm. Here’s how a young Jupiter skater became one of the area’s most sought-after muralists
Photo by Steven Martine
At an underground parking garage in an undisclosed location somewhere in northern Palm Beach County, Bulk Styles (“Bulks”) discovered his life’s passion. It was 2004, and the 16-year-old Jupiter resident—then known by his given name, Mark Rupprecht—was doing what most teenagers do. “I had long hair, I was skateboarding… I wasn’t doing anything,” recalls Bulks, now 33, who had moved to Jupiter from New Jersey with his family four years earlier. He also had a passion for art. “My mom had an art gallery in New Jersey before it was hip,” he says, noting that as a young boy he would sit in the back of his mom’s art classes drawing and painting.
Last May, Bulks painted a mural for the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Miami. Courtesy of Bulk Styles
One day, he discovered a website featuring graffiti artists. “I didn’t even know graffiti artists existed, and there was no graffiti scene in Jupiter,” he says. Drawn to the art and the overall vibe of the scene he was reading about, Bulks went on a quest to connect with graffiti artists. He came upon the aforementioned parking garage, a well-known
location in the area (among those in the know) where artists from around the world gather and paint. There, he met artists who were legends in the world of graffiti and learned how to paint on a canvas of concrete walls and abandoned buildings.
Bulks at work on a mural at Sea Shell City in Riviera Beach last spring. Courtesy of Bulk Styles
Unlike traditional fine artists, graffiti artists don’t sign their art with their real names. Instead, they choose a tag that distinguishes their work among fellow street artists. Bulks experimented with many tags, but nothing stuck. Then a friend introduced him to her boyfriend, whom Bulks recognized as a legend in the graffiti world. “He said, ‘I’m going to give you a name,’” recalls Bulks. “He looked at my work and said, ‘This is a bulk amount of work you’re doing.’ Then he named me Bulk.” He didn’t really like the name at first, but he started using it anyway. Other artists nodded their approval, referring to him as “Bulks,” and it stuck.
Over the next decade, Bulks gained notoriety on the scene and began hanging out with an amazing mix of creatives. “I met these top-notch guys from Sweden who were meticulous painters with phenomenal work,” he says. “I asked them, ‘What do I need to do to paint like you?’ and they said, ‘You already have everything you need. You just need to take yourself seriously.’”
Detail of a mural at MADabolic fitness center in Jupiter. Courtesy of Bulk Styles
The conversation would prove to be a pivotal moment in Bulks’ life. Shortly after, when he was around 28, he decided to leave his retail job at a local art store and dedicate himself to being a full-time artist. “I quit my job and was working in my studio when this lady drives by,” recalls the artist. The woman stopped and asked him how much he would sell
the still-in-progress painting for. Says Bulks: “I’m thinking, I’m making $249 a week in retail and wouldn’t it be funny if she gave me $249 for the painting. So, I tell her $249.” He wasn’t expecting a yes. But she agreed—and commissioned him for a second painting too, paying him $800 for both.
It was in that moment that Bulks realized he could make a living doing what he loved. “Sometimes it’s good to come to terms with yourself and realize you can do more,” he says.
A mural at Lynora’s in Jupiter. Courtesy of Bulk Styles
He parlayed his experience as a graffiti artist into a booming career as a mural artist, creating large-scale paintings for all sorts of local businesses including restaurants, gyms, golf courses, retail stores, hotels, and breweries. He has left his mark at the offices of entertainment news corporation TMZ in Hollywood and live-painted a mural at the Hard Rock Stadium amid a packed house of celebrities during the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix last May.
Detail of the artist’s work at Leftovers Café in Jupiter. Courtesy of Bulk Styles
One of his first murals was for Leftovers Café in 2017. “To have my work at a successful restaurant, being seen by so many locals, it was affirming,” says Bulks, who has since painted murals at a slew of other well-known local spots like The Parched Pig, Bagel Boyz, Admiral’s Cove, Civil Society Brewing Co., Ocean Republic Brewing in Stuart, and all three Lynora’s locations. In April 2021, when he finished an ocean mural featuring a giant sea turtle for MADabolic fitness center on Indiantown Road, the first person he unveiled it to was his 93-year-old grandmother. “I love to show her my murals,” he says. “She always tells me, ‘I’m glad God keeps me alive to see this.’”
Bulks in front of his outdoor mural at Ocean Republic Brewing in Stuart. Photo by Steven Martine
Grandma will soon have a lot more to be proud of as Bulks is working on multiple projects at the moment in Jupiter, Fort Lauderdale, Oakland Park, and Las Vegas. “No one in school ever told me I could do this,” he says. “And now I wake up every single day and love what I do.”
One Dreamer’s Journey: A Q&A with Bulk Styles
Cultural Council of Palm Beach County
Bulk Styles is one of the artists featured in the Cultural Council’s current exhibition, “” and as a featured artist at . We asked him a few questions about his process, the relationship between arts and activism, his inspirations, and what’s next for his career.
Can you tell us about your background and career as an artist?
Bulk Styles (BS): As a young kid, I spent a majority of my time in my mother’s art gallery/frame shop in New Jersey. Most days, I’d be playing basketball in the back of her shop with my sister and cousins, which allowed my mom to get work done…while also driving her and her employees nuts, I’m sure. I was a wild child. My mom’s art gallery was a creative environment for me and because I was introduced to all types of artwork at such an early age…I developed as a precocious young man. A short time after moving to Florida in 2000, I was doing the typical things a young kid in middle school would do—skateboarding, video games, paintball—but it wasn’t until 6th or 7th grade that I was introduced to the art form of graffiti at my local skate park, It was at that moment that I had made a connection and, really, a desire to focus my attention on the art world. The colors and the culture spoke to me in volumes. I felt as if it existed for me. Everything I was doing before came to a complete stop when I was introduced to graffiti. I knew, right then and there, that I had found my true calling. I remember running home and drawing my family and friend’s names…the best part was seeing their reactions. I was hooked! Up to that moment, nothing ever made me feel more excited or inspired to want to be someone. I knew then that becoming an artist was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I was motivated to make a name for myself with graffiti and art in general. Ten years later, I’m still here working on that same goal with more love, passion, drive and willingness to keep learning and pushing myself to progress as an artist.
Give us a description of your process, from first idea/inspiration to the final touch of paint.
BS: My inspiration comes from many outlets—it could be images associated with topics I’m passionate about, to having a really good conversation with someone, or the right song coming on at just the right time. Painting for me [is] just starting and not knowing when to stop. I just go until I feel the piece is where it should be. It’s a simple process for me because I make it that way for myself. If I’m not feeling it…I don’t beat myself up. I leave it for another day. That way, it somehow always leaves my paintings ‘wanting’ more, but being totally content with how they are. And with that, my search is able to continue.
Tell us a bit about the piece that you’ve created for “X Marks the Spot.”
BS: I always had this idea that it would be really cool to have pieces in a show that weren’t created in my studio and then brought to a gallery, but instead creating them inside the gallery for that particular show. I decided to hang five blank canvases and paint my mural and its pieces simultaneously to allow the space and energy to dictate the outcome of the piece. I wanted to create something that, from far away looked, like one piece…but my real goal was to make it so that the five individual canvases could also stand on their own. Somehow, even with my hectic schedule, I was able to make something that made sense in a moment of chaos. To see the result, I am very pleased and relieved at the same time!
Who are some artists that you look up to?
BS: I won’t mention any names…just because there are too many to name and I wouldn’t want to leave anyone out. I’ll put it this way…I look up to anyone who believes in themselves and has dreams and goals and works tirelessly, day in and day out, on their craft with little to no return for their hard work. I look up to the people who doubt themselves constantly but continue to keep going. I look up to people that encourage those people. I look up to those who suffer for their work because they know deep down inside what they are doing is truly right for them. That sums up any one of my artist friends that you see me create alongside…those are the people I look up to.
You’re also featured in the Council’s Satellite space in CityPlace. There, you’ve included references (Tom from “Tom & Jerry,” the crocodile, etc.) from the world of pop culture. Is there any reason you’ve included these characters and, if so, why are they included?
BS: I use Tom and Jerry in a lot of my work to show people that we spend too much time beating up on one another, rather than showing the people we live for how much they mean to us. After all it’s not just Tom [causing trouble], it’s Tom and Jerry. Whether they know it or not, they exist for one another. I’d like to think they know that. And though Tom and Jerry spent most of their days at each other’s throats, there were always those small hints of true concern for one another. Perhaps they would take a prank too far and you would catch a small glimpse of true friendship. I feel that’s the way a lot of us navigate through life. We spend more time dwelling on what irritates us instead of what makes us happy. They say it’s the people you love that are the ones who hurt you the most…a very hard concept to accept.
And as far as the alligators, I use them to represent longevity in my work. They’ve been around for over 200 million years and will probably be around longer than us. It’s a good representation of the life that I hope my work gets the chance of living.
The medium of mural and graffiti art tends to get mixed up with the world of “activist art.” Do you see yourself as an artist, an activist, both, or neither?
BS: Quite frankly, I don’t see myself as any of those things. Graffiti is such a broad term and I find it extremely difficult to try to define myself and my work with that word. Besides, I don’t think I would do it any justice. And activist? No! I by no means push any type of political agenda through my work. We see enough of that on a daily basis. I don’t want to condone any more of that than we’re already subjected to. You could just turn on your TV for that. Although art plays a huge role in bringing about change, I would rather leave that out of my work. I want people to look at my work at face value, with no hidden messages or agendas. I want them to walk away from my pieces forming their own opinions and their own thoughts…good or bad. I don’t want to do anyone’s thinking for them. I want to keep it honest. ‘Artist,’ to me, sounds a bit presumptuous. I see myself as more of a curious person and a risk-taker. To answer your question, I am a dreamer.
What’s next for you and your work?
BS: That’s up to the universe to decide. I just go with it.
Anything else you’d like to communicate to the Cultural Council, its members or other artists in the community?
BS: I’d like to thank the Cultural Council and its members who have worked tirelessly and graciously to give us a very strong platform to showcase our work to the community. It means the world to us! I’d also like to thank anyone who has ever encouraged, believed and trusted in me and also motivated me. I’d also like to thank those who discouraged and doubted me and told me I’d never amount to anything. You know, the “get a real job!” people. Their advice can be just as valuable if you learn how to understand it.
I want to say thank you to my mom for when I told her “I think I’m going to quit my job and try to do my artwork” and her reply was “No, no, no…you are going to quit your job and go do your artwork.”
To my fellow artists or anyone who’s currently in doubt..we are in a world that has no problem telling us what itthinks we should do. All that really matters is that you do what you think you should do. If you truly believe wholeheartedly in what you are doing is the right thing for you, whatever that may be, the rest of the world will take notice. Give them no other option but to believe that you know what you are doing is what’s right for you. Don’t spend all of your time telling yourself how it’s “not going to happen.” That gets you nowhere fast. Believe in yourself and your work and your vision, even when no one else will! It’s easier, more effective, and in today’s crazy expensive consumer world, it’s free. If you see someone down, pick them up. If you see someone in pain, make them feel better leaving you than when they did when they came to you. Make people laugh. Be good to animals. After all, they ‘get it’ more than we do. Most importantly…be you.
We had the good fortune of connecting with Bulk Styles and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Bulk, do you have a budget? How do you make lifestyle and spending decisions?
“ Money isn’t everything but with out it you can’t do sh*t…” I Remember being told that as a kid and it has stuck with me to this day…Money can be many things to each of us and serve a multitude of purposes in its own unique way. Money can be a lifeline, a sense of stability, A Comfort, A stress ( more money, more problems ) which seems to be very true, and also a competition. So to me it’s not the actual Money itself that holds the most value in my life its having enough of it to be able to focus more on what does hold value and that’s my Family and Art. It’s a currency with many different values it just depends how you wanna cash in your chips… I’ve always thought… Money just makes you more of what you already are. So for me Im fortunate at this age in my life to realize that I want to wake up everyday and not have to WORK for someone else to make enough money to AFFORD myself a little Time to SPEND on doing the things that give me a reason to get up and outta bed in the morning. As far as lifestyle and spending decisions go my Grandmother always told me “ Whenever you go to purchase something always ask yourself, Do I need it? Or Do I want it…? “ For me being a full time artist, I always find myself in the situation where I need the things I want. More paint, more markers, more material etc. none of it will ever go to waste because I’ll find ways to use it! Eventually.
Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art no matter the subject matter I feel always needs to look fun and happy. Im not sure what sets me apart from anyone else who is expressing themselves and doing something they love. I wouldn’t want to separate myself from that. I work in many different mediums because I get bored with one and then I try something new or go back to something else for example I may paint for a good month maybe just canvas, Then Ill break out the power tools and build a table. I’m new to the airbrush and I’ve been enjoying figuring that out but ill put that down for iPad work. I guess I don’t focus on how or what ill make its more about focusing on the freedom all these different mediums allow me and also sometimes bringing them all together at once. I got to where I am today with a lot of hard work ( still feel like I haven’t even gotten started ) , Luck, Love, taking chances, being reminded by my mother that no job or event or opportunity is ever too big or too small or too beneath me…And enough sense to know that my art was giving to me and its something that works thru me and I have no true answer as to why I continue to keep doing it other than it makes me extremely happy and at some times extremely disappointed. I will show the world what I want it to think of me ; )
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Honestly….I don’t get out much lol! art WORKWORKWORK
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My Family and Anyone who knows that I Consider them Family.
Website: www.bulks.bigcartel.com
Instagram: Bulk_styles
Facebook: Mark Bulks
Other: [email protected]