Antoine Marnata’s journey as an artist is deeply influenced by his European roots and personal experiences. Trained in art and design in France, his life changed dramatically when he lost his father at the age of 18, an ordeal that destabilized him for a few years, but ultimately instilled in him a strong sense of responsibility. This early challenge led him to find purpose and passion in his work. Today, Antoine is a renowned urban artist in San Francisco, having transformed his love for graffiti into large-scale mural projects with his company 1AM Projects co-founded with Daniel Pan. His artistic evolution, from graffiti in Europe to mural art in the U.S., reflects his commitment to community projects and creative collaborations.
Let’s dive into the world of an artist whose personal experience has shaped a unique approach to mural art and graffiti.
MerciSF: Can you tell us a bit about your background, where you come from in France, and how your path in art and design led you to San Francisco?
Antoine Marnata: After my first year at the Beaux-Arts in Toulouse and three years in Brussels at a school for “Advertising & Graphic Design,” I came to San Francisco in 2011 for a language internship, thanks to a grant from the AFEM (to which my father had long contributed): I was completely captivated by the city and was determined to come back. I then looked for every possible way to work here. One day, I received an email from Daniel Pan, who is now my business partner, informing me that a position had opened up at the 1AM SF store. He invited me to come for a trial. So, I arrived in June 2013 and started working behind the counter here at 1AMSF, selling painting supplies to the whole San Francisco graffiti and street art scene, as well as to visitors from all over the world.
Can you tell us about the origins of 1AM SF? Was it just a store?
Initially, 1AM was half store, half gallery. It was open, people came to see the exhibitions and bought supplies at the same time. We had major exhibitions, and I participated in them during my early years here. We had shows with renowned artists from Europe and the U.S. The gallery was packed during the openings, and the atmosphere was incredible. The glory years were between 2013 and 2019.
Which memorable artists have you had the chance to host?
We had Mad-C, a highly respected German graffiti artist, as well as Super A and Vogue, an artist from the East Bay who started in the 80s. The list is very long; we held monthly exhibitions with new artists.
In addition to managing the store, how did you move into mural creation?
During those years, I managed the store while making flyers for the exhibitions and helping with the setup. At the same time, we started doing small murals here and there. That’s when Dan, my business partner, suggested we create a new company called 1AM Projects.
What motivated you to co-found 1AM Projects?
What interests me is working with different communities and as a team with other artists. We have a team of 5 to 6 artists collaborating on our projects, and I also collaborate with some of them. My background in graffiti, which I started in 2001 at the age of 14, taught me a lot about collective projects.
Can you explain the difference between tag, graffiti, and mural art?
For me, street art is a broad term that includes everything happening in the street, whether legal or illegal. For example, a tag is simply a signature you make with a single color, a marker, or a spray can, often your name or your crew’s name. Then there’s graffiti, which can include these tags but goes further with elaborated letters, dimensions, colors, light effects – what we call a piece.
I started with graffiti, not entirely authorized, in Europe, mainly in Belgium and France. At the time, I mostly did tags
and pieces in the streets – it was really spontaneous, a way to express myself freely. When I arrived in San Francisco, I quickly realized that the laws were different here and that it could get me into trouble. Today, I focus on murals, what we call “murals” here. These are much larger and more detailed works, often commissioned by clients or communities, and it’s with 1AM Projects that I truly ventured into this type of creation.
It’s a more collective process, working with artists and communities, where you can express things in a more legal and structured way. I still love graffiti, and I enjoy painting from time to time, but in authorized spaces or abandoned areas. Now I focus more on these large mural projects that allow me to leave a lasting mark on the city in a more permanent way.
In your opinion, how does graffiti culture differ between Europe and the U.S.?
I’ve met many artists in the U.S. who take bigger risks than those I know in Europe. Here, graffiti is more radical and deeply embedded in street culture.
Has that influenced your own graffiti practice?
I might have done a few unauthorized graffiti pieces in Europe when the laws were still evolving, but when I arrived here, I understood that the laws were different. So, I decided to focus on entirely legal projects. For about five years now, I’ve been more focused on my murals with 1AM Projects.
Do you have any memorable anecdotes related to your graffiti work or as a muralist?
I have plenty of stories, some funny, and others a bit more exciting. But I’d like to share something that shows the community aspect of our work.
A nice anecdote I like to share happened in Bayview. I was painting two large highway columns, and for an entire
month, a little boy passed by every day with his mother. One day, he was waiting for me at the bottom of my lift and gave me a small card with a message that said, “Thank you, Mr. Artist,” and a $20 McDonald’s gift card. It was a small gesture, but it touched me deeply. I thought that maybe one day this little boy would become an artist too. I kept the card.
Then, there are the more “rock’n’roll” stories. Once, while painting the Churchill bar in San Francisco, someone stole the batteries from my lift. I had to pay $4000 to replace them, and I even hired friends to guard the equipment at night!
But the most unbelievable story is when our generator was stolen in broad daylight. Someone took it right in front of us, from our pick-up, while I was high up in my lift. By the time I came down and tried to stop him, he was already in his car. I threw a spray can at his vehicle as he drove away – I managed to hit him from 40 meters! We caught it all on the security camera – it was surreal! We never caught him because we didn’t get the license plate!
What are the projects and goals of 1AM Projects?
My partner and I have big plans for the future of 1AM Projects. We want to strengthen our presence in the schools and neighborhoods of San Francisco by creating more murals and providing students and residents with the chance to express themselves through art. Our goal is to make the city more vibrant, with more colors, not only through our own creations but also by highlighting the work of other artists. San Francisco is a city that values art and the artistic community, and we want to continue sharing our knowledge, collaborating, and exploring new techniques to inspire younger generations. We truly want our art to become a voice for the neighborhoods, bringing people together and allowing them to tell their stories through mural art.
We also dream of reopening our paint store and art gallery, which were closed after the pandemic and a fire in 2022. This space, which we had since 2008, allowed us to meet, exhibit, and support artists, both local and international. We often think back to the incredible atmosphere of the openings, with an enthusiastic crowd. Recreating that positive atmosphere around art and gatherings is part of our long-term goals.
Lastly, I would like to clarify that 1AM is an abbreviation of “1st Amendment”, as we promote freedom of speech through art in public spaces (and not my initials!)
Merci Antoine!
