In November 2024, Malaysian graffiti artist CLOAK took a month-long tour across Mexico, making stops in Mexico City, Morelia, Guadalajara, La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, San Luis Potosí, and Oaxaca. Supported by Montana Cans, he used his favorite colors from the Montana BLACK range while immersing himself in each city’s art scene, local cuisine, and vibrant culture. “Since Mexico is so far away from Malaysia, I decided to tour around Mexico for a month to explore Mexican food, architecture, galleries, museums, as well as painting with locals in each city,” he said. During his brief four-day stays in each location, he endeavored to paint as much as possible, explaining, “I tried to maximize my time every day.”
CLOAKWORK began his journey in Mexico City, where he picked up supplies at the traditional graffiti shop 4elementos. The capital’s colorful streets provided creative fuel, and he connected with local talents like Motick, Afor, Ouer, Smithe, and Itsaliving—though only finishing a partial collaboration with Afor when the police intervened. He then headed to Morelia for the Harto Arte 2024 Festival, meeting more local and international writers. Afterward, he joined forces with Fixe, Tayson, and Sydeo in a road trip to Guadalajara for another painting session. Soon, he and But traveled on to the quaint fishing village of La Cruz de Huanacaxtle for some beachside relaxation and murals.
Before returning to Mexico City, CLOAKWORK painted a façade of a local graffiti shop named El Placazo with Jsie1, and squeezed in a production with Feroz, Panda, and Jsie1. For his final stretch, he visited Oaxaca—known for its rich culture and historical sites—where he even convinced his Airbnb host to let him paint their space.
All photos in this post are by CLOAK. This month-long excursion reflects the artist’s passion for cross-cultural exploration and creative collaboration. Previously, CLOAK was featured in the Montana BLACK Artist Series #22, discussed in an interview about his approach to graffiti. His BLACK Artist Edition #22, released in 2022, can be found here: CLOAKWORK – Montana BLACK Artist Edition #22. For more content on graffiti tours, murals, and upcoming artist projects, follow us on Instagram.
All photos in this post are by CLOAK.