ROA (1976) is a Belgian artist internationally known for his large-scale murals of animals around the world, often revealing a forgotten natural world beneath and within the industrial city. His murals create a striking juxtaposition between the organic and the mechanical, evoking a sense of nostalgia for a world before cement and concrete.

ROA began developing his practice in his home country of Belgium, exploring abandoned industrial environments and the wildlife hidden within them. His work has since appeared across major cities worldwide, including London, New York, Paris, Berlin, Warsaw, Madrid, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Johannesburg, Bangkok, Perth, Chicago and many more. Often site-specific, his murals respond to the local environment and the species that inhabit or once inhabited it.

While widely recognised for his murals, ROA’s practice extends beyond the street. He also creates unique drawings, paintings, objects and installations, often using found, discarded or reclaimed materials. These works are exhibited in galleries and museums around the world, where they continue his ongoing exploration of animal anatomy, nature, decay, and the relationship between the natural and the built environment.

In 2011, ROA participated in the landmark exhibition Art in the Streets at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Los Angeles. Moving fluidly between public space, studio, gallery and museum, his ongoing practice remains site-responsive and continually shaped by new environments, materials and encounters.