What are your thoughts on this? The city capitalizes on the culture to sell an image, yet incarcerates the very people who built it, accusing them of ‘bombing’ and destroying property in the name of art.
Consider this, an abandoned building slated for demolition was flipped into an unofficial gallery by the same artists who made Wynwood and Art Basel Miami what they are today. The comment threads are divided, the people see art, while the system sees damage.”
Some call him a “ringleader,” but most of the community sees him as a representative, an artist keeping alive the tradition of writers turning neglect into beauty with letters.
Miami officials will praise murals during Art Basel and shake hands with brands… then turn around and arrest the artists bringing run-down neighborhoods back to life. Lol.
A Miami street artist is in hot water over a building that was up for demolition in 2023. 37-year-old Paul Mario Hoyos was arrested Tuesday 8-28-25 by Miami police, accused of leading a writing spree that left “thousands in damages.” The city calls it vandalism. Writers call it expression.
A video posted in December 2023 allegedly showed Hoyos spray-painting “TESOE” in red letters on the side of the Vitas building. He faces multiple felony charges, including burglary of an unoccupied structure, criminal mischief of $1,000 or more, and trespassing at a posted construction site.
Investigators say Hoyos’ tag “TESOE” appeared on several high-profile landmarks, including the now-demolished Vitas building at 100 South Biscayne Boulevard and the I-395 overpass, both in one of Miami’s most visible downtown corridors.
Detectives linked Hoyos to the crimes through his Instagram account “T3SOE,” which featured photos and videos of the tagged properties, as well as posts connected to a group known as “004 Connec,” a crew that police say has been tied to multiple vandalism cases.
The building in question? The old Vitas spot was already abandoned, marked for demolition. A concrete eyesore turned illegal gallery during Basel season. Writers from all over the world came to take part in the bombing of the building.
Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers Unit is asking people with information about related vandalism incidents to call the Miami Police Department.
Before the developers came and turned it into a postcard, Wynwood to I-395 writers been made those sites, sites. Seems like the city that profits off the spray-paint is now criminalizing it, they want the hype, but not the soul of it.
Not to mention the other copycat sign painter/muralists type cities here in Florida who don’t like the roots of the culture or the letters but want to be down but really faking the funk. Won’t name any names y’all know who you are lol.
At the end of the day, it’s about power, perception, and who gets to define art in the city. Miami’s playing both sides, celebrating when it’s profitable, criminalizing it when it’s real.
TESOE’s lawyer, Allison Freidin, a former prosecutor turned founder of the Museum of Graffiti says, “You can’t vandalize garbage.” We feel that. Here at MRC Promotions, we roll with terms like Style-writing or tagging.
If you’re an artist caught in the crosshairs, you might find some guidance through her camp.
I’ll always remember the late P.H.A.S.E. 2 schooling us on this culture and how the media slapped the word graffiti on it in the first place. No hate, though we don’t discriminate. Hahaha!
And if you’re planning on heading this way to ART BASEL Miami Beach to paint? Already here, stay sharp the police and them people will be out in force. You don’t want to end up at Alligator Alley LOL just joking.
The comments read, “Free Tesoe.” “Art is not a crime.” “Boycott Basel.” Meanwhile, local vandalism is costing taxpayers millions. What’s the solution? We’re always open to your take on the culture, hit us up if there’s something you want us to cover.
But for real though like the Wu said best Protek ya Neck. Stay safe and one luv.
