NELON "DEDOS" GARCIA: THE FUNKY FOMO SAPIENS

When history, movement and murals meet, magic happens—and this summer that magic hit the walls of two legendary venues: The Starlite Room and Y Afterhours.

The artist behind it all? None other than DEDOS (@dedos_thenomad) — a true Canadian hip-hop pioneer, visual storyteller, and creative nomad whose career bridges graffiti, animation, dance, and design.

His mural, “Funky Fomo Sapiens,” bursts with energy—an explosion of color, style, and evolution. Much like the man himself, it lives at the intersection of movement and meaning. In the festival video (linked below), DEDOS pops and locks as he paints, blending his two lifelong disciplines—dance and visual art—into one seamless moment.

WATCH THE VIDEO

The Artist Behind the Movement

DEDOS (a.k.a. Nelson Dedos Garcia) is a visual artist, animator, muralist, and dancer. He began as a graffiti writer, becoming one of the pioneers of Canada’s early street art movement before evolving into a muralist with over 100 large-scale works across North America.

As a dancer, he helped define Canadian hip-hop culture as a founding member of the iconic ‘90s group The Rascalz. Their protest at the JUNO Awards changed Canadian music history by forcing the recognition of hip-hop as its own award category. Pretty sick!

At the heart of DEDOS’s work lies a philosophy he calls Nomadism—a way of life that values experience over possession, connection over permanence.

“Nomadism embodies a radical rejection of status, prioritizing experience over possession. It’s a life where the journey itself becomes home, and the soul finds meaning in the ever-changing horizon.”

To be nomadic, in DEDOS’s world, is to move with purpose but without fear—to evolve constantly, learning from each encounter, each new wall, each beat of the music.

The Mural: Funky Fomo Sapiens

Funky Fomo Sapiens is a collection of character work Dedos has been cultivating for years. A series of ape-like characters with tons of unique styles and personalities, but all reflective of a hip-hop cultural background. The mural helps to connect Edmonton’s creative scene through collaboration, music, and street culture.

With The Starlite Room and Y Afterhours as its backdrop, it stands as a tribute to the venues that have long kept Edmonton’s music pulse alive.

WATCH THE VIDEO

In the accompanying video, DEDOS dances, paints, and reflects on the nomadic creative life. It’s more than a mural—it’s a performance, a meditation, and a moment that fuses movement, memory, and muralism into one.

Location: The Starlite Room & Y Afterhours, Edmonton, AB

Artist: DEDOS (@dedos_thenomad)

Project Partners: Edmonton Mural Festival, Sonic 102.9

Learn more about EMF visit: https://www.edmontonmuralfest.com