*By Chloe Aiello* Graffiti artist to the stars Darrius "Spraykid" Ford isn't seeking out new celebrity clients. Instead, he's leveraging his success to prop up new and emerging artists. The Chicago-based Ford's favorite medium is graffiti, but he said he's always partial to "layering" different materials. "Everything I work with has layers ー I work in a non-traditional sense, I use spray paint, oil paint, household paint, hand paint. I layer my work, nothing is ever clean cut." He's also collaborated with rapper Post Malone on his fashion, and is the fashion art director for rapper 2 Chainz' CEO Millionaires clothing line. Now, he's helping other pop artists to gain the kind of exposure he craved at the beginning of his career through his Pryme Art Agency. "Pryme is a hub for new and emerging artists, pop artists, pop culture. We create a platform for artists who don't have the exposure of top-tier pop artists or street artists," Ford told Cheddar on Thursday. His agency is as diverse as his own tastes ー Ford doesn't discriminate. "Fashion is art to me. Hip hop is art. Music is art. Creative direction, graphic design, and painting," he said. Still, not all artists are created equal. What sets an artist apart in Ford's mind is a good grasp of art history. "You need to know the significance of what your art is and the history of art. If you have any inspiration, it is always good to know what your background is." For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/pryme-art-agency-is-founded-by-artists-for-artists).
