Urban Artist Talk with Matley Hurd: Murals, Mayhem, and the Art of Problem Solving
Late nights, wild encounters, and some of the most striking murals in the Bay—Matley Hurd’s work lives at the crossroads of talent and tenacity. In this episode of Urban Artist Talk, we sat down with the muralist and designer behind some of the Bay Area’s most recognizable public artworks—from vibrant goddess figures to Steph Curry’s hand-painted pregame backpack.
Here’s what went down.
One-click subscribe for video updates
Give Me the Paint, Give Me the Chalk
You know the artist is real when he’s up on a ladder at 10:30 PM and some guy strolls up asking where the massage parlors are.
“That’s the weirdest thing you could’ve asked me right now,” Matley laughs. “I’m covered in paint. I’m painting a mural in the middle of the night. I don’t even know this neighborhood.”
But that’s par for the course. When your studio is the sidewalk and your tools sit on an open curb, you get all types—from drunk bar crawlers to curious locals. Sometimes they steal your generator. Other times, they bring you cold Gatorade.
Welcome to public art.
The Style Behind the Spray
Matley’s visual language is a blend of comic books, anime, sci-fi, streetwear, skate culture, and graffiti. His goddess characters—bright, regal, ethereal—have become his calling card, though they started out of necessity.
“When I couldn’t afford to spend a month on a mural, I had to simplify. That’s where the abstract shapes and color flows came from,” he says. “It just stuck.”
His goddesses are drawn from mythology and pop culture icons like Storm and Gundam warriors. They’re spiritual but modern, floating with power, cloaked in glowing linework and unapologetic color.
From Comic Books to Curry
From Comic Books to Curry
One of Matley’s most memorable projects? Painting a custom backpack for Steph Curry. Yes, that Steph.
“They hit me up out of the blue. Wanted something artistic for Steph to wear pregame. I thought he’d rock it once for a tunnel walk. But he kept wearing it—every game.”
Steph wore the bag throughout the playoffs, turning it into a sort of lucky charm. Until the Warriors lost to the Lakers, that is. “I was like... that’s what happens when you don’t wear the bag.” q
The Reality of Painting in Public
Public art isn’t just creativity—it’s strategy. Painting outside means managing materials, dodging the weather, and reading the room (or the block). Sometimes you’re met with community love. Other times? Skepticism.
“People walk by while you’re blocking in the grid like, ‘What the hell are these hieroglyphs?’ You gotta trust the process. And they gotta trust you.”
One mural in Hunters Point nearly sparked a confrontation—until the neighborhood OGs saw the work forming. “By the end, they were coming up like, ‘Hey, that sh*t’s clean.’ That’s the switch.”
The Unseen Discipline
Behind the color explosions and Instagram carousels is a grind most people miss. Managing timelines, balancing budgets, adjusting for spray paint or acrylic, dealing with clients who change their minds halfway through—it’s all part of the job.
“Sometimes I want to paint a hundred people on a wall. But if I’m not getting paid for two months of work, I can’t do it. You gotta problem solve. You gotta move.”
Matley doesn’t just paint. He presents. Sells. Adapts. Because painting murals is half art, half logistics. You’re selling joy in public. But you’re also selling yourself—over and over again.
Finding Your Artistic Voice
Despite the deadlines and demands, Matley makes time for personal work. His recent focus? Developing more goddess portraits and original characters—futuristic figures in bold shapes and puffed jackets.
“I want to paint what I love. I want to push my style. The more honest I am with the work, the more people connect.”
He’s influenced by Basquiat, anime, mythology, and the rhythm of the Bay itself. Every piece is an extension of his upbringing in Hayward and his love of comics passed down from his father. “My dad’s office is like a Batman museum.”
Closing Thoughts: Finish, Not Perfect
One of Matley’s favorite quotes comes from illustrator Jake Parker:
“Finish, not perfect.”
That’s the philosophy. Whether it’s a goddess with a glowing headpiece or a corporate commission with a deadline, you find the line between what’s honest and what’s done.
“You can always do more. But sometimes, you gotta call it. Step back. Let it breathe.”
What’s Next?
A series of public murals coming this summer
A new Modelo project in the pipeline
Ongoing personal studio work focused on goddesses and original characters
And always, the mission: stay curious, keep painting, and never stop evolving.
Urban Artist Talk is about more than murals. It’s about hustle, heart, and keeping your hand in the work—even when the world gets weird. Like when someone asks you for a happy-ending massage while you’re up on a ladder at midnight.
That’s when you know the art is real.