We were lucky to catch up with Topo recently and have shared our conversation below.

Topo, appreciate you joining us today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

It hasn’t been an easy path, but I feel really lucky. I actually started making money from my art before finishing my studies in Graphic Design and Fine Arts. One day I was painting in the street with a graffiti friend, and he told me to contact someone he knew at a Spanish brand I had always dreamed of working with. I did, sent them a design test, and they loved it. Suddenly I had my first freelance job, it was kind of surreal, honestly.

Since then, I’ve been living from my art, painting murals, tattooing, selling my work, and collaborating on projects all over the world. I’ve lived in Spain, Australia, and Canada, and during all that time graffiti has always been part of my life. Painting in the streets, meeting people, and traveling has helped me grow so much, both as an artist and as a person.

I’ve never made a lot of money, but I’ve always found a way to move forward working only through my art. I’ve always been very clear about what I want, even knowing how difficult this path is, I’ve always known I wanted to live freely, on my own terms, doing what I love. It’s not an easy or stable life, but it’s mine, and I’m really grateful for it, especially to my parents, who have always supported me, even when things were tough. They always believed in me and encouraged me to keep going.

And now I’ve just moved to Tokyo, Japan. I’m tattooing here and focusing on growing as an artist, taking that next step from being emerging to something bigger. There are some really exciting projects happening right now, both in Spain and internationally, and I want to keep painting, traveling, and sharing my vision with the world.

What I’ve learned along the way is that to speed up the process and grow faster, it really helps to stay in one place for a longer period of time, something I’ve never actually done. Constantly moving has probably slowed down that professional growth. But honestly, I don’t regret it at all. Traveling and living in different countries has helped me grow enormously on a personal level, meeting amazing people, building friendships and connections, and most importantly, feeding my creativity.

As an artist, I think that’s something really valuable. Experiencing different cultures and environments opens your mind, and that translates directly into your work. I have more stories, experiences, and lessons learned, and I can see all of that reflected in my art.

Starting over so many times, in such different places, sometimes without knowing the language or anyone there, has made me a very resilient person. And I think resilience is essential today, not just to be a full-time artist, but for life in general. In the end, it’s all about stepping out of your comfort zone to grow, to see the world from different perspectives, and to understand and connect beyond what you thought you knew.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m an artist known as TOPO, my alter ego and the character that represents the soul of my work. I grew up surrounded by graffiti writers and urban artists, and from a very young age, I found in street art the most natural and powerful way to express my enthusiasm for life and all the questions that come with it.

Through TOPO, I aim to spread art as a form of pure dialogue between people and their environment, a universal language that can bring light, reflection, and connection to anyone who crosses its path. TOPO was born to break the monotony of the streets, to plant small seeds of joy, color, and positivity in unexpected places around the world.

Each of these “seeds” is a piece of urban art that invites people to stop for a second, smile, and simply be. I use the character in different formats, murals, canvases, tattoos, and installations, clothes, etc as a way to encourage free thought and individual perspective. Through him, I want to remind people that reality can be seen in a more positive and meaningful way when we choose to look at it consciously.

TOPO, the character himself, represents the inner child we all carry within us, that sense of curiosity, optimism, and wonder we are born with. He embodies our ability to question what we don’t understand and that beautiful mix of innocence and awareness that keeps us grounded in the present moment, connected with ourselves and the universe.

In every piece, TOPO reflects on life’s nuances through color and symbolism. He invites us to think critically, to stay curious, and to reconnect with that genuine part of ourselves that sees beauty and meaning in everything.

Over time, this idea grew into a movement I call TakeTheTopo, a constant search for a more conscious and positive version of ourselves. It invites people to look around, to “hunt” for TOPO in cities around the world, and to share him when they find him. It’s not just about finding a piece of art, it’s about finding a message, a reminder of the values TOPO stands for: positivity, awareness, curiosity, and connection.

When people find TOPO and share him, they help spread that message within their own circles, becoming part of a global network of optimism and creativity.

What I’m most proud of is seeing how something that started as a very personal idea, painting a character that represented my own reflections, has turned into a way for others to connect, reflect, and find meaning in their own lives. That’s what sets my work apart: it’s not just about visual impact, but about emotional connection and consciousness.

Ultimately, my mission as an artist is to keep creating and sharing works that make people pause, smile, and think, to remind us that we all carry that inner TOPO inside, waiting to see the world with curiosity and joy again.

Because : “Being aware of yourself is the way to freedom and full life”

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Yes, definitely. Since the very beginning, when I started painting graffiti, my goal has always been to connect with people, the same way I connected with the graffiti in my neighborhood when I was a kid.

Through my work, I try to send a message: think for yourself, reflect, and look at life from a positive and grateful perspective. I believe everything that happens, good or bad, is part of our learning process. If we use those moments to grow, we start to see life in a brighter way.

With my art, I also try to add a bit of joy to life, to make people smile, even for a second. I think that energy can be contagious and really change how we see things.

In the end, my mission is to bring something good to the world, to inspire people to be more aware, more empathetic, more connected with each other, with nature, and with themselves. Because we’re all part of the same thing, and we need to take care of it, and of each other.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

Yes, definitely. I think one of the things that non-creatives sometimes struggle to understand is the mindset behind living fully for your art.

When I started, many of my friends thought I was crazy, they saw it as just a dream, not something real. I stopped going out, stopped partying, and spent all my time painting, drawing, and practicing. For them, it looked like I was “always working,” but for me, I was just doing what I love.
Now, with time, they’ve seen my path, how much effort I’ve put into it, and they understand it, they actually support me a lot, and that means the world to me.

People often ask me how I can live with so much uncertainty, without the stability that most people look for. And honestly, I don’t really know how to explain it, I just know I’d rather live with less money but doing what I love, than spend my time in a job that gives me nothing but a paycheck. I’ve always believed that if you stay consistent, work hard, and believe in what you do, opportunities will come eventually. The habit makes the master, and if you master something, you’ll always find ways to make it work.

Maybe some people don’t understand because they haven’t found their passion yet, or because they value stability more, which is totally legitimate. But for me, work is identity. It’s what we dedicate most of our life to. And I can’t imagine spending that time doing something that doesn’t inspire me.

In Japan, there’s a word for this, Ikigai, which means “your reason for being.” Thanks to my mother and the environment I grew up in, I was lucky to find mine at a young age. Everyone’s timing is different, and I completely respect that.

Of course, sometimes I also think it would be easier to have a normal job, a fixed salary, less uncertainty… but deep down, I know this is my path. I believe that if more people dared to follow what they truly love, even if it’s hard, they would naturally put in the effort, enjoy the process, and create amazing things. Everything in the world would flow better because passion drives quality and meaning.

It’s not easy, and everyone’s circumstances are unique, but I really think education and governments should support this, to help people find and develop their passions from an early age. Because if you believe in what you do and you work for it, like the great “Cholo” Simeone says, if you believe and you work, you can achieve it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.takethetopo.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/takethetopo/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtNxafiMQksXlQF3_2rdvaA/