Shane Pilster

Shane Pilster is a muralist, designer, and educator whose work is grounded in graffiti culture and the discipline of spray paint. A self-taught artist, his practice is shaped by years of painting, studying lettering and design, and learning from the history and pioneers of aerosol art.

Through his studio, Do What We Love, he creates murals, installations, and design projects that carry graffiti’s visual language into civic, cultural, and commercial spaces without separating it from its roots. His work spans collaborations with independent organizations and national brands including DICK’S Sporting Goods, Verizon, Voodoo Brewery, the Pittsburgh Penguins, Wicked Pittsburgh, and Condado Tacos, alongside ongoing collaborations with other artists across a range of scales.

A major part of his career focuses on helping people better understand graffiti and its origins. He developed and led the Graffiti Arts Program at Rivers of Steel, building curriculum, tours, workshops, and public programming that engaged thousands while mentoring artists and staff. His work emphasizes graffiti as a historically grounded art movement with cultural weight.

Pilster is a founding member of Hemispheric Conversations: Urban Art Project (HCUAP), collaborating with artists across multiple countries. He has worked with organizations including the Kamin Science Center, Boys & Girls Clubs, the University of Pittsburgh, The Andy Warhol Museum, and the YMCA.

Working at architectural scale, he brings experience in design development, community engagement, and on-site execution, collaborating with agencies, fabricators, and project stakeholders. His background in lettering, color-driven composition, and spray paint carries through all of the work, informed by a wide range of visual influences including graffiti, pop art, comics, and design.

Photo courtesy of the artist