Tell us a little about yourself and your artistic background.

My name is Gustavo Fuentes, but I go by the artist name Flekz. I have been a cyclist my whole life. One of my most cherished memories is riding bikes with my brother back in elementary school. As for my artistic background, I have been creating my current style of art for about 17 years now, and before that, my roots were actually in street art.

How would you describe your artistic style in your own words?

I would describe my work as mid century modern with a touch of Great Gatsby flair. A lot of people compare my geometric designs to Egyptian or Mayan art. That was never my original intention, it just naturally evolved from doing so many different renditions over the years. But I can totally see the resemblance and I take it as a huge compliment!

What inspires your work most right now?

Right now, cycling is actually my biggest inspiration. I got heavily back into riding within the last six months and finally got my first proper road bike after riding fixed gear for years. Being physically stronger and healthier has pushed my career in so many ways. I feel so much more focused, my brain absorbs information better, and I have way more stamina to tackle large scale projects than I did before I started riding seriously again.

What interested you about collaborating with our brand?

The Black Bibs was actually the very first cycling kit I ever purchased! When you first get into cycling, buying a kit is sometimes the last thing on your mind after spending money on a bike and accessories. I loved how approachable and affordable your kits were. After wearing my kit for six months, seeing the incredible quality, and following your awesome branding and past collaborations on Instagram, I knew I really wanted to work with you guys.

Tell us a bit about your cycling background.

Where you live, how and what you ride most. I live in Los Angeles and have been riding pretty much my whole life. Right now, I strictly ride road bikes. I would absolutely love to get into gravel riding next though. I think that will be the next big journey I dive into!

How do bikes fit into your art if at all?

Bikes have played a massive role in my art from the very beginning. Fresh out of high school, I did not have a car, so my main form of transportation was my 2012 fixed gear Bianchi Super Pista. I would ride that bike all over the city to spray my stencils and create my tape designs. Today, even though my art has evolved, riding as much as possible keeps me in shape to paint murals, helps me work faster, and keeps my mind completely clear.

How did adapting your artwork to a product or kit differ from creating on a medium you are more used to?

It was completely eye opening. I have designed shirts before, but seeing how the kit material stretches and moves means you have to keep so many different variables in mind. A design might look totally different once it is actually worn. That is why having this be a full on collaboration with The Black Bibs was so incredibly helpful. They guided me with the exact placement and helped me in every single way. It was not just my design placed onto a blank kit. Working with them made the whole process a lot easier and so much cooler for me. Seeing my art successfully cover the whole body rather than just sitting on the back piece was an amazing experience.

Were there any unexpected challenges or discoveries along the way?

The biggest discovery was honestly just seeing how wild it is to have my geometric patterns jump off a flat surface and come to life. I am so used to creating murals. The challenge was trusting how those straight lines would translate to the curves of a cycling kit before having the physical sample in hand. But seeing the final product where the design flows perfectly across the jersey, the bibs, and even down to the gloves as one unified, moving piece was great to see.

What do you hope people feel when they see or use this kit?

I really hope people feel like they are wearing something unique. A lot of modern cycling kits play it very safe with minimal solid colors. That minimalist style is super popular right now and looks undeniably great, but I wanted to change things up. I wanted to bring more complex patterns and originality to the road, and I hope people feel that creative energy when they put it on.

If someone could take away one thing from your artwork, what would you want it to be?

I want people to see the sheer amount of work that goes into it. I share a lot of time lapses of my process on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. My designs look very clean and perfect, but the reality is that it takes a ton of time and 17 years of practice to make it look that way. Every piece requires immense focus. I also want people to see that this is a true, full collaboration between my brand and The Black Bibs.

What is one thing people might be surprised to learn about you?

I think people might be surprised to learn that I am a massive nerd when it comes to the coffee scene, gaming, and building custom computers. A lot of people do not know that, but those things are actually a huge inspiration for my art and my workflow. I actually just finished painting and modifying a custom PC for one of my recent projects, which is a huge achievement for me!

Do you have a favorite tool, material, or ritual when creating art?

Tape is absolutely my favorite material and tool. I have been using it to create my art for 17 years. It is the best tool to guide my linework, and the process of applying it has become a pure ritual for me at this point. I simply could not give it up!

What fun or high profile projects have you done before?

My favorite project was actually my first international trip back in 2017. A client flew me out to work on two different murals, one in Guanajuato and one in Mexico City. I actually got pretty sick during the trip from adjusting to the food and water, but my cycling fitness really helped me persevere and push through to finish the massive walls on time. It was an incredible experience exploring Mexico City, and seeing how much people valued my work internationally completely changed my life and the trajectory of my career.