Gerardo Rodríguez

Monster Artist

Gerardo Rodríguez was born and raised near San Juan, Puerto Rico, and came to the States for college to study film and graphic design. Prior to monster art he worked in photography and video editing, helping his team earn two Emmy awards for a TV show and a documentary. It wasn't until he arrived in Austin that Gerardo began drawing monsters and painting more seriously, committing to his art full time… and the #MonstersinAustin movement began! Known for bold colors, clean lines, and trippy landscapes, Gerardo’s art ranges from big, friendly faces and weird and intriguing shapes to his signature cowboy character and themes from classic Westerns and the American southwest. He can usually be found painting with acrylic paint and oil-based markers on canvas but has also monsterized walls, photos, thrift store art, and beer cans. He finds inspiration in nature, his graphic design background, childhood drawings, the storytelling of film, and his late dog Titus. Though he doesn’t usually intend to paint with deep meaning behind the brushstrokes, much of his work can tell deep human stories. In his own words, “The best part of being an artist is witnessing how much joy or emotion my creations can bring to all different kinds of people. Maybe the characters in my paintings are all of us on our own journeys and misadventures, and I've just replaced us with monsters.”

Instagram: @grzmonsters

Carly Badke

Monster Manager & Creative Director

After a 10+ year career in higher education, Carly now manages GRZ Monsters buiness operations and provides administrative and creative support to Gerardo. She is a native Floridian and spent several years in Philadelphia before arriving in Austin in 2015. Outside the art studio, she teaches yoga and helps care for the rabbits at the Austin Animal Center. She loves antique furniture, vegan desserts, Halloween, road trips through west Texas, and saying hi to every dog she sees. Carly and Gerardo live in far south Austin with her rescue pup Bodhi and 40+ house plants.

Instagram: @vivalacarly

Bodhi

Security Officer & Professional Cuddler

Bodhi adopted Carly shortly after she got to Austin, and they have been inseparable ever since! Though he’s technically in his senior years, he is still as fierce and feisty as he is cuddly and spoiled. “Bo Bo” loves hiking, his pink piggy toy, bananas, barking at grackles, and making cute grumpy faces.

Instagram: #bodhiatx

Titus

Best Friend & Inspirational Spirit

Titus the Weimaraner was a big dog— both physically and in heart. He travelled the states and Puerto Rico with Gerardo and helped him through the best and the most difficult times. Titus was Gerardo’s biggest inspiration to keep painting and doing what he loves. Although Titus passed away in December 2018, he lives on through Gerardo’s “Doggie Adventure” series, including a colorful billboard you might see while driving around Austin!