Family, Art, & Donkees: A Local Artist's Rise to Fame

Family, Art, & Donkees:

A Local Artist’s Rise to Fame

If you’re ever in Dow Park, you may have noticed the mural in progress on the Soccer Building.

The creative pop-art style is famous local artist Donkeeboy’s specialty.

With collaborations with the Houston Astros, Miller Lite, and Life is Good, Donkeeboy has worked with some of the biggest companies, and his popularity only continues to grow.

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It wasn’t always like this, though.

His real name is Alex Roman Jr., and he’s always been an artist. His mother, Sylvia Roman, says she could see his passion as early as 4 years old. “I gave all my kids coloring books and drawing books,” Ms. Roman said. “But Alex really took a liking to it more than my other children. He would fill them up and get super creative.”

Born in Houston, Alex and his family moved to Mexico when he was only a month old, and seven years later, they came back to the city that would be one of his biggest muses.

Pursuing art wasn’t always easy. “When I came back, I couldn’t speak English and I lived in rough neighborhoods,” Alex explained. “Art is not a common route that the community typically supports because it’s hard to make it. I was always told to get a real job.” This pushback on his creative dreams is what caused Alex to adopt the artistic name “Donkeeboy.”

“Donkeys are stubborn, but hard working,” Alex said. “I really wanted to pursue art despite what everyone was saying. It was my passion.” He came onto the scene “focused on realism and portraits,” but after an encounter with a photographer, Alex would change his direction.

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A photographer told me he could snap a picture of my art, which took me months to finish, in one second...

“I wanted all that artwork to be worth something. After that, I focused on conceptual pieces and pop art and being inspired by everyday life.”

This willingness to grow and change as an artist led him to add more tools to his arsenal, including house paint, spray paint, and rollers - tools he uses for his murals.

His biggest inspirations? His mother, for one, a talented artist in her own right, as well as pop-art greats like Keith Haring, Salvador Dali, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Andy Warhol.

Ms. Roman even took on the name “Donkeemom,” and the motherson duo collaborate on many projects together. She says her son has driven her to think differently about her own art style.

Alex has made waves not just here locally, but across the Houston community and beyond.

“When I started painting, I was very conservative,” Ms. Roman explained. “I didn’t know too much about art and just painted what I saw, but when Alex grew up he became my mentor.

He introduced me to new techniques, new experiences, new artists and I became my own artist through him. Before him, I didn’t have an art style. I started to grow with him.”

Alex’s decision to work in Deer Park comes from his proximity to it. “I live 5 minutes from Deer Park and I feel like I’m always doing art, but nowhere near my home,” he mentioned. “I’ve observed a fun, professional environment. It seems that the City of Deer Park really cares about artists and their projects, and that’s really cool.”

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He’s worked with all the major Houston sports teams and has painted murals all over the city, from the University of Houston to Minute Maid Field to Sugar Land. He’s also been around the country and the world.

“Beyond Houston, being able to paint in the Miami Art Basel was incredible,” Alex said. “That experience was the path to colead a mural festival in San Pedro, Belize.”

That mural festival in San Pedro, a collaboration with The Phoenix Resort, was “the most challenging and rewarding thing” he has done so far.

But no matter where he goes, Houston will always be home.

“It's a small island, so you really have to plan everything in advance,” Alex explained. “If you forget a specific paint, then you can’t just buy it there since it’s such a small spot. Logistics and planning were hard, but getting through that was so rewarding. To date, it’s one of my favorite projects I’ve taken on.

Beyond the mural festival, I lead a collective of artists there regularly - we try for every year. We paint, eat, and have a great time. I love the island and the people.”

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“I am influenced by my people, my upbringing, and my culture,” Alex said. “Houston is a melting pot of cultures that keeps me inspired.”

He loves Houston so much that he’s created a team of Houstonians he’s named “Extended FAM,” in order to “bring a taste of Houston to any city.”

FAM stands for food, art, and music, and has had activations in Miami and Austin, with the goal being to reach more cities in the future.

He’s also collaborated with all kinds of artists and businesses across Houston, and recommends Donkeemom, Franky Cardona, Mad Rabbits, NOKE, Throwback City, and Floyd Mendoza.

When it comes to his personal pursuits, Alex wants to continue pushing his creativity and expanding his repertoire. He teaches his own art class, and recently has mentioned his desire to transition into sculpting.

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“I think it’ll be the next phase in my artistic journey,” Alex mused. “I’m learning as much as I can about it right now. From drawing on canvases and walls, sculpting is just another way I can bring my art to life in 3D form.” He hopes his projects can inspire others to follow their dreams.

“I hope that, through my art, I get to show that no matter where you come from, you can do anything,” Alex said.

He’s already touched some people.

His mother recalls a collaboration they did on a mural for Truly.

“This guy who came out of jail approached us and said that he saw both of us on TV,” Ms. Roman recalled. “He let us know that he had written to us; he was inspired and started making art of his own.”