Raws

Kai "Raws" Imhof was born in 1990, in Königs Wusterhausen, Germany and raised in Berlin. After finishing his A-level at the Emmy-Noether School in Berlin-Köpenick, he started the training as a graphic designer at the Best-Sabel Designschule in Berlin, which he finished in 2015 by winning the best graduation work award. Additionally, he decided to become a full-time artist and videographer.

Raws' artistic career started in 2004 when he was painting the streets as a graffiti writer. During his early years as a sprayer, he painted illegal bombings and tags on walls in his neighborhood. Due to clashes with the police, he decided (around 2008) to deal with the artistic side of graffiti writing. By painting high-end colorful pieces over the years he became a famous artist in the international graffiti scene.

At the beginning of his journey through art, Raws was addicted to the classic graffiti lettering. Artists like Loomit, Cantwo or Odem where his main influences in his early years. When it comes to lettering itself, notably the first generation of Berlin writers (1980-90) had a big influence on Raws style. Due to dealing with Graffiti, Raws was more and more addicted to the whole Hip-hop-lifestyle listening to Rap music or hanging around in the streets with his friends.