This Iconic Miami Artist Has Made Brickell His New Home

January 28, 2020
By: Alicia Rinaldi
​6 Minute read

You've seen his signature droopy eye art all over Miami's walls & peeping out the windows at Frame Art, Inc in Brickell.

​And I wouldn't be surprised if they started popping up in more places in Brickell, now that well-known Miami artist Ahol Sniffs Glue has moved into town.

It's not every day that I get to interview an established artist, but chatting with Ahol (aka David Anasagasti) wasn't the least bit intimidating. I felt like I was just hanging out with a friend. 

I was mesmerized as he methodically stroked his orange markers across the canvas, creating a droopy-eyed master piece right in front of my eyes. He barely missed a beat while he told me about his life & inspiration behind his art.

Who is Ahol Sniffs Glue?

Ahol is a proud Cuban-American Hialeah native, but moved all around Miami and got to experience the diversity of its different neighborhoods before recently choosing to settle in Brickell.

Growing up, he was always inspired by the street art he saw around town and the characters and worlds he experienced while playing video games. Though he was never one of those pesky kids with a spray bottle trespassing on railroad tracks, he was intrigued by the idea of graffiti -- "seeing how creativity can be shoved out there for people to digest it," he described.

It wasn't until a friend handed him a spray bottle that he got into creating it himself, and the rest is history. 

So how'd he come up with that name?
"Ahol stands for 'asshole,"' he told me reluctantly. Sniffs Glue is a tribute to The Ramones. "I probably should've thought that through better, but I didn't know it was gonna blow up to the size it is now. If I knew that then, I would've chosen a different name." #noragrets

The Story Behind Ahol's Art

One day while riding his moped, Ahol got run over by a car. As a result of the accident, his moped was destroyed, forcing him to ride the Miami city bus up and down Biscayne. 

But he wanted to look at the bright side of riding the bus; he liked that it took him right where he needed to be and that it allowed him to see his home city of Miami from a different point of view.

As he met more and more ~interesting~ Miami Dade public transportation users, he made this resolution: 
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"I'm gonna pick somebody out on the bus every day on the way to work, I'mma vibe out, and I'mma make it a mission to crank out one drawing [of them], and at the end of the day I'll at least have something that would make my day worth the while."

Before he knew it, Ahol had a world full of characters--Biscayne World. 

Watch the full version of Biscayne World here

So then where did the eye come from?

All of his characters have this aesthetic: "They're never 3D, always 2D; never asleep but never fully awake; on idle, zonked." Ahol said. 

The eye was just a piece of this arsenal of style he built up, but its signature lines and consistency between different characters were what made it so popular. "That popped off the most," he told me, "so I just kept drawing it."  
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Where can you find his work?
His art is spread around so many different galleries between here and NY that he lost track, but his main HQ is officially here in Brickell at Frame Art, Inc.

Of if this is more your fancy, you can take Instagram pics in front of the building he covered on Biscayne and 29th. Just don't make the same mistake American Eagle made. 

Collaboration with Frame Art, Inc.

Ahol decided to collaborate with Frame Art in Brickell because of their long history in the industry and unwavering support for artists. When he saw that they installed droopy-eyed neon lights in the windows, he knew the partnership was a good choice.
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If you've never been to Frame Art, I highly recommend you step inside to appreciate one of Brickell's longest standing businesses. There is art from head to toe, hanging from the walls and ceilings, piled on tables, literally EVERYWHERE!

​How do I get a piece by Ahol?
Art is not cheap, but a unique piece by Ahol would be a perfect addition to your contemporary Brickell apartment or condo 😉But Ahol says it's not all about the money, so sometimes he'll create smaller pieces or articles of clothing for special occasions. Hey, maybe we might even give one away on The Brickell Scoop (spoiler alert🤫)!

​Stop by Frame Art next to Blackbird on 96 SW 7th St, or hit him up on Instagram @aholsniffsglue for more information

Is there anything else you want to tell Brickell?
"I'm here to stay and represent and rock from here. Come see me! We ain’t goin nowhere!!"

​- Ahol Sniffs Glue