Levi Jacobs
Is our artist line-up for Tangi Instervention Program 2024
Levi Jacobs is an illustrator from Rotterdam whose work is known for bold colors, strong textures, and an unmistakable energy. His visual language strikes a balance between playful and precise, making it stand out in both editorial and commercial contexts. Over the years, Levi has created illustrations for a wide range of brands, publications, and advertising campaigns, always finding new ways to communicate ideas with clarity and vibrancy.
Beyond commissioned projects, Levi also develops a personal body of work. Through prints and large-scale murals, he explores Planet Tropicana, an imagined world full of surreal landscapes, joyful rhythms, and boundless color. This space allows him to create without external limits, guided only by curiosity and experimentation.
His practice bridges illustration and public art, always rooted in the same desire: to capture and share a refreshing, escapist quality. Whether on a page, a wall, or in a gallery, Levi’s work invites viewers to step into a vivid universe where ordinary moments transform into something extraordinary.
Levi Jacobs joined the third edition of Tangi Street Art Festival as one of the invited international artists. Held from 13–19 May 2024 in Desa Pancasari, Buleleng, the festival moved away from Bali’s coastal and urban highlights toward the island’s northern mountain region. With its cool climate, fertile green landscapes, and calm lakeside setting, Pancasari offered a refreshing backdrop for both artists and community.
The 2024 edition carried the theme “SEKALA”, a Balinese concept referring to the tangible, visible world. Interpreted through murals, performances, and workshops, the theme encouraged artists to explore real forms of connection—between traditions and new expressions, between locals and internationals, and between individual creativity and collective experience.
The festival program included graffiti jams, collaborative mural painting, children’s activities, music, and community gatherings.
For his mural at Tangi Street Art Festival 2024, Levi Jacobs drew inspiration directly from Bali. Before starting, he researched animals commonly found on the island and decided to feature cats and monkeys—two creatures he connected with personally. Cats, in particular, have always been close to him, and their presence in his mural symbolized a sense of comfort and familiarity within a new cultural setting.
This project marked Levi’s first visit to Indonesia, a country he had long been curious about. Growing up in Rotterdam, he was surrounded by Indonesian communities, food, and stories, which built a sense of connection from afar. Finally being in Bali allowed him to experience that culture firsthand. He was eager to engage, not only through art but also through daily conversations with the people of Desa Pancasari.
Throughout the painting process, Levi spent time with locals, exchanging smiles, words, and meals. His curiosity extended beyond the walls, as he immersed himself in Indonesian cuisine and traditions. Cooking is one of his personal passions, and tasting dishes he had previously only encountered in Rotterdam gave him a sense of familiarity and discovery at once.
His mural became more than an artwork—it was an expression of exchange, curiosity, and the joy of connecting across cultures.