Often described as the harbinger of a New Renaissance, Pelayo’s art marries the meticulous brushwork of classical imagery with the raw, expressive energy of graffiti. His use of oil paints, spray paint, and oil sticks creates a dramatic, intoxicating fusion of two worlds that rarely intersect. A recurring motif in his work is the third eye paired with a smiley face—a symbol adopted by Westside Gunn during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, which played a significant role in Pelayo’s recent surge in popularity.
Today, Pelayo's work draws inspiration from both the old masters—Da Vinci, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, and Velazquez—and influential graffiti artists like RETNA, Shepard Fairey, and EL MAC. In 2017, his work caught the eye of renowned rapper and collector Alvin "Westside Gunn" Worthy, leading to collaborations on album covers and artworks for Gunn’s Griselda Records, including pieces for Gunn’s personal collection. Pelayo’s paintings have since gained global recognition, attracting high-profile collectors such as Westside Gunn, Benny The Butcher, Jeff Hamilton, Shepard Fairey, Jaysse Lopez, and Everlast of House of Pain.