Kekoa

Kekoa has worn many hats at Thrive Collective, among them: senior project manager, longest tenured artist, primary graphic designer, studio manager, Bring Art Back guru, Kajukenbo sifu, mentor and friend. To date, he’s worked on more than thirty school and community murals since 2007.  As Thrive’s first Studio Arts Director, Kekoa oversaw the move to our Harlem home in 2018, and managed the creative arts programming at the Harlem Hub. In 2019, Kekoa assumed the role of Creative Director, overseeing all art direction, mural designs, and visual branding; and accelerated Thrive Collective’s expansion to the West Coast, as he relocated back to his hometown of San Leandro in California’s Bay Area. Kekoa holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Graphic Design from Silicon Valley College, and is proficient in various mediums including oils, watercolors, aerosol, acrylics, clay, charcoal and chalk. An accomplished graphic designer, Kekoa has worked with companies from coast to coast, developing corporate branding, print media, billboards, signage, merchandise, fashion, and more.

Since returning to California, Kekoa has launched the Den of Warriors martial arts school at San Leandro’s Juarez Kajukenbo, and Metal Dragon Co shop with his wife Kristen.