History of the Bay: Benny Diar

Benny Diar is a graffiti writer who grew up in Gilroy and made his name painting in San Jose, Portland, Seattle and beyond. Early on, he learned the consequences of graffiti while dealing with incarceration as a juvenile but never stopped his drive to paint. Coming up as a member of KYT and DTC crews, Diar's painted thousands of freight trains. He was also one of the creative minds behind Clout Magazine, which covered graffiti, rap, and streetwear from the Bay Area and beyond. Tragically, a car accident nearly took his life and left him paralyzed. Through the support of his crew, Diar pushed through and continues to paint to this day despite being confined to a wheelchair. His story is inspiring and he's shown people that anything is possible and art can help overcome even the most challenging circumstances.