Robert Benjamin Krauss (born July 20, 1976), known as Spray, is an American contemporary artist, political activist and fine arts educator who emerged from the Philadelphia street art scene.

Born in central Pennsylvania, Spray showed a passion and interest in art from an early age. According to Spray’s mom, ”He was always drawing or making something… he would take the pieces from different puzzles and combine them to make his own pictures”. In 1981 Spray moved to the Philadelphia Suburb of Havertown where he demonstrated extraordinary artistic talent, winning numerous art competitions through his childhood and adolescence. 

Spray graduated from Penn State University in 1998 with a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology.  While at Penn State, Spray spent a year studying in Europe where he spent 6 months in Rome, Italy and 6 months at the University of Leeds in England.  In 2003 Spray earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Printmaking from Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia.  In 2009 Spray earned a Master’s degree in Teaching Visual Art from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, and received his teaching certification.  He is currently enrolled in Temple's Educational Leadership Doctoral Program.

In 2007 Spray began selling his drawings.  From 2007-2008 Spray created over 200 one of a kind hand drawn pieces for Urban Outfitters in Philadelphia. From 2008-2011 Spray has been doing commissioned works for local restaurants and politicians in addition to selling his original Spray Paint Stencil Prints on the streets of Philadelphia.

Spray began exhibiting his work in May of 2010.  He had his first one-man exhibition at the Ritz 5 in Philadelphia.  The exhibition was originally scheduled for 1 week but was so successful it stayed up for 10 weeks.  Spray has worked on projects for the National Constitution Center, the Democratic National Convention, Governor Ed Rendell, Comcast Cable, Urban Outfitters, the Philadelphia Zoo and Dr. Seuss.

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