Ground-Breaking, Multi-Media Artist Paints New Visa Ad Live in Greenwich Village; Latest Extension of Brand Campaign Reinforces Role Visa Plays in Helping Consumers Express Themselves

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 18, 2006--With the help of up-and-coming artists, Visa is transforming a Greenwich Village intersection into a cornerstone of art and expression. As part of a multi-day project, ground-breaking artist Trish Grantham will create a one-of-a-kind billboard mural under the banner of a Visa's newest ad, "Life Takes Expression." Below Grantham's mural, Visa will also showcase artwork representing various forms of artistic expression, including sculpture, graffiti, furniture and fashion design, among others. Grantham began painting the billboard, located on 7th Ave. and 10th St., this morning and will continue working daily until its completion.

"The discovery of personal expression through art has been a huge force in my life," said Grantham, a Portland-based artist whose unique brand of painting incorporates layered paper texts, anime-inspired characters and washes of color. "I am truly honored to have the opportunity to create an original piece of art to inspire New Yorkers to express themselves in their daily lives and look forward to sharing the evolution of my work with everyone who passes by."

“The discovery of personal expression through art has been a huge force in my life”

Up-and-coming artists whose work is being featured by Visa include: Christopher Natrop, Jeff Soto, Andy Diaz Hope, Anne Faith Nicholls, AXIS, Erik Pawassar, Parvez Taj, Ron Reihel, Christopher Cuseo, Eric Joyner, Elizabeth Paige Smith, Charlotte Ronson, Dario Antonioni and Hayley Starr.

The completed billboard and wall postings are expected to be on display through July.

"To engage consumers and bring our brand campaign to life, the 'Life Takes Expression' project provides an ideal platform to reinforce the role Visa plays in empowering consumers to express themselves," said Kevin Burke, senior vice president, advertising and brand management, Visa USA. "We look forward to seeing Trish's work evolve, and feel our message will resonate strongly in the setting of Greenwich Village, a place deeply rooted in cultural and artistic expression."

"Life Takes Expression" is the latest extension of Visa's brand campaign, "Life Takes Visa." The campaign, which made its successful debut in February, illustrates how Visa empowers cardholders to do what they need to do, want to do and never thought possible.

About Trish Grantham

Portland-based artist Trish Grantham creates explorative multi-media paintings that are as fascinating and complex as her personality. From carefree to sarcastic, from serious to whimsical and sweet, her unique brand of painting catches both the eye and the imagination. Beginning with layered paper texts, inspired by vintage foreign books, she incorporates anime-inspired characters, along with washes of color and scrawled text throughout her pieces. Untold stories emerge from her compositions and provide ample room for personal interpretation.

About Visa USA

Visa USA is the nation's leading payment brand and largest payment system, enabling banks to provide their consumers and business customers with a wide variety of payment alternatives tailored to meet their evolving needs. Visa USA is committed to increasing the choice, convenience, acceptance and security of Visa payments for all stakeholders in the payment system -- members, cardholders and merchants. Through its 13,432 member financial institutions, more than 510 million Visa-branded cards have been issued to cardholders in the United States. Last year, U.S.-based financial institutions relied on Visa's processing system, VisaNet, to facilitate $1.6 trillion in transactions with unparalleled reliability.

Worldwide, cardholders in more than 150 countries carry more than 1 billion Visa-branded cards, accounting for more than $3 trillion in annual transaction volume.

Visa offers a trusted, reliable and convenient way to access and mobilize financial resources -- anytime, anywhere, anyway.

Editor's note: Visuals and additional background on the artists featured in "Life Takes Expression" are available upon request.