#losangelesmurals

[scenefromthesidewalk]

"LEGENDS ARE FOREVER"

by Royyal Dog

As the rest of the world looked for new ways to honor Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna (Gigi), and the others lost in a Jan 26 helicopter crash, the art world in Los Angeles and beyond responded in their own way, with murals popping up on walls near and far. Bryant had a special relationship with Gigi, affectionately referred to by Bryant as Mambacita and in the week following the tragedy Chris Shim, aka Royyal Dog—a Korean transplant now living in Los Angeles—partnered with LA Arts District institution @TheContainerYard and premium spray can retailer @MontanaShopLA to create this memorial at E 4th and S Alameda Streets.  @royyaldog/

[scenefromthesidewalk]

"LA LOVE STORY"

by Gino

"Public art has the power to transform urban spaces into vibrant streetscapes that celebrate diversity and brighten our neighborhoods." —Los Angeles Mayor @EricGarcetti

In 2016 the mayor's @LAGreatStreets initiative partnered with councilman @DavidERyu and arts nonprofit @BeautifyEarth sponsoring six new murals on Western Ave, including "LA Love Story" at Western and Melrose. Painting only his third mural artist, actor, teacher, and model Gino says he spent approximately 50 hours creating the intricately detailed visual narrative laden composition, enjoying the stories of other Angelenos as they stopped by to watch him work.  @ginoflo/

[scenefromthesidewalk]

"STRONG WOMAN"

by Braga last1

Taking the idea from a 1942 song, "Rosie the Riveter," Westinghouse created it's famous "We Can Do It!" poster later that same year, representing the women serving in industry in support of the war effort. Only decades after the war did the iconic image become popularly referred to as "Rosie the Riveter." In 2019 Marseille-born artist Tom Bragado Blanco, aka Braga last1, updated the strong image of Rosie for a new generation with this mural for female-led @PodShare DTLA on E 1st St, on the border between the Little Tokyo and Arts District neighborhoods of Los Angeles.  @braga_last_one/

[scenefromthesidewalk]

"I FOUND THE KEY"

by Iskar

Originally from Mexico City Iskar was drawn to art by classic illustration, vintage comics, and modern pop art. After studying graphic design Iskar spent three years in London before moving back to Mexico and founding Artwall Deco, creating murals for businesses and institutions, and increasingly finding opportunities to take his art on the road. Now bouncing between Mexico and Los Angeles, @GabbaGallery says Iskar has dabbled more and more with street art—which has "transformed into a fluent language for the artist"—and he continues to look for ways to unite the gallery and street art worlds. Three weeks after painting a heart protected by a nest for his "Sanctuary" gallery show earlier this year, Iskar returned to the alley just across Beverly Blvd from Gabba Gallery and painted the neighboring work "I Found the Key."  @1skr/

[scenefromthesidewalk]

"42"

by JC Ro

Known for his cubist inspired designs, often featuring famous athletes—or his favorite Jordan sneakers—Long Beach artist JC Ro says his triangle-based compositions range from "hyper-realistic to a reduced-futuristic." In June, 2019 as the Los Angeles @Dodgers were rounding into record-setting shape for the season, Ro provided a little extra good luck and brought a bit of Brooklyn to @ShoePalace on Sunset Blvd, just a mile west of Dodger Stadium, with this tribute to Number 42, Jackie Robinson. Robinson was the first African American to play in the major leagues in 1947 and and won Rookie of the Year, going on to win NL MVP honors in 1949, play in six consecutive All Star games, and contribute to a 1955 World Series Championship, before retiring in 1956—two years before the team moved to the west coast.  @jc.ro/

[scenefromthesidewalk]

"RICK AND MORTY"

by Matt Gondek

Born in Pittsburgh, Matt Gondek created his first comic book in elementary school. Now living in Los Angeles Gondek still draws comics but the pop icon deconstructionist artist's characters are more likely to be seen exploding on the sides of buildings or in galleries. In 2017 Gondek was on Victory Blvd in Glendale, California where he blew up Rick and Morty outside collectible toy retailer @3DRetro. Originating from an animated short parody of “Back to the Future,” Rick and Morty was produced for late night Cartoon Network block: @AdultSwim , and debuted in late 2013.  @gondekdraws/

[scenefromthesidewalk]

"ENCUENTRA TU VERDADERA VOZ"

by Judy Baca, Carlos Rogel, and Farhad Akhmetov

Born in Chicago in 1954, the only daughter in a family of six brothers, Sandra Cisneros often felt isolated as a result, and the family's constant migration between Mexico and the United States gave her a sense of not belonging to either. Drawing on her experiences with cultural hybridity, misogynism, and economic inequality, Cisneros burst onto the literary stage in 1983 with her first novel, "The House on Mango Street," and established herself as a key figure in Chicana literature. In 2013 muralist, activist, and co-founder of @SPARCinLA , Judy Baca, partnered with @CarlosRogelArt and Farhad Akhmetov and a team of assistants, creating "Find Your True Voice" for the Sandra Cisneros campus of  the Camino Nuevo Charter Academy on Mohawk St in Los Angeles. CNCA is a 20-year-old education initiative in the Latinx communities of MacArthur Park and Echo Park, engaging the community in a program that has led to students graduating college at three times the national average.  @judy_baca

[scenefromthesidewalk]

"NOW IF YOU LISTEN CAREFULLY I'LL TELL YOU WHAT I KNOW . . ."

by Nunca

Born in a poor neighborhood of São Paolo, Brazil, Francisco Rodrigues da Silva, aka Nunca, became a member of a graffiti crew at age 12. Applying those same skills to an antique etching technique reminiscent of the conquistador's portraits in the New World, @UrbanNation_Berlin says Nunca's (Portuguese for "never") portrayals of indigenous people, blending Brazilian iconography with modern treatments, lifted him to fame at home—and abroad, brought him to the Tate Modern for the first major display of street art in a London museum. In 2019 Nunca participated in a @BrandedArts project transforming Dr Maya Angelou Community High School in South Central Los Angeles. Incorporating the words of Dr Angelou, this visual message about the importance of knowing our ancestors and our history is on E 54th St on the back of the school.  @nunca.art/