If these walls could talk
Modern Art
In neighborhoods all across the wide expanse of the City of Angels, murals -- painted by internationally renowned artists as well as underground, unnamed talent (like the piece shown here) -- decorate structures that range from functional industrial buildings to hip restaurants. Street art has been around for thousands of years -- even the ancient Romans scrawled on walls -- and it remains one of the most accessible ways to experience a variety of creative styles, media and messages. Click through to sample some of the striking outdoor museum pieces L.A. has to offer.
In neighborhoods all across the wide expanse of the City of Angels, murals -- painted by internationally renowned artists as well as underground, unnamed talent (like the piece shown here) -- decorate structures that range from functional industrial buildings to hip restaurants. Street art has been around for thousands of years -- even the ancient Romans scrawled on walls -- and it remains one of the most accessible ways to experience a variety of creative styles, media and messages. Click through to sample some of the striking outdoor museum pieces L.A. has to offer.
Chase: Westminster Ave./Main St., Venice
Chase hand-paints all of his murals using spray paint, stencils and painter's tape. His "Remember Who You Are" series recurs in spots close to his Los Angeles home and across the pond in such far-flung locales as Italy, Belgium and France.
Chase hand-paints all of his murals using spray paint, stencils and painter's tape. His "Remember Who You Are" series recurs in spots close to his Los Angeles home and across the pond in such far-flung locales as Italy, Belgium and France.
Kim West: 3rd St., Downtown
"[W]orking outside of the studio is also a little bit liberating. Maybe it's OK to show an imperfect process. Maybe it's OK, and even instructive, to have strangers ask, 'Why didn't you stop there?' or 'It's done? Really? Are you sure?'" says artist Kim West in her blog about this mural. "Outside of the studio/gallery, there is a different kind of accessibility to the work and its making. The ensuing critique can be interesting and/or entertaining."
"[W]orking outside of the studio is also a little bit liberating. Maybe it's OK to show an imperfect process. Maybe it's OK, and even instructive, to have strangers ask, 'Why didn't you stop there?' or 'It's done? Really? Are you sure?'" says artist Kim West in her blog about this mural. "Outside of the studio/gallery, there is a different kind of accessibility to the work and its making. The ensuing critique can be interesting and/or entertaining."
Chase: Wavecrest Ct./Speedway, Venice
Affectionately dubbed "Awareness Geezers," these sets of eyes gaze toward messages of inspiration and empowerment. "The Awareness Geezers Campaign depicts colorful characters who have stumbled upon spirituality and awareness not by following the suggested path in life, but rather by having created their own path, guided by their sense of adventure and an irreducible element of rascality," explains Chase via his website.
Affectionately dubbed "Awareness Geezers," these sets of eyes gaze toward messages of inspiration and empowerment. "The Awareness Geezers Campaign depicts colorful characters who have stumbled upon spirituality and awareness not by following the suggested path in life, but rather by having created their own path, guided by their sense of adventure and an irreducible element of rascality," explains Chase via his website.
Bumblebee: Melrose Ave., Hollywood
Bumblebee does more than just traditional graffiti. "Ongoing campaigns range from the remodeling of urban furniture such as abandoned phone kiosks and newspaper boxes to large-scale mural projects that address and work to raise awareness of issues such as youth homelessness," the artist writes on his Facebook page.
Bumblebee does more than just traditional graffiti. "Ongoing campaigns range from the remodeling of urban furniture such as abandoned phone kiosks and newspaper boxes to large-scale mural projects that address and work to raise awareness of issues such as youth homelessness," the artist writes on his Facebook page.
Chase: Wavecrest Ct./Speedway, Venice
Chase, who hails from Belgium but now makes his home in Los Angeles, sees his murals as gifts to the property owners and community members he honors with his work. He has painted more than 250 such pieces on walls around the world -- all for free, and all to help encourage the personal, social and spiritual growth of those who gaze upon them.
Chase, who hails from Belgium but now makes his home in Los Angeles, sees his murals as gifts to the property owners and community members he honors with his work. He has painted more than 250 such pieces on walls around the world -- all for free, and all to help encourage the personal, social and spiritual growth of those who gaze upon them.
Jonas Never: Horizon Ave./Main St., Venice
This mural of Dennis Hopper in the movie "Easy Rider" was added to Never's repertoire just a couple of months ago. The artist has a number of pieces around Los Angeles and is probably best known for his "Touch of Venice" mural on Windward Avenue in Venice Beach, which was inspired by the late-1950s film "Touch of Evil," filmed in the same location.
This mural of Dennis Hopper in the movie "Easy Rider" was added to Never's repertoire just a couple of months ago. The artist has a number of pieces around Los Angeles and is probably best known for his "Touch of Venice" mural on Windward Avenue in Venice Beach, which was inspired by the late-1950s film "Touch of Evil," filmed in the same location.
KFiSH: Main St., Venice
On his website, Kelcey Fisher -- aka KFiSH -- describes his artistic mission as "bridging the gap between studio and street art, creating a new species through hybridization." In addition to his two murals in Venice Beach, KFiSH also has pieces on walls in the fellow Los Angeles neighborhoods of Culver City and Echo Park.
On his website, Kelcey Fisher -- aka KFiSH -- describes his artistic mission as "bridging the gap between studio and street art, creating a new species through hybridization." In addition to his two murals in Venice Beach, KFiSH also has pieces on walls in the fellow Los Angeles neighborhoods of Culver City and Echo Park.
Alec Monopoly: Melrose Blvd., Hollywood
Rich "Uncle" Pennybags is a recurring image in Alec Monopoly's body of work. His first solo show, "Park Place," opened at the LAB ART Gallery in Los Angeles earlier this month. "I feel that Mr. Monopoly, Rich 'Uncle' Pennybags, represents capitalism," the artist was quoted as saying in an interview with Art Beat on "PBS News Hour", "but my use of his image is more about reminding the general population that we are all a part of game that anyone of us can win."
Rich "Uncle" Pennybags is a recurring image in Alec Monopoly's body of work. His first solo show, "Park Place," opened at the LAB ART Gallery in Los Angeles earlier this month. "I feel that Mr. Monopoly, Rich 'Uncle' Pennybags, represents capitalism," the artist was quoted as saying in an interview with Art Beat on "PBS News Hour", "but my use of his image is more about reminding the general population that we are all a part of game that anyone of us can win."
Shepard Fairey: Alameda St./2nd St., Downtown
Shepard Fairey's 2008 "HOPE" poster, featuring then-presidential candidate Barack Obama, isn't the only political piece the artist has done. This mural, competed in 2011 for the L.A. Freewalls project, depicts former prez Ronald Reagan. "I was tired of people blaming Obama for the poor economy," Fairey is quoted as saying in a Huffington Post article about the piece. "Really, it all goes back to Reagan."
Shepard Fairey's 2008 "HOPE" poster, featuring then-presidential candidate Barack Obama, isn't the only political piece the artist has done. This mural, competed in 2011 for the L.A. Freewalls project, depicts former prez Ronald Reagan. "I was tired of people blaming Obama for the poor economy," Fairey is quoted as saying in a Huffington Post article about the piece. "Really, it all goes back to Reagan."
ROA: Jesse St./Imperial St., Downtown
ROA, a Belgian artist, has painted incredibly detailed, super-sized black-and-white animals on structures all over the world. Here he's got two converging in the downtown Los Angeles Arts District.
ROA, a Belgian artist, has painted incredibly detailed, super-sized black-and-white animals on structures all over the world. Here he's got two converging in the downtown Los Angeles Arts District.
ROA: Jesse St./Imperial St., Downtown
This close-up of ROA's mural on Imperial Street shows the depth of detail and nuance he paints into each piece. Not everyone agrees it's art, however: In 2010, reported the Hackney Gazette, local council members attempted to force the owners of a recording studio on London's Hackney Street to obliterate an ROA mural that had been legally painted there. The business owners and community protested and council rescinded their request.
This close-up of ROA's mural on Imperial Street shows the depth of detail and nuance he paints into each piece. Not everyone agrees it's art, however: In 2010, reported the Hackney Gazette, local council members attempted to force the owners of a recording studio on London's Hackney Street to obliterate an ROA mural that had been legally painted there. The business owners and community protested and council rescinded their request.
Kim West: 3rd St., Downtown
"Actually, coyotes!" says West of the subjects of this mural on the Wurstkche restaurant in the L.A. Arts District downtown. "But everyone calls them wolves, so ... at this point, wolves they may be!"
"Actually, coyotes!" says West of the subjects of this mural on the Wurstkche restaurant in the L.A. Arts District downtown. "But everyone calls them wolves, so ... at this point, wolves they may be!"
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