Street Art Los Angeles – longlistshort

Flashback- Los Angeles Street Art- EL MAC, Augustine Kofie, and Joseph ‘Nuke’ Montalvo: “La Abuelita / Má’sání”

Art, Artists, California Street Art, Fiber Arts, Los Angeles Street Art, Painting / Painters, Sculptors / Sculpture, Street Art

Jan 302026

Going all the way back to 2015 today for this mural by El MAC, Augustine Kofie, and Joseph ‘Nuke’ Montalvo. La Abuelita/Má’sání, a portrait of Diné (Navajo) weaver Martha Gorman Schultz, is located on the outside of The American Hotel in Los Angeles.

From El MAC (Miles MacGregor)’s website about the mural-

“The portrait is painted entirely with aerosol and fatcaps, and is based on photos I shot a few years ago of an artist named Martha Gorman Schultz. She is a Navajo blanket weaver from northern Arizona, and part of a respected family of weavers including her granddaughter, Melissa Cody.

I felt this painting of Martha could be an empowering representation of beauty not often depicted in public art or media. Beauty that is feminine, elderly, indigenous, loving and powerful.

The building this mural was painted on was constructed in 1901, and you can imagine how much Los Angeles history it’s seen over the last hundred years or so.

This was an especially collaborative effort- Along with the work of Kofie and Nuke surrounding the figure, SKILL UTI painted the wall to the left, integrating an already existing piece by DASH 2000(Rest In Peace). SWAN provided ground support, along with CHEE, AISE, BLK, OFIER, SELEK, CALVYRUS and some other younger members of UTI crew, which has been painting these walls for the last few decades.”

Sadly, Martha Gorman Schultz passed away in February of last year at the age of 93. For more information on her life and work, check out Hyperallergic’s tribute.

Throwback- Los Angeles Street Art- Melrose Elementary School Murals

Art, Artists, California Street Art, Los Angeles Street Art, Painting / Painters, Public Art, Street Art

Sep 042025

Mural by Annie Preece

Mural by Sébastien Walker

Mural by Ivan Preciado

Mural by Ivan Preciado

Mural by Jules Muck

These murals were created for Melrose Avenue Elementary School in Los Angeles in 2015.

The Los Angeles Fires 2025- Links to Help Those Affected

Art, Artists, California Street Art, Los Angeles Street Art, Miscellaneous, Street Art

Jan 132025

Artwork by Jennifer Korsen aka humansmakeart

The devastation and loss from the fires in Los Angeles has been heartbreaking.

If you are looking for a way to help, several organizations have put together fundraisers-

Contemporary Art Review LA has put together an extensive spreadsheet that, along with fundraisers by organizations, also includes Go Fund Me pages for individuals and businesses

@griefxhope has set up a fundraiser and information on mutual aid for artists and artworkers impacted by the fires

Anti-Recidivism Coalition is taking donations to support the incarcerated fire crews that have worked tirelessly to help put out the fires (write “firefighter fund” on the donation)

Pasadena Humane has been caring for animals injured in the fires and those needing to be sheltered, as well as providing supplies to pet owners in need

Apr 262024

This tribute to artist Margaret Kilgallen was spotted in Los Angeles in 2014. The quote is paraphrasing what she said during an interview for the PBS program Art21. The full quote reads- “I do spend a lot of time trying to perfect my line work… when you get close up, you can always see the line waver. And I think that’s where the beauty is.” Kilgallen died of cancer in 2001, at only 33, but left behind a remarkable body of work.

You can currently see one of these works at Cantor Arts Center’s as part of the group exhibition, Day Jobs, on view until 7/21/24. The exhibition examines the impact of day jobs in the lives and work of several famous artists.

Image courtesy of Cantor Arts Center: Margaret Kilgallen, “Money to Loan (Paintings for the San Francisco Bus Shelter Posters)” [detail], 2000. Mixed media on paper and fabric, sheet 68 × 48½ inches Courtesy of the Margaret Kilgallen Estate, photo by Tony Prikryl

You can learn more about Kilgallen, her husband and fellow artist Barry McGee, and several other artists including Shepard Fairey, Mike Mills, Ed Templeton and Harmony Korine in Aaron Rose’s film Beautiful Losers.

Throwback Thursday- Los Angeles Street Art- Phobik

California Street Art, Los Angeles Street Art, Street Art

Sep 082023

This work by Phobik in Los Angeles was spotted in 2015.

Los Angeles Street Art- Septerhed- Flying Unicorn

California Street Art, Los Angeles Street Art, Street Art

Jun 162023

This work by Septerhed was spotted in Los Angeles in 2019.

Los Angeles Street Art- ZLA and Chase

California Street Art, Los Angeles Street Art, Street Art

Jan 132023

This Los Angeles mural was created in 2018 by ZLA and Chase.

For more work by ZLA, also check out his Instagram. Chase’s Instagram is worth a look as well.

Los Angeles Murals- Mear One

California Street Art, Los Angeles Street Art, Street Art

Nov 032022

Mear One’s Gaia Basking in the Sunshine of Love, located off Melrose in Los Angeles. For more of Mear One’s work, also check out his Instagram.

Los Angeles Street Art- NYCHOS

California Street Art, Los Angeles Street Art, Street Art

Oct 282022

Captain Hercules Fighting Hydra, 2015, by NYCHOS, located in downtown Los Angeles.

From his other website about the work-

It shows the fight between Captain Hercules and Hydra, and is a fusion of two stories: One goes back to the greek mythology, where Hercules is given the task to kill Hydra, a nine headed snake that grows two new heads for every decapitated one. The other story refers to a comic book published by none other than Marvel, where Captain America fights the identically named terrorist organization Hydra. When merging these two plots, Nychos creates the story of Captain Hercules, who is battling a multi-headed snake and its skeleton. Covered with the translucent skin of a lion and equipped with the attributes of both heroes – Hercules’ spear and Captain America’s shield – Nychos’ character appears on multiple layers, visually as well as substantially.

More of NYCHOS’ work can also be found on his Instagram.