Los Angeles has long been a hub of powerful graffiti and street, and some of the most famous street artists from around the world have left their mark on LA. Below are some of the most popular spots.
What: Banksy is one of, if not the top, artists responsible for street art’s recent positioning as a substantially recognized arts movement. His work has been found all around the world, popping up in the form of everything from large-scale instillations to the most minor tag. Here, Banksy places his familiar wandering girl in a surprisingly relevant place: in 2010, mere blocks away, resident groups attempted to fund a $6 million plan to turn a parking garage into a neighborhood park with small playground.
Where: 908 South Broadway
What Else: Bottega Louie is one of Los Angeles’s most famous and most beloved stops for delicious Italian dishes. It’s perfect for brunch, lunch, dinner, cocktails, and houses a top-notch bakery.
What: New York street artist and photographer Curtis Kulig has made a name for himself since his humble, borderline illegal roots. He served as Creative Director for HBO’s short-lived How to Make it in America; he conceptualized campaigns for Carhartt, Vans, Bobbi Brown and Smashbox; and he even lent a helping hand to Joe Jonas’ “See No More” solo album cover (street cred was borderline revoked, but we all let it slide). For the later, Kulig employed the signature tagging style that he utilizes for his “Love Me” street pieces, one of which can be found in LA.
Where: Fairfax Avenue (between Oakwood Avenue and Beverly Boulevard)
What Else: LA-based hip-hop collective Odd Future opened a pop-up shop near the corner of North Fairfax and Oakwood that’s well worth checking (as Kanye West was caught Christmas Shopping there). Considering the band’s debt to aggressive street antics and skate culture, a viewing of the mural and a stop by the store seem like a perfect pairing. Also: stop by Canter’s Deli, home of their world famous Pastrami and Rye.
What: “Heart (You Are Who You Are)” is a “blink-and-you’ll-miss-it” piece of street art that has been tagged anonymously, but developed a large-scale neighborhood following. The mural has since been expanded upon since its initial erection all the way to the opposing street corner, and now features additional graffiti on top of it. While some could view this as disrespectful to an already established piece of street art, it’s nice to view the mural as so established and part of the community’s aesthetic that artists are using it as its own canvas.
Where: Santa Monica Boulevard (between Gateway and Sanborn avenues)
What Else: Amelia’s Espresso & Panini has a delicious menu full of perfectly brewed coffee, deliciously crafted sandwiches and of course their titular panini. Their hours are shockingly limited though, so make sure you double check before making a stop. Also: M.A.K.E. is Santa Monica’s well-established raw food hot spot, located nearby
What: Artist and political commentator Free Humanity is a local street artist, based in LA, whose work can be seen in what feels like the city’s million of vibrant neighborhoods. For his latest piece on the Sunset Strip, Free Humanity utilizes an icon of the silver screen (fitting considering the mural’s coordinates). His mission—“Taking back the humanity stolen from our minds by social manipulation and planting seeds of positivity through art and consciousness”— may not sound simple, but it’s hard not to be taken by.
Where: Sunset Boulevard and Seward Street
What Else: The Hollywood Farmers Market dominates Sunset’s foot traffic on Sundays. For a less healthy (but equally delicious) alternative, Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles, one of LA’s famed grub spots, has a location near the strip.
What: New Zealand’s own Askew teamed up with one of LA’s most famous local artists, Zes, to craft this mural as part of the L.A. Freewalls Project, an unsanctioned art initiative put together by street artists from around the world—all in an effort to reinstate LA’s title as one of the mural capitals of the world. For their part, Askew and Zes used the building as a blank canvas to present their powerful political message about the current state of American culture.
Where: 3rd Street and 4th Place
What Else: Los Angeles’s Urth Caffe is located near the mural with quality coffee and teas, breakfast and brunch.
Where is your favorite LA street art?
