John Valadez
Muralist and photographer John Valadez was born in 1950 in Los Angeles. The artist grew up in Boyle Heights in East Los Angeles and studied at East Los Angeles Junior College from 1970 to 1972. He received his BFA from CSU Long Beach in 1986 and was widely known for his various commissioned murals around Los Angeles. His works have been exhibited in various museums such as the Museum of Contemporary Hispanic Art in New York and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
Valadez’s work is celebrated as one of the most significant realist works regarding the Chicano experience in Los Angeles from the 1970s to 1990s. His photography takes a different approach from his magical realistic paintings as it is defined as documentary street photography. His overall practice takes great inspiration from the urban landscapes of Los Angeles and Chicano culture, as evidenced by the subjects in his photo works. Best known for his murals, Valadez’s photography and painting also contribute greatly to recognizing and celebrating Los Angeles’ urban culture. Valadez continues to live and work in Los Angeles.
Images courtesy of JOHN VALADEZ
words by PERWANA NAZIF
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