Board Artists
Carly White, assisted by Kalon Fowler
Unknown, Zook58 (Antonio Torres)
Taylor Lofton, Ricky Secion
Sey Shamura, Shlome
Sya Warfield, Ari Nichol
Marcus Dupree
Sey Shamura, Shlome
Ian Robertson-Salt, Unknown (BLM Bird)
Photos + Art by Arts Bridging The Gap’s students, youth & community!
Photos + Art by Arts Bridging The Gap’s students, youth & community!
Mike MDS, Iris Peretz
Andrea Miripolsky, Amy Smith
Taylor Lofton or Ricky Secion
Gilyone Brace Wessel & Ali Belisele
Photos + Art by Arts Bridging The Gap’s students, youth & community!
Participatory art — Join us!
David Puck, Amber Renee
Unknown, Zook58 (Antonio Torres)
Stacey De La Cruz
aja Drummond
“Art has played a big part of my life since an early age. In high school, my teacher told me I had a natural talent. I went on to take a few drawing classes in college but became mostly self taught. I believe that most of my skills came from observing other artist around me. I loved surrounding myself with like minded people. My first influence were those of local graffiti artists in LA. Even though I’ve always had a love for street art, my craft has mostly been creating indoors. I primarily work with oil and acrylic, but I’m open to using any medium. Currently, I am working to incorporate my art other forms, such as clothing, handmade candles, and other goods into my work, for the creative process is an endless evolution and will continue to be a driving source in my life.”
Amy Smith
Contemporary artist Amy Smith creates a bold mixture of figurative paintings including her iconic women portraiture series, limited edition prints, illustrations, digital collages, abstract paintings, digital cityscapes, and inspirational merchandise. Using different techniques, her work celebrates unity and empowerment, feminism, social, and environmental justice, and messages that inspire love and hope.
Andrew Miripolsky
Andre Miripolsky’s signature style of pop imagery is bright, whimsical, energetic, and downright fun. A true multi-media artist, Andre is much more than a painter, taking his unique pop-style into sculpture, mobiles, graphics, branding, production design, sets and costumes, and now, NFTs. His sense of humor has been embraced by film and music stars, creating several art costumes for Sir Elton John - most notably the often-photographed “Piano Jacket” made for the famous Central Park concert. He has also collaborated on projects for Bette Midler, Quincy Jones, Robin Williams, the Rolling Stones, MTV, and Mattel, where he was commissioned to create a one-of-a-kind “Miripolsky Art Barbie.”
david Puck
David Puck is a young British multi-disciplinary artist, working in traditional painting, makeup, digital, video content, and public murals. Their work primarily explores human experience and mental health, exploring areas of identity, narrative, psychology, sociology and philosophy. David’s work has been featured by Juxtapoz, Hi-Fructose, Beautiful Bizarre, World of Wonder and Buzzfeed, as well as collaborations with HBO (Euphoria), Amazon Prime (Hey Qween), BBC Three (Eating with my Ex), ABC (Station 19), Bravo (Housewives of Beverly Hills), Arts Council UK, Faith Evans, Mayim Bialik, Alaska Thunderfuck, Willam Belli, Naomi Smalls, Hank&Henry Beauty, and LA Pride. They graduated BA History, specializing in Queer History, from The University of Oxford UK.
Iris Peretz
Iris is an LA based artist, muralist, sculptor and designer. Iris celebrates the integration of street art, graffiti, fine art, advertising, iconography, and cultural criticism in her artwork. Her works are often large, colorful, optimistic and joyful. Iris studied graphic design in Vancouver, BC and began her professional art career as creative director in the telecommunications, entertainment and gaming industries in the 1990’s. Iris earned her AA at Pierce College and BFA at CSUN where she explored multiple mediums and discovered her passion for public art, collaboration and community engagement. Notable Projects & Clients: Harley Davidson, 9 Count, Magic Las Vegas, Arts Bridging the Gap, The Laugh Factory, Katsuya, LAUSD, IDEA, Ooh La La, Left Hand LA at Fred Segal, Palm Springs Art Museum, Sherman Oaks Antique Mall, West Hills Chamber, Sherman Oaks Chamber, City of Santa Monica, City of Santa Clarita, Marine Mammal Care Center, La Galeria Gitana, Sam Jam, Back to School Block Party, Cross Campus, Hope Gardens.
Ricky Secion
From the artist: “I’m a self taught artists and Native Angeleno. In 2013, my career took a sharp turn when I read a quote in an Alexander McQueen biography. He referred to himself, not as a black sheep, but as a pink sheep. It was a magic moment. I didn’t know what I’d be creating, but the concept felt personal. It was different, I was different. I Purchased a toy sheep and started doodling. Eventually a shape took form, and it looked familiar. Like I had seen it before. I didn’t expect to be working out on the streets, what started off as sticker art, turned in a multi-layered series of different ideas and mediums.
Sei Shimura
Sei Shimura is a contemporary mixed media artist born in Tokyo, Japan, and now based in Los Angeles. He tackles important social issues with a sharp graphic design sensibility with craftsman like execution to conceptual ideas. Through Sei’s exposure to different cities and cultures, his art naturally reflects a tongue-in-cheek take on popular culture from a universal perspective. Often his work merges Japanese motifs and American pop culture introducing a new relationship and meaning of the subject matter.
Sya Warfield
Sya Warfield is a multidisciplinary artist who lives and works in Los Angeles. She creates art that pushes creative boundaries, keeping in mind accessibility and the importance of connection. Her work embodies beauty through imperfection. Finding a sense of peace and calm within the hustle of an urban environment is crucial to her creativity. Most recently, she was included along with 140 other artists to exhibit at The Other Art Fair in partnership with Saatchi Art in Spring 2022. During Winter 2022 located at the LA Convention Center, she painted at the Visa kiosk for the Super Bowl Experience. Her first solo exhibition was held during Fall 2021 at Canyon Country Community Center Exhibit, Santa Clarita, CA.
Zook58
Zook58 was raised in San Jose, CA. Zook’s passion for art and design began in his early childhood, when he would draw all day. In 1984, as Zook was entering his teenage years, he decided to take his art to the streets. San Jose became Zook’s canvas. ZOOK58 became a pioneer to the emerging art form called graffiti art. Encouraged by community leaders to use his art to contribute to beautifying the city, Zook was commissioned to create paintings and murals for various museums, walls, and parks. In 1995, Zook created a mural of an Aztec calendar. After eighteen years, this mural can still be seen in Beibrach Park on West Virginia Street today in San Jose. Zook went on to attend the prestigious Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in illustration. Shortly after graduating, Zook began a career in animation. He has worked on such shows as Rocket Power, the Emmy award winning Rugrats, Beavis and Butthead, and King of the Hill. Currently, he works on the global phenomenon, Family Guy! — “All I’m doing is holding up the mirror, to reflect our times.”