Aaron Hansen, a Desert Hot Springs-based muralist and small business owner with more than 15 years of experience in the arts. Through his business, Murals, Letters and Colours, Hansen brings creative projects to life throughout the Coachella Valley, working across hand-painted signage, murals, sculpture refinishing and speciality finishes for commercial vehicles and art installations. 

In the Central Idaho town of Lewiston, seasoned muralist Jeff Karlin recently brought a chapter of Idaho’s logging history to life on a large mural in the center of town. The public artwork depicts Idaho loggers from the 19th and 20th centuries alongside a rumbling wanigan boat, set against the rushing waters of the Clearwater River.

On May 27, 2016 of Memorial Day weekend, graffiti covered the POW/MIA mural in Venice, CA., honoring the fallen servicemen who served in Vietnam, originally painted in 1992 by artist and Vietnam veteran, Peter Stewart. The vandalism also covered hundreds of the 2,273 names of those missing in action and prisoners of war hand-painted by Mr. Stewart and several veteran volunteers.

“Dolores Del Río” is part of SPARC’s Neighborhood Pride Mural program, whose intent is to create and represent the various cultural identities throughout Los Angeles neighborhoods. While it may not be a stretch to fathom how a 1920s movie star can be representative of Hollywood, the significance of the mural lies much deeper than the glitz and glam of the city.

On July 20, 2016, the CityWide Mural Program (CWMP) team began the restoration process of La Ofrenda, located under a bridge on 2nd and Toluca in downtown Los Angeles. The piece was painted by Yreina Cervantez in 1989. Since then, the mural had been tagged with graffiti numerous times and completely covered by another mural.

After 21 years of being out on the sunny streets of Los Angeles, Noni Olabisi’s “To Protect and Serve” is now receiving much needed conservation repairs. The historic artwork depicts the social services created by the Black Panther Party. Bobby Seale, Huey Newton and Angela Davis are memorialized in the mural as the demands of the party to end policy brutality and the murder of Black People, the right to land, bread, housing, education, clothing, justice and peace contextualize the powerful narrative.

Chagall Returns to Venice Beach is a tribute to Venice’s retired Jewish Community. The inclusion of imagery by Marc Chagall, a celebrated Jewish artist, appeals to the both the Jewish and Venice communities. Some of the individuals who assisted in painting the original mural are now members who attend the meetings at the Senior Center, which has created a strong sense of ownership over the mural.

“Love is for Everyone” by Mary-Linn Hughes and Reginald Zachary was created under SPARC’s Neighborhood Pride Program in 1991. The mural is located on 5149 W. Jefferson Blvd, in Los Angeles. This is the first mural in Los Angeles to incorporate the subject of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). The goal of this mural is to portray the diversity of individuals affected by AIDS.

The conservation of Charles “Boko” Freeman’s mural, “Return to the Light” is now complete! SPARC’s CityWide Mural Team along with Boko spent several weeks meticulously repairing the mural from vandalism and delamination.

“Not Somewhere Else, But Here” by Daryl Wells emphasizes the themes of community service, social actions and education that the National Council of Jewish Women of Los Angeles endorses. Wells depicts influential and prominent women of varied ethnic backgrounds building community and sharing struggles through the act of “breaking bread” together. Furthermore, it is both homage to the women it depicts and also a gesture to the community in support of multiculturalism.