PHOTO STORIES

MAYA ANGELOU, REIMAGINED THROUGH ART

Images from the Maya Angelou Mural Festival which brought together 33 incredible artists from all over the world to create over 25 murals at the Dr. Maya Angelou Community High School. Taking place in Los Angeles, California, the mural project aimed to create an outdoor art museum while also inspiring youth living in underprivileged communities. The event was photographed for the NY Times and graced the Arts section cover page in the summer of 2019. Here are images and highlights from the week-long event.
Artist Shepard Fairey paints on the facade of the Maya Angelou High School as the mural festival kicks off.
Completed mural by Shepard Fairey honoring the legacy of Maya Angelou.
Brazil-born artist Nunca begins to paint the first layer of his large-scale mural.
Artist Nunca looks down at the different color sprays he'll be using for his mural.
Artist Nunca (front) and Principal Hugo Carlos (back) spend a few moments painting the mural together.
The Inside Out photo truck, created by artist and photographer JR, allows students to print their own portraits and paste them onto walls.
Artist Rabi paints inside the Maya Angelou high school campus. His mural is a collaboration with artist JR.
Students assist artist Rob Hill as he completes a mural on the school's outdoor basketball court.
Completed look at Rob Hill's artwork created for the Maya Angelou mural project.
Artist Victoria Cassinova paints her first outdoor mural on the school's campus.
Reginald O'neill, aka L.E.O., is an artist from Miami, Florida. His mural is a reflection of his time as a youth living in the projects.
Add Fuel is a Portuguese artist who works with fine art and murals focused on the art of tiling and patterns.
Add Fuel's mural is titled 'We Are One' which translates in Spanish to 'Somos Uno'. He hopes that the message reflects the community which is primarily Black and Latino.
Artist Axel Void is a Miami-based artist who works on different media including murals and fine art.
Axel Void paints a mural focused on the immigrant experience of those living in Los Angeles. He referenced photographs in order to complete the finished piece.
L.A. based artist Brushwork paints a mural on the third day of the Maya Angelou mural festival.
Sweden based artist 'Huge', known for graffiti lettering which references a balloon-style technique, preps for his 2nd day of painting.
The mural painted by artist Huge features the school's mascot "The Phoenix", as well as Maya Angelou's name and legacy.
Valfre, Mexican artist and designer, is helped by students as she paints her mural on the campus of Dr. Maya Angelou high school.
Darryl 'DMC' McDaniels of Run DMC speak to the students about how he got started in the music industry and how positivity, education and art can help them overcome their circumstances.
Shawn Michael Warren paints a portrait of Maya Angelou honoring powerful black women and their resilience.
Artist Shawn Michael Warren chose this portrait of Maya Angelou due to her gaze which he hopes conveys the message that she's looking thru you.
Mr. B Baby, fine artist and muralist based out Los Angeles, California, paints on the 4th day of the Maya Angelou mural festival.
Artist known as Mr. B Baby paints a wolf figure representing the school's former mascot.
Jasm One's title for his finished mural is "Still We Rise" which points to togetherness and mutual help. It also references the school's motto.
Jasm One, hailing from Switzerland, has been doing graffiti for 20 years. For this completed mural he referenced various students from the campus in order to signify togetherness.
Performer and musician Miguel meets with Nunca outside of the school campus. Miguel attends the event in order to speak to students about mental health awareness.
Artist 1010 is German artist who works on large scale murals as well as fine art. His goal for this mural was to beautify an otherwise blank wall.
Artist and performer Miguel talks to the students at Maya Angelou High School about positive ways to improve one's life, as well as dealing with issues of depression and mental health.
Group photo of artists, organizers and school staff all involved in helping make the Maya Angelou mural project happen.
The last mural to be completed at the Maya Angelou mural fest is by artist Nunca. The mural references poems by Maya Angelou as well as the theme of connecting to one's ancestors and culture.