Created by
Kenji
A Community of Immigrants by KenjiLiu in Los Angeles
A Community of Immigrants
A temporary mural for Mitsuru Sushi and Grill in Little Tokyo, acrylic paint on primed plywood. When protests hit in downtown LA, Little Tokyo's small businesses suffer and have to board up their windows. After responding to a call for community artists to help beautify boarded up storefronts, I collaborated with this business's owner to create a mural of his two sisters and father. They needed a quick turnaround so I kept it simple and focused on making these striking portraits, looking out at foot and vehicle traffic, finishing in two days. The business owner kept this mural up long after other stores took down their plywood.
Meet the Artist
Meet the Artist
Los Angeles, United StatesI am a painter, muralist, educator, and graphic designer with over 25 years of experience. I have a wide variety of art interests, ranging from figurative portraiture to abstract, process-based paintings. My background in design and arts administration allows me to envision, plan, and complete projects in a timely and visually impactful way. In general I enjoy projects that, based on research, tell stories about a place or community through people, animals, and plants.
Recently I have focused on overlooked individuals and histories in portrait paintings that express stories through figure, clothing, textile patterns, environment, and cultural symbols. As an Asian American immigrant and artist of color, I am interested in reflecting the power and dignity of immigrant communities—very often not represented in public art.
More artwork by Kenji
"and was restrained of his liberty" Wong Kim Ark v. United States (1898)
Portrait Art
30in (W) X 40in (H)
