Six years ago Robert Vargas, an artist of Mexican descent who was born and raised in the Boyle Heights section of Los Angeles, purchased a corner loft with enormous windows that perch over the bustling corner of 7th and Spring Streets in downtown Los Angeles. This is where he often draws artistic inspiration from the stark contrast of sheer ruggedness and trendiness he witnesses on the streets below while painting — whether in his loft or in the streets themselves.
Unlike many downtowners in the recently gentrified community who may turn their nose at the influx of their destitute neighbors from nearby “skid row” (this area contains one of the largest populations of transient persons in the United States), Vargas’ approach differed. “People are my greatest inspiration,” he says while sipping on a soda in the outdoor seating area of Syrup Desserts, a local Spring Street Café, moments before giving a dollar to a local transient he knows by name. “I was very excited to see how my surroundings downtown would change my work and how it would affect my content,” he says. Not surprisingly, the bustling area and all of its issues — homelessness, drug use, poverty — have become subjects in some of Vargas’ work.
In 2004 with the inception of DTLA Art Walk, a monthly celebration of galleries, music, photography, lounges, restaurants and bars that now attracts thousands, Vargas was at the helm of the then-stagnant artistic endeavor. “I felt like I had to protect home turf,” he explains. “In order to bridge the gap between the gentrification that is going on and what [the area] used to be before the gentrification process, I brought my gallery to the streets and began incorporating homeless people into my work.” Vargas signature has become his lightning fast creations that are typically done on sidewalks in front of an audience.
As a result, his following grew and the line of people willing to become the nimble artist’s subjects became massive. In a continued effort to fill what he felt was a void in the DTLA artistic community, in 2009 Vargas started his “Red Zebra” party every first Thursday of the month at the area’s prestigious Crocker Club. In 2011, LA Weekly declared Vargas’ event the city’s “Best Party“. Soon after Vargas himself graced the cover of LA Weekly’s 2011 People Issue, an accomplishment he says is his “greatest thus far aside from staying alive.”
Painting the pictures in his head is a gift Vargas was born with; he recalls painting when he was just three years old. Although he creates murals, sculptures and drawings, Vargas’ medium of choice is oils, charcoal and canvas and portraits of people appear often in his work. Vargas honed his craft at Los Angeles County High School, an acclaimed performing arts school in downtown Los Angeles. Recognition also came at an early age. As a teenager two of his murals became part of the permanent collection of the Western Heritage Museum and he painted another permanent mural at the Edmund D. Edelman Children’s Court. He went on to attend Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York where he continued his studies. After college Vargas began working for Latin music pioneer Ralph Mercado’s renowned record label RMM Records as the company’s West Coast retail marketing rep. For five years, he was the talent buyer for The Conga Room bringing in top acts like Tito Puente and introducing new musical genres to the L.A. scene. After resigning from the popular night club, Vargas immediately resumed his artistic career.
Vargas is extremely proud of his Mexican heritage and his East L.A. upbringing. However, he says, “I’ve never really qualified my work along ethnic lines. My work may not have a traditional Latin image, but my name is on there and my experiences are in every mark. Me being Latino declares itself before I say a word.”
Check out more of Vargas’s work on his website www.vargaspresents.com or see his latest show on Saturday, October 8, 2011 at the procession from Little Tokyo to Eastside Luv at 11:00 a.m. “So much has been made about the crossing of east to west in search of opportunity, my walk from west to east is signifying the change of that perception,” Vargas says. Or you can join the artist reception from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Eastside Luv Wine and Queso Bar 1835 E. 1st Street, Los Angeles, California where his new work is exhibited and he will also do a few live portraits.
Can’t make it the show, but want to see what everyone is talking about? Check out Robert’s work with Far East Movement, at DTLA where Vargas created a mural in front of an audience of the electro-hip hop group followed by the group’s own live performance.
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