Judy Baca

Venturing from Venice Beach to Watts, Varda looks at the murals of LA as backdrop to and mirror of the city’s many cultures. She casts a curious eye on graffiti and photorealism, roller disco & gang violence, evangelical Christians, Hare Krishnas, artists, angels and ordinary Angelenos.

Los Angeles Canvas examines some of the lesser-known aspects of Los Angeles' social, political and cultural life through a study of its traditional outdoors murals. A tradition inspired by the Civil Rights Movement and the Mexican Mural Movement. These murals have historically advocated for social justice, representing under-examined narratives that contest mainstream history and conveying the community’s cultural identity.