Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles

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Kent Twitchell has been an artist and street muralist since the late 60s. He painted his first signed murals in 1971, "Steve McQueen Monument" in Downtown LA and "Strother Martin Monument" in Hollywood. Kent has painted "The Hollywood Freeway Lady", "The Bride & Groom", monuments to visual artists Ed Ruscha, Lita Albuquerque, Jim Morphesis, Gary Lloyd and others. He painted the original "LA Marathon Mural" in Inglewood, the "LA Chamber Orchestra" in Downtown LA, monuments to "Six LA Artists" in Torrance, the "Dr. J Monument" in Philadelphia and 2 "Monuments to Will Rogers" on the east and west sides of the historic California Theatre in San Bernardino, among other murals. He is the recipient of an NEA "Art in Public Places" grant, 2 Honorary Doctorates and numerous other awards during his career. His paintings appear in art textbooks, magazines, Hollywood films and documentaries and hundreds of newspaper articles. He is in the permanent collections of the LA County Museum of Art, the Chicago Art Institute, the Boise Art Museum, the Smithsonian Institute, the Vincent Prince Art Museum, the Long Beach Museum of Art and many private collections. This year he completed a 3-year commission painting 3 murals in the main lobby of the historic Bob Hope Patriotic Hall in Downtown LA and a 40' tall "Ruby Dee Monument" on the historic Karamu House Theatre in Cleveland. He is now painting a new "Freeway Lady" mural on the Student Services Building at LA Valley College, to be completed in 2014, the 40th anniversary of the original mural. He has taught at LA City College, Otis College of Art & Design, California State University, LA, Biola University, Pasadena City College and LA County High School for the Arts. He is currently MFA Mentor/Advisor at Laguna College of Art & Design. Years Involved with MCLA: 26 years.

Special Olympics Monument

Kent Twitchell
Downtown LA

The Freeway Lady

Kent Twitchell
Hollywood, Silverlake, Echo Park

An elderly woman standing with a granny-squared afghan wrapped around her.

The Bride and Groom

Kent Twitchell
Downtown LA

Carlos Ortiz, then owner of the second floor Bridal Shop and sponsor of the project, was the model for the groom.

The Word

Kent Twitchell
South Bay

Jesus Christ casting a double shadow.

Ed Ruscha Monument

Kent Twitchell
Downtown LA

To Twitchell, Ruscha is the unorthodox hero of the art world. He painted the face at least three times and his hands twice. 

The Fall of Icarus

Kent Twitchell
Mid City

Done from a painting by Jim Morphesis. Photo © Robin Dunitz.

Harbor Freeway Overture

Kent Twitchell
Downtown LA

The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra.

The Holy Trinity with the Virgin

Kent Twitchell
Mid City

Otis/ Parsons School of Art & Design, exterior.

Steve McQueen Monument

Kent Twitchell
Mid City

This portrait in blue of the film star was the artist's first mural. Photo: © Isabel Rojas-Williams. Last Photo: © Robin Dunitz

111th Street Jesus

Kent Twitchell
South Central LA

Artist was assisted by local gang members and others. Latin Jesus with arms outstretched.

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