Gary John

Street Artist

Los Angeles, CA

Website: www.streetartgaryjohn.com

“I grew up in a dysfunctional, alcohol filled home. It pushed me away from drugs and alcohol, and I got lost in my art as an escape. Today, there is not enough time in the day to do all the painting I want to do. I’m consumed with it.”

Art is Gary’s passion; inspired by Picasso, comics books and American pop culture. A Seattle street artist since 1985, Gary moved to Venice Beach ten years ago to sell his work on the boardwalk. On and off again homeless, he would spend up to ten hours a day creating abstract pop culture images on cardboard, newspaper, canvas, and just about any low-cost material he could get his hands on. A chance meeting with Culver City gallery owner Bruce Lurie changed all that. Now he is featured in a variety of exhibitions and galleries. Despite his newfound success, Gary continues to get up every morning and occupy a table at the boardwalk. “I was a street artist,” he said, “and I will always be a street artist.”