Melvino Garretti describes himself as “more of an anthropologist than an artist.”
Lexis-Olivier Ray
Lexis-Olivier Ray is a multitalented content creator and journalist focusing his lens and pen on social topics impacting the Southern California area.
How Music Steered the Art of Jean-Michel Basquiat
The online documentary series “Time Decorated” argues that Basquiat was the connection between the bebop and hip-hop worlds.
How a Legendary Boxing Arena Became a Lens for Los Angeles
“18th and Grand” chronicles the history of the world-renowned venue, beginning with its unveiling for the 1932 Olympics and early history in segregated Los Angeles.
A Goodbye to the Uncomfortable Holiday Work Party
Alex Prager’s “Farewell, Work Holiday Parties” at LACMA captures the awkwardness that ensues when a room full of intoxicated, mostly white people get together during the holidays.
The Beautiful Ofrendas That Blossomed on Day of the Dead
Multimedia journalist Lexis-Olivier Ray drove around on Election Day and the day after, documenting ofrendas and memorials on 35mm film, while reflecting on a difficult year.
How Posters Have Targeted Police Violence, From the 1960s to Today
“There’s a story behind every poster,” says Carol Wells, a former medievalist who abandoned her dissertation to devote her life to posters.
The Archive of the Most Prolific Black Southern Californian Architect Finds a Home
During his nearly six-decade career, Paul Revere Williams built homes for celebrities such as Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball, and Cary Grant. He also built affordable housing and gave back to his community.
A Photographer’s Visual Record of Her Gentrifying Los Angeles Neighborhood
In 2017 Samanta Helou-Hernandez created an Instagram account paying tribute to Virgil Village, a vibrant, predominantly Latino community currently experiencing rapid gentrification.