Q: What are some of the dangers you run into being a street art/muralist?
There are always dangers in doing non commissioned works; the cops, businesses owners pressing charges, crackheads… or gangs that control the neighborhoods. But, I always try to paint something appealing for the greater community while still making the work I want to do, so everyone tends to leave me alone and respect me for the most part.
Then there’s the issues with outsiders trying to gentrify who may see my art as a threat for representing the people.
It’s no secret that the Downtown LA landscape is changing. From the Arts District to the Historic Core, new buildings are budding skyward like a garden in springtime. While the skyline may change, there is a force in the city ensuring that Angeleno roots remain.
Artist Black Light King is part of that movement, painting neon and blacklight commissioned masterpieces across building interiors, exteriors and painting live during underground happenings.
Heavily influenced by the underground music and proud Latin American culture of Los Angeles, Black Light King has found an intersection between graffiti and street art. At a young age, he discovered a love for art as an expression and at 15 discovered the power of neon.
You can find some of his most notable works across the many districts of Downtown LA; off Alameda and 20th Street, his Standing Rock mural on Mateo and 7th Street, and recently, works at Tipsy Grill and Hill Grill.
More incredible is Black Light’s ability to hide his identity while painting his murals behind the mask of a luchador. Black Light King says he wears a mask as a vehicle to transcend boundaries. As only a chosen few have ever seen the artist’s face, Downtown Weekly keeps his anonymity while talking with Black Light King about the art behind the mask.
Q. How did you get started as an artist?
To be honest, the arts saved me when I was younger in school. Art was an outlet for me to be somebody and express my thoughts and opinions about the world. From a young age, I learned about the power of art through opportunities I had and through my father, who was an artist as well.
I started with the underground music culture in Los Angeles, and started doing black light pieces there. I would set up with DJ RAW and DJ CRS, the godfathers of Drum n Bass. I was able to merge with the party environment and music environment.
As the scene got bigger, art added an extra element to the underground vibe. As I started going deeper with the underground music shows in Downtown, my art also started expanding to different parts of the city. I would go to messed up allies and abandoned walls in Downtown, making forgotten parts of the city beautiful.
Q. How did your art expand to the intersection between graffiti and street art?
As an independent artist, I’ve developed through not adhering to certain genres, but coming up with my own style and technique. As my arts expanded, I met famed street artists like Skill, Hex and Kofie. These guys became my mentors and embraced what I was doing at the time. I was able to put my work on more buildings, and started to get commission work too. I started seeing walls that were left to the mercy of the city and started transforming them into something more — often with a thought-provoking aspect. I started combining graffiti elements with street art, graffiti art. I merged black light elements in murals, staying in touch with my roots in graffiti culture and music culture.
Q. What keeps you going? Do you have any advice for artists in Los Angeles?
Use your imagination and wake up everyday to do what you love regardless of what that looks like. Life is too short not to do what you love. I use my imagination for everything — not just for my art, but in the way I live — it’s a way of life. It’s the best way to create yourself each day. Creativity is the greatest thing we have in order to make the world a better place.
For more info follow @blacklightking
