Unity Through Community

Rick Vilchis

Ricky Vilchis is an artist who has deep roots in the graffiti-art street culture. He was born and raised in the Wrigley area of Long Beach, and gained an interest in art at a young age. He began painting the outdoor gallery at Homeland Cultural Center and exploring the Los Angeles graffiti-art movement around the age of 16. Since then, he has had two solo shows and has been a part of group shows throughout Southern California and Japan. He has also painted murals in many parts of Southern California. Although he is a self-taught artist, he considers his years in the sculpture program at LBCC under Coleen Sterrit, as one of the most influential periods, influencing his work into a more refined style of graffiti. His work can be described as the experience of an artist trying to find balance between the street and the gallery.