Centro de Arte Público
Los Angeles · 1977–1979
Photographs, press clippings, ChismeArte issues and the sign from 5605½ N. Figueroa Street. The collective’s building was declared a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 2021.
Centro de Arte Público was an arts organisation and collective founded in 1977 and closed in 1979 in the Highland Park neighbourhood of Los Angeles. It produced work focused on the city’s street scenes. Its former building, at 5605½ N. Figueroa Street, was declared a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument on 24 August 2021.
William Marquez Bejarano — known then as Guillermo Bejarano — was part of the collective from 1976 to 1980 and co-published ChismeArte, the art and literary magazine of the Concilio de Arte Popular. What follows is his archive.
The artists
People →Carlos Almaraz
Painter · Centro de Arte Público
Painter and a founding figure of Centro de Arte Público. Bejarano assisted him on the fifty-foot City Scape mural on Floral Drive in East Los Angeles in 1980. The archive holds four works by Almaraz and a letter he wrote to Bejarano.
William Marquez Bejarano
Painter, muralist · Centro de Arte Público
Member of Centro de Arte Público 1976–1980 and co-publisher of ChismeArte. He signed his work of this period Guillermo Bejarano, and the collective’s rosters carry that name. This archive is his.
Barbara Carrasco
Painter, muralist · Centro de Arte Público
Painter and muralist associated with Centro de Arte Público and with the United Farm Workers.
Richard Duardo
Printmaker · Centro de Arte Público
Master printer, often called the “Andy Warhol of the East Side.” Two of his prints are in the collection.
Dolores Guerrero-Cruz
Painter · Centro de Arte Público
Painter associated with Centro de Arte Público. Photographed at work in the archive.
Judithe Hernández
Painter, muralist · Centro de Arte Público
Painter and muralist, and the only woman member of the collective Los Four.
Leo Limón
Painter, printmaker · Centro de Arte Público
Painter and printmaker. Photographed alongside Bejarano in the archive; two of his works are in the collection.
John Valadez
Painter, muralist · Centro de Arte Público
Painter and muralist known for large-scale pastel works of Los Angeles street life. His poster Prosperity is in the archive.
Frank Romero
Painter · Los Four, associate of Centro de Arte Público
Painter, member of Los Four. Two works from his Crosses series are in the collection.
Roberto Gil de Montes
Painter · Centro de Arte Público
Painter associated with Centro de Arte Público.
George Yepes
Painter, muralist · Centro de Arte Público
Painter and muralist associated with Centro de Arte Público.
Victor Manuel Valle
Writer, editor · Centro de Arte Público
Writer and editor associated with Centro de Arte Público and ChismeArte.
Associated organisations
Méchicano Art Center
1969–1978
East Los Angeles
Self-Help Graphics & Art
1970–
East Los Angeles
El Concilio de Arte Popular
1970s
California
ChismeArte
1976–1980s
Los Angeles
Hecho en Aztlán (Aztlán Multiples)
1970s
Los Angeles
Los Angeles Latino Writers Workshop
1979–1980
Los Angeles
Centro de Arte Público
10 objects
Unidentified
The old site’s captions did not line up with these images. They are here unnamed on purpose. If you recognise anyone, write to us and we will correct the record.
