LA has always had an artistic soul. The culture and heritage of our city, like most great cities, owes a tremendous debt to the arts community. Supporting local art is something we care deeply about and we’d like to do everything we can to help the local arts community thrive. Unfortunately, too often media attention is monopolized by corporate interests and tabloid gossip – but culture doesn’t come from a focus on celebrity breakups it comes from a focus on the arts.
Below, you’ll find some incredible artists from in and around the South Bay that we hope you will check out, follow and support.
Andrea Desmond
My music has always been an outlet for me, but once I focused on developing the whole package of my brand as an artist, then I felt I was able to fire at all levels. Therefore, in creating Vellusi Lux, I wanted to create a brand for women just like me to feel empowered to express themselves and feel good about who they are in their everyday lives. Read more>>
Kent Twitchell
Painted posters in restaurants and lettered trucks and cars as a teen in the ’50s for extra money. Was an Air Force artist 1960-65, mostly in London at HQ 3rd AF. School in LA under GI Bill off and on during 1966-77, East LA College, Cal State LA and Otis Art Institute. Started painting anonymous street art during the late ’60s and first signed mural was Steve McQueen Monument in Pico-Union area just west of DTLA, 1971. Read more>>
Latisha Baker
My creative journey started when I was a pre-teen. I created a colony for my dolls using found objects and repurposed fabric from my grandmother’s house. It was amazing and I remember people being in awe of the space I created when they would come over and visit. Later on, after taking a sewing class. Read more>>
Rae Khalil
Born and raised in Torrance, CA. Rae Khalil is a 23-year-old, rising r&b/hip-hop Artist. Raised by a single mother, Rae’s natural creative talent was encouraged from a young age through musical theatre. Rae has made a name for herself locally due to her captivating live performance. Read more>>
Marube
Marube started off as a solo project of mine. It was a folk acoustic project where I created songs focused on finger-picking. I became a fan of Mark Kozelek, Nick Drake, and The Smiths back in college. I wanted to create something along those lines. After experiencing a break up from a long time relationship. Read more>>
Jazmine Danielle
I began my crystal journey in 2016 when my partner gifted me with a Rose Quartz bracelet for my birthday. That was the first healing crystal that I was consciously aware of ever possessing. I felt so much love from that bracelet, and that is how I began my personal healing journey. Read more>>
Marquis Garrison
I grew up in the Southbay area of California, Los Angeles county born and raised. Lawndale, Hawthorne and Inglewood. Growing up, I’ve always been a really expressive person. Whether it was dancing, drawing, writing and performing music. Read more>>
Lucy and Gwennie Giles
We grew up in a household where music was always playing. This was a key factor that fueled our passion to want to play an instrument. We started the band when we were 8 and 10 years old. Read more>>
Jaane Salujoe a.k.a. Nodsu
I grew up in a little town in Estonia (Europe). Growing up, I witnessed the Soviet occupation, the Baltic chain, the Singing Revolution, the struggles of a starting anew after regaining our freedom- everything was in a constant change and unknown. Read more>>
Jenny Aguirre
I grew up in Los Angeles but now live in Long Beach. I am a first-generation Mexican-American female artist. I am part of the FA4 Collective initiated by a group of Cal State Long Beach Alumni. With a BA in Studio Art. Read more>>
John Bronson and Femke Veelenturf
A few years ago, former NFL player John Bronson, met his Dutch girlfriend Femke Veelenturf on vacation. One of their first dates, Femke gave John a traditional Dutch food package with stroopwafels in it. Read more>>
Kenneth Barlis, Chris Franchise, RJ Pak, Brandon Chavez, and Jordan
Overtime has been friends for as long as we could remember. Some of us have been friends since middle school, and some of us met in high school, but we’ve always been with each other. Read more>>
So Yun Um
I’m a Korean American filmmaker based in Los Angeles. I grew in Koreatown and it’s definitely one place that influences me and my work the most. I studied film in college and I wasn’t sure. Read more>>
Georgia Menides
Starting the story at the end, after many years of struggling to make this happen, a film I co-wrote and produced, “1/2 New Year” sold to Comedy Dynamics and will be released on multiple VOD platforms on September 10th. Read more>>
