Today we’d like to introduce you to Richard Abagon.
Richard, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’m a latchkey Gen-X’er, born in Downtown Los Angeles to Filipino parents who came to California in the 1960s. My mother, a creative and fiercely independent spirit, put herself through beauty school at 18 and built a career as a hair stylist and esthetician. My father worked as a court interpreter and later served on the L.A. Human Relations Board of Commission throughout the ’80s and ’90s.
We lived in Carthay Circle off Fairfax for about 13 years. As a kid, I’d walk to school through an old underpass and explore the nearby streets—by nine, I was making my way to Canter’s and Melrose. That neighborhood was a diverse mix of Jewish, Persian, Black, Chinese, and Latino families, and I feel lucky to have grown up in that environment.
In 1979, we moved to an underdeveloped part of West L.A.—grittier, but full of character and culture. The area was alive with oddballs, skateboarders, cholos, surfers, and punk kids. That energy excited and shaped me. Surrounded by such diversity, I developed a deep appreciation for this. As a young teen, metal and punk rock were my daily soundtrack. Me and my childhood friends played in punk bands in the mid to late-’80s, playing backyard parties, garages and DIY shows—once even up a dirt road off Mulholland. It was a thrilling time—punk rock, metal, graffiti, and hip-hop were all colliding, and you could feel something new was emerging.
In 1987, I started a small graffiti crew with some of the same friends from my band and in the area. We often rode the RTD and Santa Monica bus lines, skated the city and beach areas, and got up along the way. Music and graffiti both shaped the way I looked at and appreciated art, and in the ’90s I leaned further into my creative growth. The worlds of graff and music overlapped for a while, but music eventually took the lead and brought me on a life-changing ride with my younger brother and good friends.
In the early 2000s, I signed with Interscope Records with my then band, Woven which became my day job for about a decade. Around that same time, I would discover photography and graphic design while touring and recording records. Since then, those three creative outlets—music, photography, and design – have continued to fuel my life.
Around 2014, my friend Axis invited me to be a part of the L.A. Graffiti Black Book project. I contributed a sketch, dedicating it to a fallen friend and one of my best friends who was locked up at the time. The book is a unique collection of works by 151 L.A. graffiti and tattoo artists—an unprecedented collaboration that now resides in the Getty museum’s special collections. The cover features a script illustration of “LA” for Liber Amicorum (Latin for “book of friends”). Being part of this project alongside old friends and street legends and heroes was a huge honor for me, and being recognized for our early contribution to L.A.’s graffiti legacy and landscape meant a lot to me to be included in.
For me, life has always revolved around the arts in some way and it has led me to opportunities to surround myself with like minded people and groups. It’s been the most consistent and exciting part of my development and I am grateful every day to be doing the things I get to do among creative circles.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There are always obstacles when you’re young and trying to find your identity while growing in different directions from your peers. I got into a lot of trouble growing up in WLA—plenty of drugs, some violence, and a healthy distrust of authority… haha. You realize not everyone shares the same path or philosophy, and some people stay stuck in a mindset that no longer fits who I am today. It’s tough when people you looked up to or were inspired by begin to feel limiting to your growth.
Coming from a split household also made it hard to find stability when I needed it most. Navigating adulthood without a strong foundation has been challenging—I’ve had to piece things together through experience and the people I’ve met. Inspiration and lessons often show up in unexpected ways, and I try to treat every moment as a chance to learn.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’d say I’m a multimedia artist without a singular specialty—sort of a mixed bag of versatility across mediums, driven by curiosity and craft. I like the idea of being adaptable. Most of my colleagues know me for my blend of documentary and fine art photography, capturing immersive urban scenes, subcultures, and live music. Photography remains one of the most exciting mediums for me. Watching L.A. evolve through the decades and seeing its subcultures morph has been a fascinating and sometimes bittersweet part of my journey and I like to capture its essence when I can. I’ve often been told my compositions evoke authentic emotion and make the mundane feel extraordinary. It’s all subjective to me and I shoot what I like or what captivates me, so I try to focus on trusting the process and staying grateful for every opportunity to create in the ways I enjoy.
Today, I still make music and play guitar with my band, A Reminder, and at times get hired to play drums on other people’s records. I book photo and video shoots with some really exciting creatives. By day, I work as a graphic designer, designing and creating custom Gold and Platinum record awards for the music industry. I am also currently working on an LA specific documentary with my filming partner and high school friend, Fabrice Henssens which we are very proud of and excited to share as soon as it’s ready.
I’m proud to have contributed to incredible projects across photography, videography, music, and design over the years. Being primarily self-taught and disciplined has helped me carve out a path in creative spaces. At heart, I’m just a big kid from the ’70s/’80s, driven by curiosity, creativity and passion. I think what sets me apart is the ability to move between mediums and bring my uniquely raw, and honest perspective to everything I do.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I’d like to cite Steve Pineda as an inspiration and a role model of sorts. He and his wife Caroline have a creative agency in East Los Angeles, called FIXÉ STUDIOS or Fixé Group on Instagram. We have worked together for many years and Steve is an incredible multi discipline artist doing really great work in this city. he is definitely an inspiration and a team mate of mine.
He has believed in and trusts me to include me on to some cool video shoots. I’m looking forward to sharing the work we’ve done very soon.
Alex “Axis” Ventura is another wildly talented illustrator painter and OG graffiti artists from LA. He’s been a big inspiration for is style and painting skills. He is responsible for my inclusion in the LA Graffiti black book. Solid artist and bad ass guitarist.
Fabrice Henssens is a photographer and my filming partner. We go way back from high school. (Uni High) He has been an inspiring force and comrade in the photo space. We are currently producing and directing a documentary that is set in the early 80’s. He is a solid portrait photographer and has been a big advocate of my work and process.
Ken Pappanduros (circles_of_sound) onIG, is another Los Angeles Photographer that is best known for his compelling and vibrant concert photography. I gotta give him a shout. His style is killer.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.richardabagon.com
- Instagram: @telephotocaster
- Other: https://linktr.ee/richardabagon?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaeELTf6B2RqcQMmoaEuxaL3r81YhcXP2wBTL8FXkFchCxGMlCetQ0SDzfbGOQ_aem_qpDmIAoj8CQfT-ZV60jR_A
Image Credits
All images © 2022-2025 Richard Abagon @telephotocaster
