Jesse Fregozo shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Jesse, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What is a normal day like for you right now?
I would normally paint for 50% of the day, for 25% l would teach and the remaining 25% l would leave for networking and paperwork.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello everyone, my name is Jesse Fregozo. I was born in East Los Angeles, a first-generation Mexican-American Artist raised in Boyle Heights. I began my education through the Los Angeles Unified School District, LAUSD, I then attended California State University, Dominguez Hills, and received a double major Bachelor’s Degree in Art&Design and Studio Art.
I began my art practices at an early age, but I was never part of any art program or institution due to the lack of resources and connections that would get me involved. But this never stopped me; the lack of resources transformed me into a self-taught artist that many classmates and members of my community began to recognize due to my dedication and intentional stories behind my art that were reflected in the execution of my work.
I took my first art class at Roosevelt High School and completely fell in love with it. Being exposed to art materials and putting to use my first set of drawing pencils instead of only using my traditional HB pencil really lifted the quality of my artwork. The quality of my artwork was so noticeable that my art teacher encouraged me to apply to the 2010 Congressional Art Competition, which was taking place in Washington DC.
My artwork was then selected and showcased in the US House of Representatives for over 3 weeks and seen as “An Artistic Discovery”. When receiving the newsletter and certificate of recognition, I was extremely happy and caused all types of emotions in me that fueled me to fully pursue a career within the arts.
When attending California State University, Dominguez Hills, I then met artist friends who introduced me to different forms of art and eventually became part of the Dominguez Hills Arts Collective, which was composed of a group of undergrad student artists in college that carried artistic goals similar to mine. I also met professors like Devon Tsuno and Gilah Hirsch, who drove me into what a professional artist’s life and works are like.
After I was done with college and working in the field as a Graphic Designer, I remember driving back to my community one day and stopping by a local small business market called “Yolis Market”. I noticed an artist working on a mural. I introduced myself and told him I loved his work and he asked me if I also made artwork, I immediately responded, “Yes, I am also an artist,” and showed him a couple of my artworks on social media. He then invited me to his studio. Little did I know I had just met 2024 NEA award-winning artist and community leader Fabian Debora, Executive Director and founder of the Homeboy Art Academy.
After meeting Fabian Debora we became very close friends and he eventually turned into my mentor. He then opened his door to me, and I became a teaching artist at the Homeboy Art Academy and began to conduct art workshops for formerly incarcerated youth. I began to teach at juvenile facilities, Parks & Recreation, as well as conduct art lectures for the youth from Homeboy Industries at the Homeboy Art Academy.
Taking this path in my artist career and as time passed, I began to meet other amazing artists at the Homeboy Art Academy that turned in to family and began to exhibit artwork across LA County. This then caught the attention of other great artist, curators and organizers that I eventually began to collaborate and work with. I then began to work with legends in the Arts like Man One who is also a great friend and mentor. I began to Curate art Exhibitions like “Innerlinks” at Artshare LA or like this past January 2025, when I was invited to curate an art show at the Hilton hotel in Anaheim titled “Notes from the Sol”.
I was also invited a few months ago by Chicano Sin Fronteras to visit Mexico City to represent the Homeboy Art Academy. I was able to showcase and discuss my artwork alongside other great artists, poets, professionals, and Mexican officials. After I came back from Mexico City, I then began to work for the Social and Public Art Resource Center, SPARC, alongside Co-founder and Artistic Director Legendary Judy Baca where we are currently working on a mural project titled The Great Wall of Los Angeles. This project is considered to be the longest mural in the world.
Besides working with Judy Baca at SPARC on the Great Wall of Los Angeles mural project and as a teaching artist for The Homeboy Art Academy with Fabian Debora, I just finished a mural titled Hope at Orthopedic Hospital Medical Magnet High School. I was also invited by the Eastside Arts Initiative to be part of the LA County Fair “Art Unleashed” this year, where I painted a live mural titled All Roads Lead to the Fair. I am currently Exhibiting Art at The Huntington Beach Art Center in a group exhibition titled We Are. I am also exhibiting artwork at Art Share LA on a show titled LA Fuerza Unida, an art exhibition curated by Fabian Debora. I am also part of a group show titled Unified Voices: Art of Resilience and Community at ChiMaya Gallery.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who taught you the most about work?
Throughout my career, I have learned and worked with multiple artists. But the artist whom I have been learning the most from and who has influenced me the most has been Fabian Debora.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Growing up as a kid in my community of Boyle Heights, I was part of a boxing club. The Oscar de la Hoya Youth Center was a boxing gym I attended when I was growing up. In it, my boxing coach raised me to believe that the moment an individual quits ones he or she is going to quit again and again. A quitter never wins, and a winner never quits. Those were the words I grew by. In response to this question, no, I never give up.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
Being an artist is not just a one-day out of the week thing or only on weekends. Being an artist is more of a lifestyle, that carries the responsibility of speaking for your community, representing your identity and one’s culture with the medium we intend to work with.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
There can be many stories I hope people tell about me when I’m gone, but if there is one thing I hope everyone says is that I represented my community above everything. That I never gave up on any member of my community, and I was able to motivate others through the arts.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Fregozo_arte
