Ozzie Juarez (b. 1991, Compton, CA) is inspired by the techniques, collaborations, ambitions, and ephemeral qualities of unsanctioned public art. He incorporates excerpts of paintings he observes across the LA landscape into his own work. His ongoing interest in the construction of shared experiences and identities is inspired by his time as a scenic painter at Disneyland, his examination of the loaded language of American cartoons, as well as his deep reverence for Aztec symbolism. Juarez has described himself as someone who “wear(s) multiple hats,” and is a vocal advocate for emerging artists, mentoring those for whom there may be historical barriers to pursuing a career in the arts, teaching them the possibility of a sustainable life as an artist, or as Juarez says, “a lifestyle worth living.”
Here, Juarez has taken over Ballroom’s façade with his mural, creating a Ballroom deity named Coatzomaki, fusing the identities of “Coatl” (serpent) and “Tzomakayotl” (vital essence or playful spirit, Monkey). According to Juarez, “Coatzomaki is a god born of convergence, a sacred fusion of serpent and monkey, embodying the dynamic balance between earth and sky, instinct and creativity, gravity and joy.” He has also created a new “gate” painting specifically for the courtyard. Both works broadcast to passers by that something exciting is going on inside!