School murals highlight L.A.’s art culture

This summer, people walking or driving by Manual Arts Senior High and Augustus F. Hawkins High School in South L.A. will be able to enjoy a few murals highlighting historic figures and L.A. culture.

These murals are part of Branded Arts' ongoing partnership with LAUSD, which is focused on bringing public art directly into school communities.

They worked with internationally recognized and locally rooted artists—like Cryptik, Lauren YS, Ozzie Juarez, Sickid, RABI, ZLA, and more— and students gained hands-on experience and exposure to real creative career paths right in their own neighborhoods.

"This project is all about creating sustainable community enrichment through the arts," said Branded Arts president Warren Brand. "By participating in these programs, students gain a greater sense of pride and empowerment for their school and their community."

Over the course of a week-long festival during the spring, students worked directly with artists. From brainstorming themes to contributing to final murals, students were immersed in a real-world creative process that culminated in vivid, large-scale artworks on campus walls.

Each school hosted a robust arts symposium curated in collaboration with organizations including the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, Sony Pictures Animation, Behr Paint, Versa Style Dance Company, Soapbox.us, Hauser and Wirth, Hijinx Arts, and the Office of Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager Dove. Together, these partners illuminated pathways into film, animation, design, media, and beyond—underscoring the role of the arts as a vital economic and cultural engine for Los Angeles.

As one student noted during the symposium, "I didn’t know there were so many jobs in the arts. I thought it was just painting or drawing. Now I want to learn more about graphic design and film."

"This incredible celebration has showcased how art has the power to inspire, uplift, and ignite passion in our students, and highlights its vital role in education,” Dr. Lavon Flowers, principal of Manual Arts High School, said. “By providing a platform for artistic expression, we are fostering a culture of innovation and creativity that will leave a lasting impact on our community."