Francisco Palomares

City Hall

Oil on canvas

"On my night walks around downtown Los Angeles, City Hall is lit in different colors. Sometimes it is lit green which holds different meanings. It can be ominous like the color of money for greed and envy. Green can also be perceived as green for nature and life. City Hall represents many things for the community of L.A. depending on your social status."

– Francisco Palomares

About the artist

Francisco Palomares

Francisco Javier Palomares is a contemporary artist based in East Los Angeles. He discovered the magic of oil painting from skimming through books featuring the works of classic artists. Studying the works of Rembrandt, Francisco de Goya, and Diego De Velasquez, he was mesmerized by the way strokes of paint from a brush can bring to life people, places and things; it was magical in the young eyes of Palomares. Encouraged by educators in his youth, Palomares studied the fundamentals of drawing and painting at Ryman Arts School from 2005 to 2007. Pivotal to his artistic career, Ryman Arts granted Palomares access to resources and opportunities that would enrich his perspective and practice as a young artist.

His commitment, dedication, and passion for art led him to California State University, Long Beach where he earned a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Drawing and Painting in 2014 where he was awarded two scholarships to study abroad in Italy and China. After his studies, he relocated to his childhood neighborhood of Boyle Heights setting up his studio --PalomaresBLVD. His studio is a fictional street where he re-envisions Los Angeles inviting viewers to take the stage with him in storytelling.

Palomares draws upon his lived experiences combining elements of historical narratives and present-day social challenges. He does so by portraying his subjects as visual narratives emanating the challenges and beauty of their environment. Palomares is currently an associate artist educator at LA Commons where he directs a team of youth artists in the collection of community stories to create and prepare designs for printed banners. The artwork will be displayed at a community forum and will share information about mental health issues, access to mental health resources and to promote positive mental health and Wellness Practices.