New Mural entitled Demos Gracias by Lorenzo Hurtado Segovia installed by Murals of La Jolla, a project of the Athenaeum
Lorenzo Hurtado Segovia
Demos Gracias, 2016
2259 Avenida de la Playa (Above Galaxy Taco)
Lorenzo Hurtado Segovia’s mural, Demos Gracias, is a vibrant expression of gratitude and optimism. The title, Demos Gracias, translates to a call for thanksgiving. A golden sunburst emanates throughout the composition and creates a warm and lively glow, which transcends the image into a heavenly space above. Intersecting the image are brightly colored Papel Picado and Prayer banners that read “For Love”, “For a Better Future”, and “Thanks Be to God” as an echo of good will. Acting as a vibrant signifier of celebration, the Papal Picado is an integral adornment for many special occasions and an homage to traditional Mexican Folk art. The mural sits above a restaurant in a fitting way, highlighting the idea of uniting friends and family through food and art to celebrate and give thanks for one another.
Segovia’s work seeks to find its place within contemporary art while still being deeply rooted in traditional practices. He attempts to redefine Christian themes and open up a conversation that is reinvigorated through new points of view away from conservative dogma.
Segovia was born in Chihuahua, Mexico. He received his BA from UCLA and then went on to receive his MFA from Otis College of Art and Design. His work was most recently featured in a solo show at the Vincent Price Art Museum in Los Angeles, California. He teaches as an Assistant Professor of Illustration at Otis College of Art and Design. He currently lives and works in Los Angeles.
To date, works by Terry Allen, John Baldessari, Mel Bochner, Mark Bradford, Kelsey Brookes, Gajin Fujita, Anya Gallaccio, Robert Ginder, Ann Hamilton, Jean Lowe, Robert Irwin/Philipp Scholz Rittermann, Nina Katchadourian, Kim MacConnel, Ryan McGinness, Roy McMakin, Richard Allen Morris, Catherine Opie, Julian Opie, Marcos Ramirez ERRE, Fred Tomaselli, and William Wegman, have been installed throughout La Jolla. Six of these have been replaced or temporarily removed. Overall, 23 murals have been commissioned since 2010.