Evan Skrederstu

Evan Skrederstu often employs photo-realistic technique in his paintings & murals. This is not by accident. As a lead scenic painter in the entertainment industry, heading high-concept creative projects for major theme parks & production companies, it was imperative that he be invisible as an artist. Which is why Skrederstu does the opposite in his own work: he draws attention to how they were created. Whether in detailed works on insects or on large walls, Skrederstu skillfully explores this tension between artist & medium, man & nature. His work has been featured in the Pasadena Museum of California Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art (Los Angeles), & The Wall Street Journal.

Evan Skrederstu

Chris Brand

Painter, draftsman, sculptor, muralist, graphic designer, tattoo storyteller, Christopher Brand finds inspiration and a chance for exploration in as many disciplines as possible. Along with his collaborations together in UGLARworks, his work is developed through a combination of refined technique and thoughtful concept. Drawing from the rich and extremely diverse cultural history of Los Angeles, his work finds connections and celebrates the diversity of the the human condition. Be it abstract, primal, political, or humorous.

cbrandworks.com

Steve Martinez

Los Angeles native Steve Martinez is a fine artist, muralist, photographer, and graphic designer. His contemporary work deals with the discourse between the symbolic and the realistic within daily urban life. The thread of Mayan symbols and hieroglyphs—both representative of Martinez’s history and culture—is inescapable in his work, always connecting the present to the past by uplifting, preserving, and honoring a significant layer of meaning and identity. At the end of 2013 Martinez partnered up with fashion company Ludwig & Schwarz from Cologne, Germany combining fine art with fashion, and this project is currently still ongoing. He also contributed a piece to the Getty Research Institute’s “Book of Friends” Black Book Project. His work has been featured in the Pasadena Museum of California Art (PMCA) and Museo Centro Estatal de las Artes (CEART) in Mexico.

ESPI

Espi works mainly in Japanese Horimono tattooing & Tibetan Thangka painting. Frequently exploring the unexpected intersections of these disciplines with Mexican culture, his pieces act as decorative meditations balancing these seemingly disparate cultures. His art has been featured in magazines, books, galleries, and museums from around the world.

espimausoleum.com

Ryan Gattis

Ryan Gattis is a writer & educator. His most recent book, All Involved: A Novel of the 1992 L.A. Riots, is grounded in 2.5 years of research & background spent with former Latino gang members, firefighters, nurses, & other L.A. citizens who lived through it. Set to be translated into 13 languages, The New York Times called it a “a high-octane speedball of a read” & its film rights have been acquired by HBO. Gattis lives and writes in Los Angeles, where he is a founding board member of 1888, a Southern California literary arts non-profit, & counts himself incredibly fortunate to be a member of UGLARworks. "They saved my life. Without them, I would never have glimpsed not just the hidden spaces of Los Angeles, but the way its river, its streets, its textures, & its people combine to form something magical," Gattis has said. "They are my key in the lock of the city."

ryangattis.com