Artist Captures the Heart of East Los Angeles

Portraits of neighborhood families and local icons nestle among a rich tapestry of brightly colored marigolds, blazing dahlias, majestic monarch butterflies and nostalgic objects in a breathtaking mural adorning National CORE’s newest property in East Los Angeles.

Stephanie Mercado, a Boyle Heights native and emerging Los Angeles based artist, partnered with National CORE, NowArt L.A. and Los Angeles County to create the love letter to East L.A.’s rich history and heritage.

The mural, titled “East Los Luv,” adds vibrancy to the affordable housing community and celebrates the diverse cultures in the colorful Maravilla neighborhood.

“Not only is the mural an illuminating reflection of the culture but it also speaks to Las Dahlias growing roots in East L.A.,” said Cynthia Mejia, a National CORE development manager who worked with community members on Las Dahlias.

East L.A. is known for embracing public art and muralism as vibrant chronicles of the community’s deep connection to Latinidad as well as its Asian community. Mercado’s piece adds to this relationship with artwork that dresses the neighborhood’s housing communities, family-owned businesses and parking lots.

Mercado used her iconic printmaking style to grace the entryway of the development with iconography that features animals, plants, furniture, lanterns, lowriders and, especially, portraits of residents.

“I added a lot of Meso-American imagery because I wanted residents to get that warm feeling that people get after they’ve come home from a long day,” Mercado said. “A lot of the images come from lived experiences, but it also stems from what community members wanted to see.”

Much of Mercado’s work pays homage to manual labor and the working class. Growing up in a family of artisans, she was always immersed in the creative endeavors that characterize carpenters and seamstresses. Using cultural references, she captures the essence of the working class.

“My family was largely self-taught and pursued these fields because they needed something that was going to sustain them,” Mercado said. “It is the reality for many families and is often overlooked.”

Mercado sourced her imagery through virtual community engagement meetings and workshops. She created a website encouraging residents to co-create with her using coloring sheets and shared family photos.

Among the portraits in the mural are Mercado’s neighbors, a former classmate’s grandparents, long-time teachers and local icons like Cecilia Gonzalez De La Hoya, mother of boxer Oscar De La Hoya and the namesake of East L.A.’s Cecilia Gonzalez De La Hoya Cancer Center.

“I wanted to celebrate all of the contributions of people in the neighborhood that may not be recognized,” Mercado said.

NowArt L.A. chief curator Carmen Zella said Mercado’s intimacy with the East L.A. community allowed her to accurately depict and appreciate an often underrepresented and undervalued population.

“The intentionality in which Stephanie approached community outreach was exactly the right fit for what this project embodies in terms of it being community centric,” Zella said. “The conversations had during the planning process should act as a blueprint for every installation of public art.”

The mural blends traditional printmaking with collage and illustration. Mercado used hand-carved stamps and multiple coats of acrylic paint to mount the landscape onto 34 fabric panels, each measuring approximately 32 by 44 feet, in her small art studio.

With the help of family members, “East Los Luv,” Mercado’s first large public project was completed in three months.

“I hope that it inspires discovery, respect and value for the diverse cultures in East L.A.,” she said.