Speaker series at Fowler Museum examines graffiti brushstrokes as fine art form
As part of the LA graffiti scene since the 80s, Kizu said his art goes beyond the traditional style into abstract linework. (Courtesy of DEFER) From crayons to graffiti, Alex Kizu has drawn his childhood passion into a career.
On Tuesday, artist Alex Kizu, who creates art under the name DEFER, will speak with host Gustavo Tepetla about his experience of being one of the original pioneers of the early Los Angeles graffiti scene as part of the “DISRUPT the Fowler” series. A collaboration between the Fowler Museum and student organization DISRUPT, the series offers programs with the goal of breaking down barriers in the art world to promote inclusivity. The Fowler’s curator of public programs, Bianca Collins, said the museum is always looking for ways to engage with the student body population and uplift those who might feel as though they do not belong.
“These events are opportunities for us to highlight the work on view and a way to explain more about the context and circumstances surrounding them,” Collins said. “It’s also a way for us to stay in touch with all of the great thought-leaders doing their best work in the city.”
The Fowler Museum hosts public programs live to increase audience accessibility to speakers they may not normally be able to interact with, Collins said, which goes hand in hand with DISRUPT’s mission. Fourth-year design media arts student Kaize Xie said DISRUPT is a student design coalition that strives to promote the voices of designers on campus through anti-racism, equity, diversity and inclusion. Xie said Tuesday’s event will delve into DEFER’s background and upbringing, as well as how he developed his particular artistic style and established a professional presence in the art world.
Since the Fowler Museum’s mission is to present artwork that might not be considered fine art in other spaces, Bianca said the event will be an opportunity to present graffiti in a new light. Because of outdated power structures, she said relatively arbitrary labels have been placed on entire art forms such as graffiti, and as a curator at the Fowler, her intention is to dismantle these stereotypes.
“I really want to help counteract this misconception that art is for the one percent,” Collins said. “It’s not. It’s for everyone, especially the 99 percent. I am working to change the system from the inside out … at the Fowler, we present all art as fine art.” — Jordan Mula, Nov. 15, 2021
This post is an excerpt. Read the full article on the Daily Bruin website.
HEADER IMAGE: Alex Kizu, who creates art under the name DEFER, will be participating in the series “DISRUPT the Fowler” on Tuesday to discuss his graffiti work. (Courtesy of DEFER)
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