Photo by: Laura Poli

BIO

Man One believes in the transformational power of art and its power to save lives and make the world a better place.

Man One believes art gives mankind an essential and irreplaceable cultural language in which to express and know itself. Man One believes art can transcend cultural and socio-economic barriers, fostering understanding, mutual respect and unity among disparate peoples. Man One believes these things are possible because he's seen them happen through the power of his own art and the art of others.

Growing up in Los Angeles, Man One developed his love for art, developing his skills as a graffiti artist on the streets of LA. He honed his talents as a fine artist and understanding of art history at Loyola Marymount University where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts.

Over the years, Man One has worked with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Disease Control, The Mexican Consulate in the U.S., and most recently received a Speaker and Specialist Grant by the U.S. State Department to work with the U.S. Embassy in Panama.  There he demonstrated to Panamanian children and teenagers how art could build self-esteem and self-respect to help you overcome any situation.

In 2011, he was invited to North Ireland (twice) where he painted murals and conducted workshops to help foster understanding and mutual respect among young Irish Catholics and Protestants. He has led similar workshops in Japan, Germany, Mexico and throughout the United States.

Man One's art is comprised of his trademark bold, colorful art strokes and has been featured in ten solo shows, countless group exhibitions, and curated well over a hundred. His work has been exhibited in many museums including the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, The Getty, Pasadena Museum of California Art, LACMA, Orange County Center for Contemporary Art in Santa Ana, Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena, Parco Museum in Tokyo and the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C. His artwork is collected internationally and has shown in galleries around the world including Australia, Germany, New Zealand, Mexico, UK, Japan, and Switzerland among others.

In 2002, Man One founded Crewest Gallery in Los Angeles to legitimize graffiti art as a valuable and collectible art form and give graffiti artists a professional venue and forum in which to showcase their work. In the book, Graffiti L.A., street art documentarian Steve Grody listed the opening of Crewest Gallery as a milestone event in the history of graffiti art in Los Angeles.  Ten years on, Crewest continues to be a leader in the world of collectible graffiti art.

Man One and his art have been featured in many television shows such as MTV’s Pimp My Ride, ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, America’s Next Top Model, and The Contender to name a few.  On the silver screen he has appeared in John Tucker Must Die (Revolution Studios), The Roommate (Screen Gems), Burn Hollywood Burn (Cinergi) and featured in television commercials for Ford, Microsoft, Target and Verizon.

He has painted live on stage at some of the largest U.S. music concerts and festivals including tours for MTV with The Black Eyed Peas, De La Soul and Wyclef Jean as well as traveling across the country on the Van’s Warped Tour performing side by side with bands like 311, Blink182, and Good Charlotte.  He has performed with music legends like George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic.

Man One has been commissioned commercially by a plethora of corporations including Coca-Cola, Disney, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Carmax, Oakley, Dickies Girl, Pioneer, Symantec, EA Sports and Ubisoft to name a few.

Man One has been recognized for his unwavering support for many charitable causes, donating his time and talents painting and teaching art on behalf of The HeArt Project, I Am Angel Foundation, The Center for Biological Diversity, and Heal the Bay. In 2009, The HeArt Project selected Man One as the recipient of that year’s Artist award for his significant contributions to their important cause of arts education among underprivileged youth in Los Angeles. He was also acknowledged, with a RIVIE award, for artist of the year in 2008 by the Friends of the Los Angeles River.

Man One's artwork has been profiled and featured in a number of international magazines, newspapers and books including The L.A. Times, The Washington Post, New York Magazine, Warp Magazine (Japan), Angeleno (USA), 38Times (Japan), Lowrider Arte Magazine (USA), Rime Magazine (USA), La Dolce Vita (Italy), Aelle (Italy), Backspin (Germany), Rap Pages (USA), “Graffiti World” (by Nicholas Ganz), “Painting the Towns: California Murals” (by Jim Prigoff and Robin Dunitz), “Graffiti L.A.” (by Steve Grody) and is mentioned in “The History of American Graffiti” (by Roger Gastman and Caleb Neelon).

Man One's life work is about putting the power of art in the hands, hearts and minds of people all over the world. Everything Man One has done to date is about democratizing art and educating others about the unique value of graffiti art. Moving forward, Man One will continue his life's work as an artist, teacher and entrepreneur in order to empower mankind and facilitate a more beautiful, fair and just world through the power of art.

CV

Public Art Murals and Projects:

2023
“Faces of Pomona”, public art mural project featuring portraits of three local artists commissioned by the City of Pomona, Ca
“The Good People Under Our Sun and Moon”, large public art mural project commissioned by the City of Placentia, Ca
“1 Cal Plaza Mural”, public art commissioned by Rising Realty Partners for 1 California Plaza, Los Angeles, Ca
“Faces of Watts”, public art project commissioned by BRIDGE housing (affordable housing developer), Watts, Ca

2022
“UNITY”, public mural painted with local street artists, arts envoy and lead artist for “Street Art Project 2022” funded by the US Embassy Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal
“Mithila Mural”, public mural painted with traditional Mithila artists, arts envoy and lead artist for “Street Art Project 2022” funded by the US Embassy Nepal, Janakpur, Nepal
“Grand Ave Augmented”, public AR activation commissioned by the Downtown Center Business Improvement District (DCBID), Los Angeles, Ca
“DTLA MAN”, commissioned by Silverstein Properties as artist and curator for “USBT MURAL PROJECT”, US Bank Tower, Los Angeles, Ca
“The World is Nuts”, privately commissioned mural along Live Oak Park bike path, Berkeley, Ca
“MAN BULL”, commissioned by El TORITO Restaurant to hand paint life size bull sculpture and featured artist for Hispanic Heritage Month campaign, Ontario, Ca
“Noni Olabisi QEPD”, commissioned by Silverstein Properties, US Bank Tower, Los Angeles, Ca
“MANSTRACTION”, commissioned by Overspray Art Gallery, Pomona, Ca

2021
”Ese Leo!”, funded by GenteChicano/SOYmosChicanos Arts fund via Artshare LA, Los Angeles, Ca
”Downward Man”, commissioned by Agora Partners, Hollywood, Ca
“Brumer Love:Stanley & Miriam”, commissioned by Linder & Associates, Los Angeles, Ca

2019
”Futuro”, commissioned by Palomar College, San Marcos, Ca

2018
”El Sereno Happiness”, commissioned for Hatchspaces, El Sereno, Ca
“Smile Now, Cry Later”, commissioned for Pro Doc Technologies, Los Angeles, Ca

2017
“Mama y Papa”, commissioned by Estrella Jalisco, Los Angeles, Ca
“Cuidado Niños Jugando”, commissioned for the Mayor Garcetti’s Vision Zero Initiative, Los Angeles, Ca
“The Colors of Unity”, commissioned by Arts Bridging the Gap, Hollywood, Ca
“Trejo Portraits”, commissioned by Trejos Coffee and Donuts, Hollywood, Ca

2016
”Graffiti Spirit of L.A. Renaissance” , Arts District Park in collaboration with ArtShare LA, commissioned by District14, Los Angeles, Ca
“Pony Up”, painted public art horse sculpture for the Breeders Cup, in conjunction with the LA Tourism and
Convention Board, Los Angeles, Ca
“The Makers”, public art exhibition at Union Station of photographic portraits by Todd Gray, sponsored by Metro Art, Los Angeles, Ca
“Reaching for the Tip Top”, public mural commissioned by Hue Festival, Houston, TX
“SLO Motion”, painted public art cow sculpture for SLO Cowparade, San Luis Obispo, Ca
“Color Of The Year”, public mural commissioned by Pantone and Instagram, Venice Beach, Ca
“Milk Man”, painted public art cow sculpture for #MilkLovesArt campaign, sponsored by The California Milk Processor Board, Los Angeles, Ca

2015
“Oriol”, #FacesLA, self funded public mural campaign, Echo Park, Ca
“Innergalactic”, public mural commissioned by Contempo Floorings, Los Angeles, Ca
“Graffiti Spirit: Bling!”, public mural commissioned by La Chuperia, Los Angeles, Ca

2014
“voLAr”, #FacesLA, self funded public mural campaign, Los Angeles, Ca
“Elephunktl”, public mural commissioned by Red Bull, Los Angeles, Ca

2012
“Graffiti Universe”, Meeting of Styles Commemorative Mural, Schlachthof in Wiesbaden, Germany
See No Evil , (various murals) featured artist in the UK’s largest street art event in Bristol, UK
“Graffiti Spirit Over City Hall”, public mural Downtown LA, Ca
“The Downtown Artist At Large”, public mural Downtown LA, Ca
“Graffiti Spirit Headhunting in LA”, public mural Downtown LA, Ca

2011
“Natural Beauty”, Derry-Londonderry, Northern Ireland, UK
US State Dept.: (various murals) Guest Artist and Keynote Speaker for the U.S. Embassy in Panama
“Continuing Our Invasion of the World”, commission by Dickies Girl, Inc. Los Angeles, Ca

2010
“They Claim I’m A Criminal”, public mural for So. Cal Library, Los Angeles, Ca
“Success”, public mural sponsored by the Heart Project and the CRA, Pio Pico Elementary, Los Angeles, Ca

2008
“Somos ALIADOS”, mural at the University of Queretaro, Guest international artist, Queretaro, Mexico
“Cine Mexicano”, exterior mural commissioned by Dark Light Pictures, Hollywood, Ca
“Re:Generations”, exterior mural commissioned by Capitol Records, Hollywood, Ca

2007
Chicano Park, collaborative graffiti mural in San Diego, Ca
“Meeting of Styles-LA”, artist and curator of 10,000+ sq/ft public mural in the Arroyo Seco Confluence with the LA River, Los Angeles, Ca

2006
“The Four Pillars”, 12’x 450’ temporary mural commissioned by the MTA / Gold Line Extension, Boyle Heights, Ca

2005
"Art of Harmony" on-going murals since ‘97, throughout Southern California commissioned by Coca-Cola

2003
"All City", 450’ long collaborative mural commissioned by DickiesGirl, Los Angeles, Ca
"Sweet Hummingbirds Capturing Our Imagination ", public mural commissioned by Dept. of Water, Long Beach, Ca
“VERB. IT’S WHAT YOU DO ” mural for the The U.S. Dept. of Health and CDC, Long Beach, Ca

2002
Lladro’s, Award winning Construction Barricade Mural organized by I.C.U. ART, Beverly Hills, Ca

2001
NBA Street/PlayStation 2: Mural Commissioned by Electronic Arts’, Los Angeles, Ca
SharkByte Art: A San Jose Art Experience. 6’ x 4.5’ fiberglass shark sculpture sponsored by IBM, San Jose, Ca
Caesar Chavez Mural in celebration of the first annual Caesar Chavez Day, March 30, 2001, Los Angeles, Ca

1999
Project Lean, mural Gabrielino High School, San Gabriel, Ca
"The Fresh Spot", community mural at Penny Park, Silver City, New Mexico
"It Takes A Village", Richardson Community Park (ICU Project), Los Angeles, Ca

1997
Summer Youth Employment Training Program: lead artist & instructor, Long Beach School for Adults, public mural, Long Beach, Ca

1996
"Overcoming Barriers”, Summer Youth Employment Training Program: lead artist & instructor, public mural, Long Beach, Ca

Private Mural Commissions and Projects:

2023
LA KINGS live mural during fanfest at NHL playoffs, Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, Ca
College Football Playoff, digitally printed mural installed at LAX airport, Los Angeles, Ca

2022
”Isn’t She Lovely”, car mural on 1930 Model A Ford, Los Angeles, Ca
DELTA Airlines, employee mural for new terminal at LAX, Los Angeles, Ca

2021
“WOMC”, interior mural for Wine of the Month Club, Monrovia, Ca
“GRAFFITI SPIRIT:LIFT”, interior mural for Lift Coffee Roasters, Whittier, Ca

2020
“SUN”, interior mural for RTI, Hermosa Beach, Ca
”Creature Of Instinct”, mural for GrafFeat project featuring music by Matt Sorum produced by Lucha Libre Audio

2019
“Poseidon”, interior mural for RTI, Hermosa Beach, Ca
“The Festival: Sneakers x Music”, various interior murals for Sneakertopia, Los Angeles, Ca

2018
“Raza”, interior mural for Footaction, Los Angeles, Ca

2016
“One Love”, collaborative mural with seniors at the Institute On Aging, San Francisco, Ca
“El Chavo y Leche”, celebrating the first Chavo del Ocho day in LA, sponsored by The California Milk Processor Board, Los Angeles, Ca
“City of Angels”, corporate lobby interior murals commissioned by Fidelity National Title, Downtown Los Angeles, Ca
“Full of Tips”, NuVisions studio, Santa Ana, Ca

2015
Ice Cream Lab , interior mural, Little Tokyo and Westlake, Ca
Bieber Roast, Comedy Central, Los Angeles, Ca

2014
Ice Cream Lab , interior mural, Pasadena, Ca

2013
Bon Jovi, AEG commissioned mural for concert at Staples Center Los Angeles, Ca
Nike, Black history month mural and stencil youth workshop, Compton, Ca
“Man Gottlieb”, exterior home commission, West L.A., Ca
Ice Cream Lab , interior mural at new ice cream shop in Beverly Hills, Ca

2010
“2 Dragons”, exterior home commission , Santa Barbara, Ca

2008
“Classy Original Ideas:Rita Hayworth”, commissioned mural, The Hollywood, Hollywood, Ca

2006
“La Belleza Latina,” 5’x12’ commissioned by Telemundo for the Miss Universe Pageant, Los Angeles, C a

1997
"The World of Coke: Storytelling Theater ", commissioned by Coca-Cola, Las Vegas, Nevada

Solo Exhibitions:

2022 “Chance of Infection”, Division 9 Gallery, Riverside, Ca

2021 “The Art of Man One”, The Arts Area (Casa Pitzer), Ontario, Ca

2017 “¡Somos Americanos?”, Sanchez Contemporary, Oakland, Ca

2015 “Hola Mexico”, Grand Central Market, Los Angeles, Ca

2015 “Poppin’ Caps”, Open Space LA, Hollywood, Ca

2012 “Decade Of Graffiti Spirits”, Crewest Gallery, Los Angeles, Ca

2010 “Coin Operated”, The Alternative Café, Monterey Bay, Ca

2009 “Graffiti Spirits”, Crewest Gallery, Los Angeles, Ca

2002 “About Face 2002: An Urban Portrait Collective”, Sebastian’s iZone Art Gallery, Woodland Hills, Ca

2002 “On All Levels” , Gallery A.D., San Jose, Ca

2002 “Man One, Grand Opening”, Crewest Gallery, Alhambra, Ca

2001 "One Man Show", Zyrex, Alhambra, Ca

1998 "Merry Krylon", Man One Art Studio, Alhambra, California

1996 "Baby Food", Purple Gallery, Mar Vista, Ca

1994 “City of Insanity”, 2,000 BC Gallery, Hollywood, Ca

Awards:

2018-19
Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List
Robert F. Sibert Informational Award Honor Book
Orbis Pictus Award Honor Book for Outstanding Nonfiction, NCTE
Junior Library Guild Selection

2012
Honored by the L.A. City Council for my service and excellence as an artist in the City of Los Angeles

2008
Artist Award, Artworx LA (formerly The HeArtProject)
Rivie Award, Artist of the Year, Friends of the Los Angeles River

Art Residencies/Arts Envoys:

2022
U.S. Embassy Nepal, Street Art Project 2022 on Social Inclusion & Equity, Kathmandu & Janakpur, Nepal

2013
Red Bull Studios, London, UK

2011
ICAN Urban Arts Project, Derry-Londonderry, Northern Ireland, UK
U.S. State Department: Speaker and Specialist Grant with U.S. Embassy in Panama

2010
ArtworxLA (formerly the HeArtProject), Los Angeles, Ca

Museum Exhibitions and Institutional Collections:

2023
“Noni Olabisi QEPD” (10’x10’ mural on canvas) acquired by Alta Med Foundation, Montebello, Ca

2021
“25 plus 25”, (online exhibition) Museum of Latin American Art, Long Beach, Ca

2020
“Building Bridges in time of Walls: Chicano/Mexican Art from Los Angeles to Mexico City”, (traveling exhibition),
Museo de las Artes de la Universidad de Guadalajara, Mexico
CECUT (Centro Cultural Tijuana), Mexico

2019
“Building Bridges in time of Walls: Chicano/Mexican Art from Los Angeles to Mexico City” (traveling exhibition),
Centro de las Artes, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
MUPO (Museo de los Pintores Oaxaqueños)

2018
“Building Bridges in time of Walls: Chicano/Mexican Art from Los Angeles to Mexico City”, Museo  de Arte Carrillo Gil, Mexico City, Mexico

2017
“Before the 45th | Action/Reaction in Chicano and Latino Art”, Mexican Cultural Institute, Washington D.C.

2015
“Somewhere Over El Arco Iris; Chicano Landscapes, 1971-2015”, Museum of Latin American Art, Long Beach, Ca

2012
“LA Liber Amicorum”, Getty Research Institute (permanent collection), Los Angeles, Ca

2011
“Street Cred”, Pasadena Museum Of California Art, Pasadena, Ca

2010
Permanent Wine Art Collection , Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.

2009
Calligraffiti Exhibition, Pacific Asia Museum (permanent collection), Pasadena, Ca

2005
“Yo! What Happened to Peace?”, Parco Museum, Tokyo, Japan

1994
“Urban Revisions: Current Projects For The Public Realm”, Museum Of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, Ca
“Bring Your Own”, Santa Monica Museum, Santa Monica, Ca

1993
“Do It”, South Bay Contemporary Museum Of Art, Long Beach, Ca

Professional Affiliations:

Crewest Studio: Co-founder (2014-present)
Artshare LA: Board of Directors (2021-present)
Arterial: Board of Directors (2023-present)

Education: 

Loyola Marymount University­
Los Angeles, California
1989-1993,  BA Degree: Fine Arts
Minor:  Spanish