Chaz Bojórquez has been acknowledged as a pioneer and “Godfather” of East Los Angeles “cholo”-style graffiti for over 50 years. From an early age, Bojórquez was exposed to the uses, values, and craft of East Los Angeles graffiti, a tradition since WWII. In 1969, he created a tag that represented himself and the streets — a stylized skull called “Señor Suerte” (Mr. Lucky), which was adopted as a gangster tattoo image, symbolizing protection from death. His iconic brush-painted lettering adorns textiles in the fashion world as well as canvas in museums, galleries, and collections worldwide.

BEYOND THE STREETS Los Angeles, 2018. Photo by Beau Roulette.