Pat Riot’s “The Problematique” condom wall sculpture showcases the futility of humankind’s rapid pursuit of perfection. The piece is emblematic of many of Riot’s recurring themes: out-of-control capitalism, short-termism, and over-population and destruction of the planet. Riot’s multimedia oeuvre consists of epoxied puzzles, bubblegum, collage, Lego installations, paintings, and other mashups of Americana. The self-described “non-media-specific” artist has been showing his work since 1996, with his nom de guerre as a play on the word “patriot.”

BEYOND THE STREETS Los Angeles, 2018. Photo by Brent Broza.