Todd Gray Reflects on Los Angeles, Colonialism, and Artistic Voice in Carla Series
Los Angeles artist Todd Gray, in a four-part series for Carla, explores how the city's dynamics and histories influence his artistic creations. Focusing on both local and global narratives, especially the transatlantic slave trade, Gray seeks to "shine a light on colonialism locally." During an interview at his studio in Leimert Park, he described his approach as radial, merging ancestral narratives with cultural elements. His work California Mission, developed two decades ago, heightened his understanding of his heritage. Gray contrasted his experiences in Rome and L.A., praised the supportive community at CalArts for fostering openness, and highlighted how biking helps dismantle class divides. He asserts that artists offer an authentic perspective on life, challenging mainstream historical accounts. The series includes photographs by Zachary Lucas.
Key facts
- Todd Gray is a Los Angeles-born artist known for multilayered photographic objects exploring colonialism and the transatlantic slave trade.
- Gray's studio is located in Leimert Park, a historically Black neighborhood in central Los Angeles.
- Gray created the series California Mission about 20 years ago, focusing on Jesuit-built missions and their impact on Indigenous people.
- He acquired an electric bike in 2017 and rides it to his studio, noting that biking reveals details unseen from a car.
- Gray attended CalArts, where many international students stayed in Los Angeles rather than returning home.
- A wealthy collector once sent a chauffeur-driven Bentley to pick Gray up, an experience that prompted him to question his role in the art world.
- The interview is part of a four-issue series in Carla titled 'Artists in Motion,' featuring photographs by Zachary Lucas.
- Gray believes that architectural space contributes to mental space and that artists provide a more realistic view of life than official histories.
Entities
Artists
- Todd Gray
- Zachary Lucas
Institutions
- Carla
- Contemporary Art Review Los Angeles
- CalArts
Locations
- Los Angeles
- United States
- California
- Leimert Park
- Rome
- Italy
- Mexico
- Africa