Form and Power: Black Murals in Los Angeles

Vision and Motion

Elliott Pinkney’s Vision and Motion was a depiction of racial unity and pride between African American, Hispanic, and Asian American communities in Los Angeles. Originally painted on one of the sides at The Community Youth Sports and Arts Foundation building located in Crenshaw, this vibrant mural offered representation to people of color that indicated success through unified change in the past and the present. Vision and Motion gives an ode to important contributors of social justice and cultural representation. Such contributors were Malcom X and Cesar Chavez and popular culture icons such as Magic Johnson and Sammy Lee. Other than important figures, Vision and Motion alludes to historic symbolism, including the flag of the United Farm Workers.

Vision and Motion was commissioned by the Social and Public Art Resource Center (SPARC) in 1993 in efforts to promote cultural pride and unity in Los Angeles neighborhoods that had high populations of African Americans and Hispanics. Pinkney was dedicated to visualizing SPARC’s mission through his art when visitors walked by the building. He was especially dedicated to inspiring the neighborhood youth to be as prideful and dedicated as the figures on the mural since they are the “future of the next generation.” Pinkney encourages this through recognizable popular culture among youth and depictions of athletes that are of color. While the mural has now been painted over and no longer visible due to the Metro Crenshaw expansion, the mural’s significance will continue to be remembered through Los Angeles locals and the community of Crenshaw.

Written by Naomi Ramos Benitez, c/o ‘24

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