Eye Candy featuring new work by New York City graffiti pioneer, LA2 (Angel Ortiz) at Museum of Graffiti

The Museum of Graffiti turns one year old and reveals new works by Angel Ortiz, known by the tag LA II or LA2a New York City veteran of graffiti art, best known for providing the lettering style and embellishments used in Keith Haring's paintings in the 1980s. LA2 came of age in the 1980s when tags adorned the trains, busses and walls of the City and like many kids of that era, he joined the movement and adopted a pseudonym: LA2. By the age of 14, his name permeated the walls of lower Manhattan garnering street fame that led to a chance encounter with another downtown artist, Keith Haring who was 9 years his senior. The two artists became fast friends and began spending their days painting in Harings studio and their nights partying at the downtown clubs. As an impressionable teenager, their friendship changed the artists life forever as he became introduced to Harings impressive art world and its stars: Warhol, Kostabi, and Basquiat. In exchange, LA2 and his TNS crew gave Haring the street cred he needed to navigate the streets with ease to create public art, even on subways, a surface typically reserved for the most daring graffiti writers. Together, LA2 and Haring created hundreds of paintings and traveled the world exhibiting their art. While Haring drew cartoon characters like dogs, babies and other figures, LA2 would add in his style tags, squiggles and bold lines that gave their collaborations extra energy, movement, and a street aesthetic. Tragically, Haring passed away in 1991, devastating LA2 and forcing him to find his own artistic path. For the past three decades LA2 has applied spray paint and ink to canvas, clothing, and various found objects in his unwavering journey to push his personal graffiti pop style. Fluorescent colors rooted in his Puerto Rican heritage, bold lines and tags learned in the streets, and the cartoons as a tribute to his friend Keith, make each painting a sweet piece of candy for your eyes. The energy of the old dance clubs, of the Avenues filled with cars blaring music, and the children who grew up on this street art culture are channeled onto each canvas that explodes with positive energy and life a life of art, color and celebration. This is LA2, this is real graffiti art. Along with several joint exhibitions of his work and Haring's, LA2's own mix of contemporary symbols with graffiti lettering has been shown in galleries and museums across the United States, but the Museum of Graffiti will host the artist's first ever solo exhibition in South Florida. In celebration of its anniversary and LA2s Eye Candy, the Museum of Graffiti will host a sketchbook swap, outdoor drawing party for collectors, artists, and VIPs, by invitation only. LOCATION: Museum of Graffiti | Wynwood 299 NW 25th Street Miami, FL 33127 HOURS: 7 days/week; 11am 7pm TICKET INFORMATION General Admission tickets are $16; Children 13 and under are free. Tickets are available online and include access to all museum exhibitions. To purchase tickets visit our website from your desktop at home or your mobile device, museumofgraffiti.com For further information or tickets, please call 1.785.580.4678, email hey@museumofgraffiti.com or visit www.museumofgraffit.com. ABOUT THE MUSEUM OF GRAFFITI Located in Miamis Wynwood District, the Museum of Graffiti is a leading contemporary art museum dedicated to sharing the power of expression, sparking wonder, and inspiring creativity for and about the graffiti art movement. At the Museum of Graffiti, visitors can explore the history of graffiti in an experiential setting with interactive exhibitions and unique shows. The Museum seeks to honor and preserve the unique art form and to exhibit important works for permanent viewing. Through changing exhibitions and programs, the Museum aims to introduce visitors to the artists, paintings, photos, sculptures, works on paper, and designs that have captivated youth and adults for over fifty years, as well as the environment in which the global art movement formed. # # #