The board was created by Mandoe MaK, a product of Pico Union, an area of downtown LA and home to some of the most violent street gangs. He grew up in the mid-80s in a violent and destructive environment. He was faced with little to no alternatives towards a positive future. Fortunately, LA welcomes and cultivates its hip-hop culture. Fascinated by the music of this era and break-dancing, he fell in love with the art form that came with it. Using spray paint, he became heavily involved in producing murals that adorn his neighborhood and the surrounding areas. In 1989 MOCA added to their permanent collection “Mi Arte Kontrola,” making it the first graffiti art piece purchased by the Museum. MOCA’s curators went on to describe his work as “Highly Stylized hieroglyphic-like composition, bold with affinities to cubism.” Over the years, he has become more analytical in his work … painting with love, passion, pride, rhythm, romance, and flow. Using his life experience as his muse, he paints images which represent the joys, sorrows, triumphs, losses, and pleasures he has lived along the way.

The board is 6' 2".