Homeboy Art Academy strives to extend the mission of providing hope, training, and support to formerly gang-involved and previously incarcerated youth and adults, by securing a space in which the arts can be the central modality to healing and transformation.

SOMOS (We Are) originates from a declaration within the gang subculture — a call to stand firm with pride and dignity in our representation of communal identities and beliefs. In this exhibition, twelve LA artists reclaim and celebrate the culture as a testament to the anchor provided by our Pintores Maestros. These master artists have tirelessly upheld a cultural movement across generations, fostering a lasting legacy in our communities.

We continue to challenge the labels that seek to dictate what art is or how it is created. These art forms reflect more than technique, they represent deeply embedded personal narratives. Art, for us, is a mirror held up to our audience, eradicating the invisibility that has long persisted.

–Curator Fabian Debora

Featured artists include: Showz Art, Onni Arte, Fabian Debora, Ricardo Estrada, Jesse Fregozo, Ariana Melendez, Megumi Nakazawa, Rick Ortega, Giovanni Rubio, Obed Silva, Tonantzin, and Esmeralda Villarreal