Los Angeles artist Patrick Martinez turns stucco, neon, tile, and cinder block into landscapes that carry the weight of history, conflict, and everyday life. In this short documentary for the Hammer Museum exhibition Made in L.A. 2025, he reflects on what it means to “add to the conversation” as an artist rooted in East Los Angeles.
Speaking about land, displacement, and state violence, Martinez connects the streets of Los Angeles to global struggles, from immigration raids and family separation to the war in Gaza. His large scale paintings and sculptural walls draw on corner store signage, graffiti, and everyday architecture, freezing fleeting scenes that many people pass without noticing.
The works in this video hold the tension between conflict and the desire for peace. Martinez paints the frictions of the present while imagining a future where life can be more at ease. The result is a body of work that documents where we are right now and still leaves room for hope.
This video is part of the Hammer Museum series for Made in L.A. 2025, the seventh edition of the museum exhibition that highlights artists working throughout the greater Los Angeles area, curated by Essence Harden and Paulina Pobocha.