Southern California Artist and Muralist
Born in Long Beach California, Art Mortimer can be attributed to one of the originators of the mural art movement in Los Angeles. His first mural was painted in 1971 on the side of his house in Santa Monica. His murals totalling almost 100 now through out the US give us a historical view through his masterful techniques as a master artist and muralist. His work has transformed rather bleak looking buildings and structures into eye catching wonderments for all to enjoy. Some of his 
murals have taken on a grandeur style of art measuring up to 300’ long like the mural in Long Beach depicting its diverse history or like the 4 story mural in downtown Santa Monica about the famous beach. On Fairfax Ave you can take in the history of the Jewish community in Los Angeles. From buildings to walls and even door ways, murals transform the concrete jungles of the cities into a world of beauty and awe. The Long Beach Mural, all 300’ feet of wall was completed in approximately five months.
Art Mortimer has lead the way with “Murals in a Day” projects throughout California with the help of artists willing to apply their own talents to help build communities to attract visitors. Some of the Mural in a Day projects are Flora and Fauna of the Lompoc Valley painted by a group of volunteer artists. While Art lays out the design and mixes all the colours to be used the artists enjoy a day of utilizing their skills to transform a wall of brick into a painting depicting the local flora and fauna in the valley. Another Mural in a Day project titled Lompoc’s Great Floral Flag was painted in one day with the help of fifteen volunteer artists. Art is the director behind these projects who instructs the artists on their journey to create a vision for their community. The Great Floral Flag commemorates the planting of seeds by a local company as a patriotic gesture for World War Two. Clients of Art Mortimer’s include towns, cities, non profit organizations, private individuals, or businesses. Once the project is completed he then turns it over to the client and it becomes their responsibility in the upkeep and maintenance of the commissioned piece of art.
Art Mortimer has won several awards for his outstanding work he has given to communities for his dedication and achievements as a Master Artist and Muralist. Included in his achievements is the Artist of the Year Award given by the City of Long Beach California in 2004 and the 1996 design award for Villa Alamitos mural done in Trompe l’Oeil style on a free standing building. This unique piece of art transformed this rather ordinary building into a three dimensional masterpiece with fake windows and doors that are opened into an inside courtyard. To make this look more realistic, shrubbery and stairs along with archways and mouldings were added to the illusion.
“The Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum Mural in Long Beach was the most difficult to complete. It took almost nine months and is on all four sides of a 2-1/2 story building, so it is very large and the logistics were very complicated. And also the design, although looking fairly simple, had a lot of very specific details, colors, and shapes that all came together to form the illusion” says Art.
I had asked Art which Mural was his favourite: “Usually my latest mural is my favourite. But looking back, however, I think that the James DeBarth Shorb Mural in Alhambra and the Helms Truck History Mural in Culver City are two of my all-time favourites from the past. The Alhambra mural because it is very beautifully designed and painted, and the colors are very rich and inviting. The Culver City mural because it plays with illusion and history in the same piece and integrates them in an intriguing and convincing way that also relates to its surroundings” says Art.
Among his busy schedule Art also teaches landscape painting and mural painting at Loyola Marymount University among other styles of art. He has also taught at a number of other schools and held workshops around the community. His work has been the subject of pictorial displays in newspapers and magazines as well has been featured on television and films across the States and many countries around the world.
Art Mortimer now resides in West Los Angeles.
Below is a handful of Art Mortimer’s work.
Villa Alamitos, Long Beach California … December 1995
Before picture: showing a rather bleak picture of the building
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This same building done in Trompe l’Oeil style gives this building an illusion that tricks the eye.
Observing this building certainly gives you the impression that what you see is reality.
27’ x 119’
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Upland Waiting Station, Upland California… April 2008
Mural depicting the Story of the trolley line once used in Upland California.
7’ x 43’
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Unity by the Sea, Santa Monica California… November 2005
A mural in the entranceway of a church which overlooked the bluffs
8’ x 25’
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Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum, Long Beach California… August 2009
This mural encompasses all four sides of the building for this tranquil setting of swaying palm trees from Micronesia.
A very complex project completed in nine months.
26.5’ x 200’
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Main Street, Santa Paula California… November 1998
A mural paying tribute to Santa Paula’s Main Street plus other notable landmarks around the town
18’ x 71’
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South Park Mural…Billings Montana…September 1996
This Mural pays homage to life in and around Billings Montana
10’ x 160’
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Helms Truck History, Los Angeles…August 2004
This mural depicts a fleet of trucks that were once were used by the Helms Bakery at this location.
Everything you see in this mural is an Illusion done in Trompe l’oeil style except for the entrance doorway and the railings.
Even the awning is part of the illusion which fooled me.
15’ x 83’
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Lompoc’s Great Floral Flag, Lompoc California…August 1999
A “Mural in a Day” Project commemorating a huge flag planted by one of the local seed companies.
This was a patriotic gesture for World War Two
12.5′ x 42′
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To see more of Art Mortimer’s Murals and Fine Art go to http://www.artmortimer.com/
All pictures used with permission by the artist.
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