NOT YER MISSO
EXHIBITING WORKS
2026 The Hive Gallery - Celebrating Angeleno Life
On View March 7th-28th
Curated by Michael Rababy
My parents moved to LA when I was 4 or 5 years old. I have lived in many pockets of the city since. As a visual artist photography has been my primary medium since 2019. Here are some memories between 2021 - 2025.
“Poolhouse" (Beverly Hills) - 2021
5” x 7” self-portrait, digital print, artist signed
Home hasn't always been the most happy nor supportive environment for me. I spent my later teenage years and early 20s being nomadic or crashing at friends' family homes. On two occasions, once in 2017 & 2021, a family friend's poolhouse offered sanctuary during uncertain times. I would often spend hours escaping my troubles in their pool. I find it funny how pools are often unused in SoCal residences. A poolhouse will always be a symbol of asylum and a frustrating "in betweenness" that I come across even now.
I enjoy playful editing for self-portraits.
“Sunsets with Ebony Beach Club"
(Dockweiler Beach) - 2022
5” x 7” digital print from C41 color negative, artist signed
I spent the first half of the pandemic in England. Before I embraced the wild world of Tiktok, I was keeping tabs on movements in LA via Instagram. As a surfer, I came across a group of activists in 2020 led by Justin "Brick" Howze called Ebony Beach Club. I was really impressed by their ability to teach forgotten history, organize community and offer accessibility to a rather expensive, turfy sport. In 2022 I got the opportunity to experience the EBC beach parties and negotiate a collaboration for my wine client by walking right up to Brick mid-party and saying hello.
It's always beautiful and rare in LA to see multiple generations in one public gathering outside of weddings, malls, stadiums and academic celebrations. Maybe during the summer everyone has the bandwidth to rally and spend time with each other by the sea. There were surfers, motorcycle uncs, women dancing, people playing hilarious beach games, DJs spinning tunes...all by Dockweiler Beach. Hundreds, possibly thousands of people at any one of these gatherings. This photograph features Brick and Lexi conversing while going back-to-back on the decks during sunset at an EBC gathering during the summer. of 2022.
“Birthday Boyz Celebrating at Zebulon" - 2023
8” x 10” digital print from C41 color negative,
artist signed
I had a roommate in Mar Vista whose friend circle was massive and dressed similarly (70s-inspired or blue-collar mimicking, heavily accessorized). They were always hanging out all over town and it was always someone's band's show or someone's birthday. Someone is always smoking a cig or hitting their vape. I was cat sitting up the road from Zebulon and was begged to come out by the subject in the left half of the photo. Zebulon's rather fun when you're in a good mood, with the right friends, hopefully enjoying a fun show or eventually dancing around inside. The patio is an adult recess yard with scattered friend groups and an inane collection of Virco school chairs. I shot this with a point and shoot while these two were mid-convo. It was both of their birthdays.
“Safely from Lahaina" (Antelope Valley) - 2023
18” x 12” Fuji Crystal Archival Paper, artist-signed, study-piece
I wanted to feature this print in this show because the photograph itself reminds me of the memory of glee seeing an endless sea of orange poppies. I urged the subject to run around and twirl just in case we never get to do it again. The wind was a delightful and adds even more whimsy to this moment. Everytime I see orange poppies pop up around the freeways I'm reminded of seasonality in the city.
I took this roll of film in my camera to finish shooting in Maui. Immediately upon leaving Lahaina I had realized I forgot this roll of film in my hotel room and housekeeping didn't seem to notice any roll laying around. In August Lahaina was ransacked by brutal fires. Somehow, despite all the chaos and devastation, housekeeping had in fact found my mia roll of film, kept it safe through the fires, and mailed it back to me once after the fires passed. I think Lahaina and LA share fire trauma, and I find this roll rather miraculous. Slightly nervous anytime it's windy outside.
“Toothgemz in the street at restaurant" (Melrose Hill) - 2025
4.25" x 3.35" Fujifilm Instax Wide, artist signed, one-of-one
My friend Ashante lent me her Fuji Instax Wide for a project last year. It has been my go-to format for shooting restaurant openings, artist salons and gatherings. I really love the black frames and hoping to
contribute a range of Angeleno sights to a series called Night Owl. I photographed this at Chainsaw Café's opening night in Melrose Hill. It was a fiesta en la calle. Here, one of the chefs gets a tooth gem from Nicole's (ig @dollstruck.esthetics) mobile setup.
Thank Yous: The LAPL Media Lab associates have been supporting my creative endeavors in the last year and I am forever grateful to them. As well as Mrs. Kim at New Gajoo Frame on Olympic Blvd. for being a helping hand when I came frantically knocking, very last minute. They are some of the many highlights to thw wonderful world of Koreatown.