The mission of the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture is to advance arts, culture, and creativity throughout LA County. We fulfill our mission by providing services and support in areas including grants and technical assistance for nonprofit organizations; professional development opportunities; commissioning civic artworks and managing the County’s civic art collection; implementing countywide arts education initiatives; research and evaluation; career pathways in the creative economy; free community programs; and cross sector creative strategies that address civic issues. This work is framed by the County’s Cultural Equity and Inclusion Initiative and a longstanding commitment to fostering access to the arts.
Gregory Siff paints icons of things that make people happy. For this mural he interviewed staff and patients on the pediatric floor of the medical center. He painted favorite foods, sports teams, places and more. He also depicted healthy symbols like nutritional snacks and exercise. The mural was a donation through the Art of Elysium VIEW (Visual Imagery and Environmental Wellness) Program which brings art, music and drama into the hospital to benefit children with serious illnesses. Research has shown that art can help speed the healing process and makes the hospital experience less stressful. Art of Elysium brings well known street artists into the hospital to create art that speaks to children and adolescents.
About the Artist:
Artist Gregory Siff was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1977. He lives and works in Los Angeles. His distinct emotionalism style merges unique elements of abstraction, pop, and action painting. His artworks are included in Swizz Beatz’s The Dean Collection, Deitch Projects, Santa Monica Museum of Art, Siren Studios, Moscow Museum of Art and in the Google HQ Collection, to name a few. Gregory has become one of the most prolific and exciting forces in the LA contemporary art scene. Most notably, his work was included in the Museum of Modern Art PS1 exhibition Rockaway! to celebrate the post Super-storm Sandy recovery. The show, curated by MoMA PS1’s director, Klaus Biesenbach along with the Honolulu Biennial, included the “Experience Rooms” which Gregory painted in the Rockaway Beach Surf Club bathrooms alongside works by Marina Abramovic and Tom Sachs. His past work include a mural for non-profit The Art of Elysium’s auction with Christie’s auction house at ACE Museum. Interview Magazine called that 12 x 40 foot painting of the over 75 donating artist’s likeness “Epic.” He was selected by Vans Custom Culture to be one of their “Art Ambassadors” inspiring students across the United States to embrace their creativity. His hand painted custom Vans Sneakers were on view at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City. Siff also collaborated with Helmut Lang and Project Angel Food, a Los Angeles based charity whose mission is to help those affected by HIV/AIDS, cancer and diabetes. All of his hand painted limited-edition tees sold out and 100% of the proceeds benefitted the cause. His recent exhibitions include "Portrait of an American Ice Cream Man," 4AM Gallery (2016), “Walls,” Pacific Design Center (2015); Scope: Miami (2012); “Matter of Time,” Gallery Brown (2012), “There & Back,” Siren Studios x The Art Reserve (2012). He has done commissions and installations for Mercedes-Benz, Marc Jacobs, Vogue, The Standard, Bonham’s, Sotheby’s, Red Bull, Pyer Moss and Warner Bros. Records. His work has been seen in magazines such as Andy Warhol’s Interview, Treats!, The Wall Street Journal, Flaunt, The Los Angeles Times, LA Weekly and has done the cover of LA Canvas, Fabrik and Quiet Lunch. The Santa Monica Museum of Art showcased a recreation of Siff’s Downtown LA studio in 2014 where he painted portraits of the homeless youth he encountered while spending the day at Safe Place for Youth. Also in 2014 and 2015, Siff exhibited in the group exhibition Incognito at SMMoA.
