Artwork Detail

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The Believers

Artist: Strickland, Floyd

Object Date: 2021

Medium: Oil on canvas

Imperial Dims: Framed: 84 x 72 in.

Department(s): Mental Health

Supervisorial District: 2

About the Artwork:

Floyd Strickland’s The Believers, The Teacher, and The Dreamers celebrate the Watts/Willowbrook neighborhood and the rich culture and history of the people who have lived there for generations and are represented both in the paintings and the wallpaper mural. Strickland collaborated with current residents of the area to collect family photos dating back to the 1940s that he used as source material for the artwork imagery. The embrace between two figures in The Believers symbolizes strength and unity and illustrates the importance of young women as the community continues to flourish. The Teacher demonstrates the significance of the matriarchal figure as a shared cultural experience for community members. The Dreamers depicts the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr.'s “dream” for America and presents a new generation of children who have the potential to expand on his hope for equality. 

About the Artist:

Floyd Strickland is a multidisciplinary artist from Los Angeles, CA. Drawing inspiration from his childhood environment, Strickland often uses realistic figures that are juxtaposed with cartoons, creating dream-like paintings. Strickland’s work is influenced by the work of many classical painters. Early on, inspired by contemporary pop art, Strickland worked primarily with acrylics, creating larger portraits of celebrities. He has transitioned into mainly working with oil. His paintings explore his childhood and the struggles of growing up in Watts in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Strickland’s work is often filled with symbolism that refers back to the tragedies of a lost childhood.