The artwork, titled “Graffiti in Los Angeles,” was created in 2008 by the artist Blek le Rat. It is part of the street art movement and falls within the genres of graffiti and figurative art.
The artwork features two distinct stenciled images on a wooden surface. On the left side, there is a striking monochrome portrait of a man’s face, with the word “OBEY” stenciled in white on the black portion of the portrait. The man appears to have a contemplative expression, and the sharp contrast between the black and white elements accentuates the facial features. On the right side, another stencil depicts a classical figure, reminiscent of an angel or deity, playing a violin. The figure is rendered in a similar monochromatic style, standing in stark opposition both in subject matter and positioning to the large portrait on the left. The weathered wooden backdrop adds texture and depth to the composition, blending the contemporary and historical references in a unified visual statement.
