Gajin Fujita...LA's "finest" graffiti artist

Gajin Fujita's work has strong influences from his graffiti past - Olde English lettering, East Los Angeles tags and stencils. He still uses aerosol, but he has gained a higher level of aesthetic by incorporating his Japanese hertitage and artistic traditions, like gold leaf and Ukiyo-e woodblock designs. He has also gained the establishment's respect through these initials, BFA and MFA.

These are not gang affiliations or graffiti crews Fujita is down with. These credentials are his fine arts education gained from Otis and University of Nevada. With these, Gaijin Fujita has gained entry into exhibtions at Los Angeles Contemporary Museum of Art and Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art in Missouri. He is also represented by LA Louver gallery in Venice, California.

"Made in L.A.," Gajin Fujita (2011)

High Voltage II, Gajin Fujita (2011)

Opposites Attract  What attracted me Fujita's work was his bold graffiti imagery, his strong connection to Los Angeles and the Asian influences. Samuri warriors, geishas, dragons, gold leaf. The juxtaposition of 17th Century Japanese artcraft with 20th Century "K2S" (Kill to Succeed) graffiti tags and letter styles.

Kill 2 Succeed reference book of styles, Big Sleeps and Defer

Take Two  This week, Gajin Fujita was featured in two art shows in Los Angeles. Both shows opened on the same night and I still didn't get to meet the artist. Right place, wrong time?

I got to see his work at the "LA Heat" exhibition, which runs until July 12th at the Chinese American Museum, details below.

LA Heat, Gajin Fujita (2014)

I still need to go see his drawings being exhibited at LA Louver gallery in Venice, CA.

Study for Bewitched, Gajin Fujita

"L.A. Heat" will run through July 12, 2014.
Chinese American Museum, 425 North Los Angeles St., Los Angeles.
www.camla.org.
(Suggested admission is $3 for adults, $2 for seniors 60 and over, and students with ID.)

"Gajin Fujita: Drawings" will run April 26th, 2014
L.A. Louver
45 North Venice Boulevard, Venice, California 90291
Tel: 310.822.4955
www.lalouver.com