Born and raised in east-side San Jose, Sam Rodriguez was attracted to art from a young age. His first real foray into the art world came with adolescent graffiti adventures, but even then, Rodriguez knew he wanted more. At age 25, holding down two jobs while finishing college and with a baby on the way, Rodriguez didn’t have the time or energy to further his art. Luckily, a few years later, artist and friend Aaron De La Cruz invited him to be part of a small art show, reigniting his purpose. Now, Rodriguez has garnered the world’s attention with his symbolism-heavy, typographically jumbled portraits and his unique way of capturing the human form. His work graces the surfaces of international brands such as Puma, Under Armour, and Google. Recently, Rodriguez has taken to putting his work on T-shirts, both to make his work more financially accessible and to honor the cultural forms that first inspired him to make art.
“A lot of my work explores identity in general. It depends on each piece; some pieces are about identity in relation to language or fashion or anything really. It’s not a specific meaning; it’s more like I’m mixing different ingredients to create a new portrait. Sometimes, my work is my interpretation of what’s popular in culture. As a parent, I’m consuming more pop culture than ever, so a lot of my work is my take on what’s happening in the world. But, simultaneously, I don’t really have conclusions in the work I make. It’s more like I’m documenting information around me. In a way, my art is note-taking.”
The tools are few—paint, a brush, a blank wall, and an idea. Yet it is the artistry of working up close while maintaining the integrity of the larger picture that makes murals so fascinating. These transformed walls are portals that can take you to another place, another thought process, another view on life. It is through these modern tapestries that San Jose culture is expressed and defined, inviting viewers to pause to reflect on who we are as a society and what are our ideals. The following are only a few of the many wonderful murals throughout San Jose. (Article originally published in issue 7.5 ” Serve,” 2016)
1.Anno Domini Mural Collage Anno Domini, 366 S. 1st St, San Jose Produced by Anno Domini (2005–2013)
When Anno Domini moved to the SoFA District, they wanted people to be able to find them quickly and to give those unfamiliar with the gallery a hint as to what is inside. This collage of international artists’ murals signals to those entering South First Street that this is where they’ll encounter the most concentrated arts and culture spaces in the city.
(from left to right): Carolyn Ryder Cooley (New York) & Lena Wolff (California); Daniel Jesse Lewis (California); Jessie Rose Vala (New Mexico); David Choe (California); Bruno 9Li (Brazil), Klone (Israel), Adrian Lee (California); Know Hope (Israel)
2. Tribute to Rahsaan Roland Kirk Cafe Stritch, 374 S. 1st St, San Jose Produced by Cafe Stritch (2014)
This three-story mural is a tribute to Rahsaan Roland Kirk, the late jazz legend who often played multiple instruments at once. When Rahsaan Kirk’s widow saw the mural for the first time, it brought her to tears.
Artists: Roger Ourthiague and Chris Anway (California)
3. What You Are, I Once Was Brazilian Blowout Bar, 489 S. Market St, San Jose
Produced by The Exhibition District (2015)
This mural is an homage to California and a commentary on the current drought situation. The hair represents water, and the skull represents scarcity.
Artist: Stephanie Azevedo (San Jose, California)
4. Santo Market 245 E. Taylor St, San Jose Produced by Empire Seven Studios (2014)
John is a sign painter who specializes his fine artwork within a semi-impressionistic style, using an Italian Renaissance color palette. His subject matter includes surreal images of monsters and parodies of Old Masters paintings. This image is a parody of the iconic Japanese woodblock print The Great Wave off Kanagawa.
Artist: John Barrick (San Jose, California)
5. Fountain Alley Mural: Phylum of the Free Lido Night Club, 30 S. 1st St, San Jose Produced by Phantom Galleries and San Jose Downtown Association (2015)
This piece speaks to the idea of learning to cohabit as technology progresses and to the determination that it takes to exist and push forward.
Artist: Jeffrey Hemming (San Jose, California)
6. Little Moment, Nichi Bei Bussan, 140 Jackson St, San Jose Produced by Empire Seven Studios (2015)
This urban contemporary piece is left to the audience’s interpretation. It allows different people to connect on different levels by going beyond just one story or theme, encouraging viewers to use their imagination to open up numerous narratives and ideas.
Artist: NoseGo (Pennsylvania)
7. Homage, Chevron, 135 E. Santa Clara St, San Jose Produced by Anno Domini and San Jose Downtown Association (2005)
This mural is a tribute to John Carlos and Tommie Smith’s famous black power salute at the 1968 Olympics.
Artists: Paul Ulrich and Chris Duncan (California)
8. SoFA The Studio, 396 S. 1st St, San Jose Produced by SVCreates (formerly 1stAct) and SoFA District (2009)
This mural depicts the eclectic offerings of the SoFA area.
