Muralist, painter and illustrator Andrew Schoultz stood on a ladder outside Guerrero Gallery in Eagle Rock, painting a mural in preparation for two of his exhibits: “Artificial Horizons, in Real Time,” a solo showcase, and “Domestic Views in F Sharp,” a collaborative work with artists Brad Bernhardt, a sculptor and painter, and Alejandro DePass, a furniture maker.
Schoultz is currently represented by three galleries: Hosfelt Gallery in San Francisco, Halsey McKay Gallery in New York, and Galerie Droste in Düsseldorf. He said he enjoyed art from a young age and that he began his career by painting murals.
“I was really into comic books growing up,” Schoultz said. “I was doing a lot of graffiti for quite a while and that is what made me have a natural transition into doing a lot of mural work.”
Schoultz said his public art garnered attention when he was a student, kick-starting his career.
“I was going to art school, but started to naturally paint murals in the streets of San Francisco around 1999, 2000,” Schoultz said. “People took notice of that, and then a lot of opportunities to show indoors at a gallery came up.”
While living in San Francisco, Schoultz said that he frequently traveled to LA to create and display his art. He said that upon moving to LA with his wife, he had a smooth transition to becoming a larger part of the artistic scene.
“For the previous 10 years, I was spending upwards of a month or two down here doing projects,” Schoultz said. “It felt like a pretty natural move for us, because already we knew a lot of people down here, we were already a part of the art community.”
Guerrero Gallery owner Andres Guerrero said he is a longtime friend of Schoultz and has witnessed the progression of his career.
“We first worked together about 18 years ago. We did a two-person show,” Guerrero said. “To come back and revisit that now, here in LA where we both live, is something very special.”
Guerrero said he is grateful for the mentorship that Schoultz has provided him.
“I think I was like a fledgling, and he really did take me under his wing,” Guerrero said. “He showed me a lot and introduced me to a lot of different artists. He helped me discover who I am.”
Schoultz said he has continued creating both public and gallery art. He said he finds it imperative to consider the variations in his audience when planning his work.
“They’re very different environments. The people who go [to] a gallery choose to see art, whereas when you’re painting in public, it’s for a more diverse audience,” Schoultz said.
Regardless of the venue, Schoultz said he often centers his work around political messages.
“When I was younger, it was a lot more anti-establishment politics. As I’ve grown older, a lot of my politics have to do with people’s mental well-being,” Schoultz said.
Assistant Professor of Art & Art History Jose Sanchez said that students following various paths can benefit from creating or viewing art. Sanchez said he recommends that they explore the local art scene.
“So many disciplines can utilize creative practice in their own ways,” Sanchez said. “I think in some ways art is important because it gives another lens on what’s happening in the world and how folks are feeling, but it also proposes possibilities.”
Guerrero said that he praises Schoultz’s work ethic and that he hopes visitors to Schoultz’s exhibits will take away a personal message.
“I hope that people that come and visit the show are able to connect to the work and its level of intensity and associate that with their worlds,” Guerrero said.
Schoultz said some of the pieces in the show are eight years in the making, and that he likes the way all the pieces interact. He said he views progression as a valuable aspect of his career.
“Being an artist, it’s a learning process where you’re challenging yourself all the time. And then as you challenge yourself and you learn more and more, then finally you get to a place where it all comes to fruition,” Schoultz said.
Contact Diana Trutia at trutia@oxy.edu
