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Anthony Padilla has been spray painting murals since 1995. He snagged his first job at a bar in Citrus Heights after illegally painting a monkey on the back of the building with the word “Knucklehead.”

Anthony Padilla has been spray painting murals since 1995. He snagged his first job at a bar in Citrus Heights after illegally painting a monkey on the back of the building with the word “Knucklehead.”

The business owner was so frustrated when volunteers painted over Padilla’s work that he hunted the young artist down and hired him to create murals first on the back and then on the front of the building.

The business owner was so frustrated when volunteers painted over Padilla’s work that he hunted the young artist down and hired him to create murals first on the back and then on the front of the building.

Padilla has been questioned about his art by the police, had his portfolio confiscated and was even investigated by the FBI.

Padilla has been questioned about his art by the police, had his portfolio confiscated and was even investigated by the FBI.

When asked if the perception of graffiti art has softened since then, he pauses before tentatively responding, “A little bit. Obviously vandalism is wrong, but then there’s also the art side of [graffiti]. I think when you see writing on a wall, it shows that there is life in that city.”

When asked if the perception of graffiti art has softened since then, he pauses before tentatively responding, “A little bit. Obviously vandalism is wrong, but then there’s also the art side of [graffiti]. I think when you see writing on a wall, it shows that there is life in that city.”

Padilla is responsible for the block-long Sacramento Kings mural on R and 16th streets, the murals on the front and back of Hot Italian on Q and 16th streets, as well as his recently completed mural, entitled “Look Deeper,” outside the Warehouse Artist Lofts on 12th Street.

Padilla is responsible for the block-long Sacramento Kings mural on R and 16th streets, the murals on the front and back of Hot Italian on Q and 16th streets, as well as his recently completed mural, entitled “Look Deeper,” outside the Warehouse Artist Lofts on 12th Street.

When creating public art, Padilla says he uses the surrounding environment to create new experiences.

When creating public art, Padilla says he uses the surrounding environment to create new experiences.

For “Look Deeper,” which plays with the idea of a concrete jungle, Padilla accomplished his goal by “matching the yellow sidewalk and extending it into the perspective lines, which directs the viewer into the scene,” he says.

For “Look Deeper,” which plays with the idea of a concrete jungle, Padilla accomplished his goal by “matching the yellow sidewalk and extending it into the perspective lines, which directs the viewer into the scene,” he says.

“To me it means to look deeper into politics to find truth, into nature to unlock its secrets or to look deeper into yourself to find the real you.”

“To me it means to look deeper into politics to find truth, into nature to unlock its secrets or to look deeper into yourself to find the real you.”

The Law of Art

On the streets with graffiti artist and muralist Anthony Padilla

Back SNAP Jun 5, 2015 By Allison Joy

 

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