los angeles product murals

The painted graphic mural is a long tradition in Mexico and its influence can be seen in hand painted signage adorning the facades of many markets in East and Central Los Angeles. Here the murals are used for commercial purposes in depicting the products being sold inside. The hand painted look and feel of the signs is in contrast to the mass produced products they represent, a mix of corporate product design rendered with the hand of an idiosyncratic painter.

The signs connect the stores to the brand names that the shoppers are familiar and comfortable with, through the signs you become familiar with the staple products of the neighborhood. The murals are also great tools for communicating graphically information that text signage would require English translations, something less accessible in the predominantly Spanish speaking neighborhoods.