MEAR ONE is a DISRUPTOR in the world of fine arts; his work calls on viewers to think beyond the canvas. MEAR ONE has been at the forefront of LA’s graffiti and mural culture for nearly four decades, earning his status as a pioneer of the Melrose graffiti art movement in the late 80s and one of the city’s most prolific public muralists. His works’ powerful narratives juxtapose philosophy, ancient mythology, and modern politics to inspire an evolved consciousness, achieved through a balanced dialogue between surrealism and metaphysics. MEAR ONE helps us envision the sublime spirit of our time—not by escaping reality, but by confronting it head-on.

MEAR ONE (Kalen Ockerman) was the first graffiti artist to exhibit at the infamous 01 Gallery on Melrose, as well as at 33 1/3 Gallery in Silverlake, where Banksy would later debut his first North American show. MEAR ONE’s work was part of the landmark 2011 Art in the Streets exhibition at the MOCA Los Angeles, Street Cred at the Pasadena Museum of California Art, and Last Thursday at the Orlando Museum of Fine Art. His artworks reside in the permanent collection of the Laguna Fine Art Museum as well as in numerous private collections across North America.

DISRUPT the Fowler: DISRUPT is a UCLA student design organization that aims to establish inclusive spaces and create opportunities for students of all backgrounds to engage in creative collaborations. The Fowler is honored to partner with DISRUPT to offer programs that break down barriers in the art world, and promote innovative ideation through inclusivity, diversity, equity, and accessibility.

Image credit: MEAR ONE (b. 1971, Santa Cruz, CA); New World Revolution, 2013; Courtesy of the artist