19 Facts About Levi Ponce

Levi Ponce is an American artist noted for his public portrait murals throughout urban areas of the San Fernando Valley and Southern California.

Levi Ponce attended Cleveland High School and graduated from the high school in 2005.

Levi Ponce studied animation and graphic design at California State University, and received a bachelor's degree in art.

Levi Ponce obtained a bachelor's degree in 2D art with a focus in 3D animation.

Levi Ponce was influenced by his father, Hector Levi Ponce, a sign painter and muralist whose work appears on many storefronts in Pacoima.

Levi Ponce grew up being involved in murals as his father would paint murals, Levi Ponce was inspired to become a muralist thanks to the reaction that his father would receive when his father was done with a mural.

In 2011, Levi Ponce began installing murals on the sides of buildings in poorer neighborhoods of the San Fernando Valley.

Levi Ponce began to paint his first few murals in Pacoima because it is his hometown and Levi Ponce always saw artwork in other neighborhoods, but never in Pacoima.

Levi Ponce uses his art to address issues that impact the Latino community such as liberty, immigration, and the environment.

Levi Ponce is noted for his influence on what has become known as "Mural Mile", a strip of Van Nuys Boulevard in Pacoima once covered in graffiti and defaced storefronts.

Levi Ponce began painting murals along walls facing the street, and was joined by other artists.

All of the murals that Levi Ponce painted on Van Nuys Boulevard, Levi Ponce paid with his own money.

Early in his career, Levi Ponce paid for many of his murals.

Levi Ponce stated that when he began to paint his murals, he only had 3 volunteers, but after his tenth mural he had 70 volunteers.

Canvas works by Levi Ponce have been exhibited at The MACAY in Merida, the Craft and Folk Art Museum in Los Angeles, and at California State University in Northridge.

Levi Ponce painted a mural of Judy Garland in her The Wizard of Oz character near Theatre West, which he still considers unfinished.

Levi Ponce received an honorary lifetime membership thanks to his mural.

In 2015, Levi Ponce was commissioned to paint "Luminaries of Pantheism" for an area in Venice, California that receives over a million onlookers per year.

Levi Ponce's intent was to raise awareness of science, technology, engineering and math education, while presenting an inspiring role model to students.