Venice Portraits: Legends and Locals

With basic materials, charcoal and reclaimed cardboard, this vibrant series captures the spirit of Venice Beach through portraits and scenes that honor its icons, past and present. Beloved street performers like Harry Perry and Pino fill the boardwalk with music, while film pioneers Roger Corman and Arnold Schwarzenegger left their marks on local history. The sands, surf, and palms frame both memory and myth. Today, emerging voices like Noella Jung carry that legacy forward—championing sustainability through beach cleanups, sharing her music with the community, and ultimately creating an art studio to unite these works. Together, these portraits celebrate Venice as a living canvas of culture.