[NoHo Arts District, CA] – If you’ve passed by the Chandler Outdoor Gallery you may have seen local NoHo artist Katie Sunderalingam’s latest mural. Our NoHo Artist Feature is a way to highlight the visual artists who call NoHo home.
The NoHo Arts District is just one-square mile but what we do in this one-square-mile makes us a vibrant and creative neighborhood. Although we are known for our performing arts, visual artists make up a significant portion of our community. Our NoHo Artist Feature series hopes to encourage local establishments to incorporate more art and murals on their walls and open their doors to more art events.
We had a virtual chat with Katie Sunderalingam so you can get to know her better.
Tell us a bit about your background, Katie.
I was born and raised just outside of London to a Sri Lankan father and British mother. I have made stuff from day one, encouraged by my textile artist mum! I studied art throughout school and then honed in on set design for my degree. That brought me to LA to work in film and commercial production, while also creating large and small-scale public art, licensable art for stationery, greeting cards and home decor.
How would you describe your art?
I like to focus on flowing movement and persnickety details in my art! Mostly capturing the essence of natural subject matter, then abstracting it using lines and over-emphasized shapes to convey movement. I love painting, but like lots of artists, really enjoy dabbling with an array of other mediums to get ideas out of my brain!
You’ve done many murals, a few in North Hollywood too. Where’s your latest mural and how did you pick the subject?
My latest mural is on Chandler Blvd. as part of the Chandler Outdoor Gallery. It was an epic undertaking on the largest and most challenging building to date. The brick building is home to the Bureau of Street Services, who requested a design that honored native flowers and plants, with a sense of flowing water.
10801 Chandler Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91601
Do you have a favorite piece (s) – artwork and or mural?
One of my favorite murals is at the front of North Hollywood treasure, Leonor’s vegetarian Mexican restaurant. Leonor’s has been a safe haven for myself and lots of friends and colleagues, so getting to spend extra time there while brightening the building was such a special experience.
My next favorite is a utility box in Studio City, which through the process of painting, I unlocked a tiny bit of the fear associated with painting the way I actually want to, so a special one for a different reason.
What are you working on now?
I am currently designing some interior murals for a restaurant in South LA, while getting some designs out of my head and onto paper to pitch for further public and residential projects.
What do you like about living in the NoHo Arts District?
Through working on public art in NOHO, I have had the opportunity to get to know other artists living and working in the area. Their commitment to ensuring this area supports local artists has spurred me on in my efforts to do the same. After working independently for a long time, the artist community has made me feel part of something.
What would you like to see more of in the NoHo Arts District?
I would love to see more businesses embracing the positive impact of public art, and more opportunities for the creatives in NOHO to converse with the community to bring creative collaborations to the area. I would also like to see greater ease in the process of working with the city as a freelance artist to get projects off the ground.
You can find Katie
https://www.katieswork.com
@kitty_coles_designs
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If you are a visual artist living in the NoHo Arts District or North Hollywood, or if you know someone who we should feature, please fill out this quick form and we will take it from there.