In a city obsessed with greatness in baseball, basketball, and soccer; there’s an artist bringing on-field and court events to the streets. Gustavo Zermeño Jr. is an artist and muralist, but he is not your regular kind. He immortalizes the spirit of LA sports in massive, photorealistic portraits that have turned neighborhood walls into a large-scale spectacle celebrating athletes and icons.
With over 71,000 followers on Instagram, Zermeño has become the visual voice of LA. His work beautifies the walls near Dodger Stadium, the Lakers’ home turf, and countless community spaces
throughout South Central LA. But something makes his approach different; he crafts a conversation between sports and place, not just fan art.
He wrote in an Instagram post:
“A big reason why I create murals is to connect with people. Art allows me to explore different neighbourhoods and different cultures in a way I’ve only experienced through painting.”
Zermeño’s work over the years tells the story of a city in love with its heroes. The Dodgers legend murals near San Fernando capture the raw emotion of postseason glory. His Lakers pieces celebrate decades of winning culture. Beyond LA’s traditional sports, he has painted tributes for PSG, created pieces celebrating international football, and collaborated with everyone from the California Science Centre to local youth programs.
Each piece of his art is detailed, and you can tell that so much thought went into it. The bright colors, accents, background scenery and entire artistry give a visual effect that draws you in. After the Dodgers won the World Series recently, it gave him an idea to draw one of his murals based on that. And from it,
he pieced together every major moment that happened during the game. We can say, he is just drawing like every artist, but when you look closely, he weaves words, emotions, experiences and scenes into the beautiful art we see on the streets of LA.
What sets Zermeño apart is how he weaponizes his artistic skill for a bigger cause, which is civic pride. He understands that in Los Angeles, athletes and celebrities are the modern heroes. They’re the people who inspire the younger generation in South LA to dream bigger.
Walking through the neighborhoods where he paints, Zermeño immerses himself in the community. He meets with locals, trades stories, and creates work that belongs to the place and tells its story. Some of his street art can be seen from a sporting lens, as he uses the universal language of athletics to bring people together.
As Los Angeles constantly chases the next championship, medal or success story, Zermeño’s murals serve as a reminder that sports thrive in the community beyond the game. It also defines the city and showcases the talent it builds and owns. Just like every metropolis in the world, LA is a beautiful place. With Zermeño’s murals, it just got 10x more beautiful. Not just for the art but for the stories that are shared through it.
Follow @gz.jr on Instagram to see his latest murals and community projects celebrating LA’s sporting legacy….
