Artist Terrick Gutierrez designs a holiday-themed t-shirt to support Spark of Love toy drive [Video]

SOUTH CENTRAL, LOS ANGELES (KABC) — Terrick Gutierrez is a LA-based interdisciplinary artist, creative technologist, activist, and storyteller whose work is deeply rooted in his upbringing and community.

Growing up in South Central Los Angeles, Terrick discovered drawing at an early age as a means of self-expression and escape. As a young Black male navigating the complexities of his environment, art became a tool for storytelling and connection.

“My work just speaks about growing up here, the interpersonal connections we have. Really talking about the built environment and the influences it has on us,” said Gutierrez.

ABC7 partnered with Smile South Central to identify Gutierrez to design our Spark of Love t-shirt this year.

For one of his previous public housing projects, Gutierrez recalled, “I would clean my paint brushes off and paper towels and I would see layers and layers of color and paint and texture and realize that I wanted to do something with that.”

Beyond his housing project …