Ephemeral Views: A Visual Essay By Ronald J. Llanos

Ronald Llanos is a collector of images. He sketches while people watching at a café or navigating the city. Often, these character drawings reappear in self-published ‘zines.’ For Western Station, Llanos proposes to develop a visual narrative that spans the two station platforms like the open pages of a book. From images of large open skies dotted with palm trees and billboards, women walking down the street together carrying shopping bags and pushing baby carriages, a man selling flowers from a pushcart, and teens walking home from school while speaking on cell phones, Llanos will create art panels that draw on the many characters who activate Los Angeles street life.

Artist Statement

“You might call me a ‘visual journalist’ or an ‘urban realist.’ My images are inspired by people, and by places I travel to or frequent. I feel that if I search within myself for that which I find interesting about the places and people of those areas, I might be able to communicate with people across time.”

About the Artist

RONALD J. LLANOS has exhibited regionally at Bamboo Lane Gallery, Ghetto-gloss, Black Maria Gallery, the Eagle Rock Community Center, The Drawing Club and Avenue 50 Studio. He was selected as the artist for the Van Nuys Metro Neighborhood Poster in 2005. Llanos teaches at his alma mater, the Art Center College of Design, where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honors.