Vandalizing History: Nehemiah Cisneros's Ghetto Mythologies.

Nehemiah Cisneros is an artist based in Los Angeles who creates paintings that combine elements of European Renaissance and Baroque compositions with graphic aesthetics from skateboard graphics, graffiti, and underground comics. He describes his work as "vandalizing art history" and refers to it as "ghetto mythologies." Cisneros incorporates figures from Indian, Tibetan, and Greek mythology, as well as biomechanical extraterrestrials, into his paintings set in familiar streets of Los Angeles. His work explores the intersection of built infrastructure, memory, and ideology. Cisneros draws inspiration from his childhood spent in his mother's vintage store and his love for comic books, toys, and cartoons. He aims to challenge the perception of Black men and their interests, which are often overlooked or marginalized. Cisneros' paintings also address historical and social issues, such as the Rodney King uprising and the erasure of Black history. His work reimagines and recontextualizes European Masters' compositions to shed light on the legacy of slavery and colonialism. Through his art, Cisneros aims to create a new form of history that incorporates personal experiences, family traditions, and collective memory. [Extracted from the article]