[NoHo Arts District, CA] – This month’s LA Art artist spotlight features Ramsess: The Artist Who Builds Community Through Creativity.
When you think of an artist, you might picture someone solitary, lost in their craft. But for Ramsess, art is about connection, education, and giving back to the community. His journey, which began in 1976, has taken him through an array of mediums—quilting, stained glass, mosaics, illustration—but his underlying purpose remains the same: to inspire and uplift others.
A Lifelong Creative Journey
Ramsess’ artistic career began with drawing, but it wasn’t long before he was experimenting with a variety of artistic forms. Working at the Los Angeles Times, he secured an internship in the art department, which fueled his desire to explore new techniques. Over the years, he expanded into quilting, mosaics, and stained glass, often pushing himself to master skills he initially knew little about.
His quilting journey began as a collaboration—teaching a class on a technique he was also learning himself. This willingness to dive into new challenges has defined his career. Now, he travels the country teaching others the art of portrait quilting, sometimes astonishing his students by proving they can create a portrait quilt in a single day.
Evolution of an Artist
For Ramsess, growth as an artist means embracing new creative challenges. He lives by the philosophy that knowledge should be shared, not hoarded. His mentors at the Los Angeles Times encouraged him to study and deconstruct techniques on his own, and he now passes that wisdom on to others. If he can teach something, he does—often charging far less than the market rate for his classes because he believes in accessibility.
A Multi-Media Visionary
In addition to his fine art, Ramsess creates calendars, note cards, and coloring books. His upcoming books focus on themes of jazz history and the wonders of creation, featuring figures that children love to color. Inspired by his own grandchildren, he views these books as an opportunity to blend education with creativity.
Inspiration Through History and Community
Ramsess finds inspiration in figures like Paul Robeson, the subject of his first portrait. His Tools of History exhibit brought to life historical figures he had previously only heard about, emphasizing the power of visual storytelling. His work frequently highlights lesser-known musicians and historical figures, much like a quilt piecing together fragments of a story that deserve to be remembered.
One of his most impactful pieces featured Chiune Sugihara, a Japanese diplomat who issued visas to Jewish refugees during World War II. The quilt, featuring a Japanese flag and a Star of David, sparked deep emotional responses from viewers, proving the power of art to educate and evoke strong memories.
Art as a Tool for Change
At his core, Ramsess wants his art to inspire thought and conversation. Whether through editorial cartoons at the Los Angeles Times or portraits of historical figures, his goal is to encourage independent thinking. He values accessibility, ensuring that his work is available at affordable prices so people can walk away with a piece of history.
Beyond art, he is deeply committed to education. He once worked in a juvenile court school, teaching troubled youth how to create mosaics, murals, and masks. For many of these students, art became an escape, a path they might never have considered otherwise. He spent the majority of his budget on high-quality materials, prioritizing the students’ experiences over personal gain.
Overcoming Artistic Challenges
While Ramsess has faced challenges, he has learned to steer clear of bureaucratic roadblocks, particularly in city-funded projects that often yield little tangible result. Instead, he focuses on meaningful work that brings immediate value to the community.
His Proudest Work and Dream Projects
His most recent work is always his proudest. Currently, that’s a massive 24 ft x 16 ft quilt inspired by a 1958 photograph of jazz musicians. Every piece of fabric is unique, mirroring the diversity of the musicians it depicts.
As for the future, Ramsess dreams of creating a large, publicly displayed stained glass installation, possibly in the Crenshaw district. He envisions a rotating display made by and for the community, ensuring that art remains a living, evolving presence in the neighborhood.
A Legacy of Generosity and Passion
For Ramsess, being an artist is about more than creating beautiful work. It’s about sharing knowledge, building connections, and ensuring that history and culture remain accessible to all. His unwavering generosity and passion make him not just an artist, but a true community builder. Whether through teaching, creating, or inspiring, he leaves behind a legacy far greater than the sum of his works—a legacy of creativity, education, and kindness.