Restoration Renews Mural Tribute to Arts Activist

The mural had fallen into sad shape.

The portrait of Cecil Fergerson, arts activist and icon to many African American artists, was crumbling. It was painted on the front wall of the Watts Towers Arts Center about seven years ago as a tribute. Fergerson had worked his way up from being a janitor at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art to become a curator, playing a key role in getting the works of more black artists represented in exhibitions there.

The mural, painted by Richard Wyatt, for whom Fergerson had served as a mentor since the artist was a teenager, depicts Fergerson in a hyper-realistic style wearing a bold, noble expression, standing in front of the entrance of the museum.

“It’s Richard Wyatt paying tribute to his teacher,” said Judith Baca, artistic director of the Venice-based Social and Public Art Resource Center.

But because it was painted on a wall that once had windows, the image began to fade and big cracks appeared on Fergerson’s face.

To fix the artwork, a public art group commissioned artists Francois Bardol and Jeffrey Gaddy, both of whom have extensive experience in murals.

“We are delighted to have to have Cecil’s eyes as bright as they were before,” Baca said.