Los Angeles Mural Artist Frank Martinez Dies at 89

Rest in peace.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Portraying mostly elements of his Mexican American culture and history, Frank Martinez was a well respected artist with fans around the world and high profile clients including the Smithsonian Institute and the 1984 Summer Olympics. Martinez passed away at the age of 89 from "complications from diabetes and end-stage renal disease," but he leaves behind decades of murals and paintings on middle schools, churches, and various other sites in Los Angeles.

Those who knew Martinez and credit him with helping them grow as artists, say that he taught them to "try to make statements with every piece" and that he "spent more time encouraging young artists than promoting his own work." Parkinson's disease made it difficult for Martinez to continue painting, but his family says that he drew charcoal sketches almost until the day that he died.

RELATED: The Best Murals of 2013 (So Far)

[via LATimes]

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