Artist Biography

Mauricio Ramirez is a visual artist in Chicago, specializing in contemporary murals, commercial and fine art. With a commitment to social narratives and influenced by his Mexican culture, Mauricio developed a unique color theory emulating the vibrancy of the community. The Chicago native is best known for his pixelated murals which carry a technique of breaking down bursts of colors and triangles. Inspired by the history of his roots and community, the Mexican-American artist begins by taking familiar figures and

depicts them with a fresh and unique painting style of contemporary art.

The world of street art influenced Mauricio through graffiti culture at an early age and is still present in his current work and precise spray-can control skills. His overall goal is to bring a fresh and current look to the city where he incorporates his community-based practices. Once at a site, Mauricio immerses himself in the cultural scene, focusing on

engagement and connections with members of the community.

Artist Statement

I create artwork that crosses borders and boundaries. Whether negotiating the identities of clients or corporations, or the intimacies of cultural characteristics within neighborhoods, attention is facilitated with an acute awareness that art in the public space permeates the subconscious. My more personal artwork is a contribution to the community; frequently a cultural icon that transcends rich intersecting historical and popular culture references that speak to the complex diaspora of the United States. I whole heartedly believe in the importance of how the visibility of culture can lead to not only the growth of confidence, but also care within our communities. 

Better Together Statement

This mural, located at the local VFW Post 4075 reflects the role that veterans played in the national civil rights movement and reflects local history, specifically the 1964 March on Frankfort. On March 5, 1964, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Jackie Robinson (who served in the U.S. Army during WWII), many of Kentucky’s civil rights leaders, and numerous Frankfort natives marched with an estimated 10,000 people down Capital Avenue to peacefully demonstrate against segregation and discrimination. The march contributed to the passage of the Kentucky Civil Rights Act in 1966 that made discrimination illegal in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Kentucky was the first state south of the Mason-Dixon Line to pass its own civil rights act. The portrait on the right is of Anna Mac Clarke, a Lawrenceburg native and Kentucky State University graduate who, during World War II, was the first African American to command an integrated Women’s Army Corps unit. 

This mural is commissioned artwork by the City of Frankfort in partnership with Josephine Sculpture Park and VFW Post 4075, with federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.