When L’Asso restaurant in Los Angeles was painted with a wall of hearts, it became an Instagram popular spot on Valentine’s Day in 2015. Its painter, James Goldcrown, never expected the wall to be as popular as it became. The hearts were painted in different colors to represent the emotions of love, including passion (red), bittersweet (yellow), and sadness (blue).
Over time, Goldcrown has made other variations of the same design using different colors. However, the original version with a white backdrop is still considered the best. People came to take pictures with the mural to create a street art image of love. Despite the fact that the mural was replaced, the Los Angeles Love Wall will still be remade in Taikoo Li Chengdu.
The wall became popular very quickly in places around the world, including countries with different languages such as Japan, Korea, and Italy. The word love is universal and needs no explanations.
The positive feedback Goldcrown received encouraged him to create similar murals in other locations like New York, Miami, Brazil, and Argentina. Because of its popularity, the design has also been used commercially by brands like Maybelline.
The concept started almost by chance. While he tested the pressure of some spray paint cartridges, Goldcrown painted some colorful hearts on the door of his studio. One customer who came to pick up an artwork from Goldcrown’s studio liked it so much that she bought the entire door. Goldcrown then turned the hearts into paintings that he sold during the Art Basel show. It was at that moment that he understood the impact that a simple heart could have on people. When the owner of L’asso gave him the opportunity to paint outside his restaurant, the mural that would go viral on Instagram was created.
However, Goldcrown's work is not just about love. In New York, street art and large screen displays in Times Square featured his piece Kids in Love, which had a simple yet powerful message: In love, everyone is a child. In another artwork from New York, he uses a single red heart in a black-and-white composition to contradict the misleading belief that everything is one extreme or the other. The message is a response to looking beyond the easy options and having the courage to explore new possibilities.
The Love Wall is more than just a backdrop for pictures and if you think of it as something more than a backdrop, you can get some unique shots. If you wear solid colors, the wall will have the most appeal, and you won't clash with the wall colors. More relaxed and natural poses like jumping, walking, sipping coffee, pretending to talk on the phone will help you achieve more natural shots. Simple accessories like a pair of sunglasses can turn the Love Wall into part of your composition.
This wall is best shared with loved ones. Romantic, family, friend, or sister love, the hearts can represent any bond worth celebrating. A photo with a partner, family, or friend is worth a lot more than another solo shot on social media.
Los Angeles is home to many street artists and engaging street art. The pure connection of the street art and the artist makes it engaging and using the Love Wall street art to pose just adds more joy, and connection.
