Nikkolos Mohammed and Mike Rees\u00e9 established DREAMHAUS in South Central Los Angeles with a mission to use fine art as a source of inspiration and support for the city’s young creative minds. This non-profit art collective was born in 2014, shortly after their graduation from LA’s Otis College of Art and Design. Over the years, they have collaborated with local elementary schools to organize discussions and workshops on visual art. Their annual toy drives provide art supplies and handmade clothing to students, and in December 2018, they held a charitable exhibition at the California African American Museum in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n
In addition to their community outreach efforts, Mohammed and Rees\u00e9 create their own original artworks in their DREAMHAUS studio located just south of Downtown LA. Mohammed employs techniques like collage, portrait painting, and assemblage, crafting three-dimensional visual art from found objects. Meanwhile, Rees\u00e9 draws inspiration from an eclectic variety of materials such as Kool-aid and taxidermy to produce representational works using acrylic paint and flowers.<\/p>\n
As Los Angeles natives, Mohammed and Rees\u00e9 are deeply committed to giving back to their community while pursuing their artistic endeavors. They are currently participating in the Hypeart’s group charity exhibition, ‘Love Letters to LA,’ which pays homage to the city’s immigrant communities. This exhibition features a diverse array of artwork created by leading LA natives and is being held at SIZED STUDIO in East Hollywood. The pieces draw from the artists’ personal journeys, families, and communities, blending traditional techniques with industrial methods and unconventional materials to convey profound societal messages. These artworks celebrate the bonds of family and community, and a portion of the proceeds from artwork sales supports local charities such as DREAMHAUS, LA Food Bank, and Direct Relief.<\/p>\n
In honor of the exhibition, DREAMHAUS has released a limited edition tee. You can purchase one of these tees here and read the heartfelt letter featured on the tee, penned by DREAMHAUS, to show your support for the organization.<\/p>\n
\nOur Dearest Los Angeles,<\/p>\n
Once upon a time in South Central, where the heart of art beat quietly, there resided an untapped potential waiting to bloom. In the midst of it all, visionaries with dreams deferred, saw what was missing a canvas for dreams to unfurl.<\/p>\n
They formed a house, a haven for kindred spirits, a place where dreams could not just take root but flourish, a space where passion could enroll. As they say, “If you build it, they’ll come,” and indeed, a rose grew from the concrete, right here in the heart of your habitat. Rose to rose, blossoming into a bush, then a grove, it was DREAMHAUS that nurtured the seeds of artistic freedom and curiosity.<\/p>\n
Yet, my beloved city, you know that growth is never without its share of difficulties. Through the oppressive forces and systematic tactics, our journey was arduous. Bureaucratic foes attempted to thwart our dreams, shadowing the very flowers that had once flourished. But as sure as the sun rises, so does hope. Our losses transformed into invaluable lessons, and we forged new paths with unwavering determination with our community surrounding us.<\/p>\n
Here we stand, a decade later, celebrating our Ioth year of existence with gratitude and love. The horizon before us has never been clearer, a canvas waiting to be painted with the vibrant hues of our collective creativity and your landscape we call home.<\/p>\n
Los Angeles, you are our muse, our source of inspiration, and our eternal love. We celebrate you, for in your embrace, DREAMHAUS found its roots and blossomed into the vibrant oasis it is today. Together, let’s continue to create, inspire, and write the next chapter of our love story.<\/p>\n
Infinitely,
DREAMHAUS<\/p><\/blockquote>\nThe exhibition is currently open to the public until October 16. In case you missed it, read our full artist spotlight for ‘Love Letters to LA’ here.<\/p>\n