Richard Duardo, LA master printmaker and artist, has died

Tributes to the Los Angeles printmaker and artist Richard Duardo are filling my social feeds. Connected most with his hometown of Highland Park and with the Downtown art scene, Duardo graduated from UCLA and worked for Self-Help Graphics, then co-founded Centro de Arte Público. More recently he owned Modern Multiples Fine Arts Studios, a printmaking studio near downtown featuring contemporary artists. Duardo has been referred to as the "Warhol of the West" for his prints of pop-culture icons. Duardo died in his sleep on November 11, according to friends on his Facebook page, which indicates he was 62. Both the Board of Supervisors and the City Council are expected to mention Durado's passing at the conclusion of today's sessions.

Here's an oral history interview with UCLA's Chicano Studies Research Center in 2007.

KCET Departures interview:

From a message posted last night on Duardo's Facebook page:

We’d like to thank everyone who has left a post here on Richard’s page today. They have all been moving and touching acknowledgements of the wonderful life he lived. Richard did pass away last night peacefully in his sleep with a smile on his face! We have set up a memorial right outside Modern Multiples to honor his life. Modern Multiples will be open at 10am tomorrow. The business still has projects to complete and Richard would have wanted us to continue the great work he spent his life cultivating here so we ask that you please respect his wishes and allow the business to continue working if you decide to come by. We will be making announcements in the coming days on how we will honor the passion of this great man’s life. In the coming days we will be posting information regarding making donations in his honor for his non-profit to support young and emerging artists. Thank you for respecting Richard’s wishes and we know he would have greatly appreciated everything that has been posted here today.

Also on Facebook, from art critic Mat Gleason: "Everyone in L.A. has a Richard Duardo story to share."

More to come.