Michael Massenburg throws his heart into Intuit Dome

The opening of the Intuit Dome has sparked a great deal of excitement and anticipation, especially amongst Inglewood residents. The new arena is set to be the new home for the Los Angeles Clippers this coming fall. Along with the new arena, comes new artistry on the outside of the Intuit Dome. Michael Massenburg is one of the few locally commissioned artists who played a pivotal role in creating meaningful art for the arena.
Along with Massenburg, six other local artists were selected to create art pieces for the Intuit Dome. The artists include Refik Anadol, Glenn Kaino, Patrick Martinez, Kyungmi Shin, Jennifer Steinkemp and Charles Gaines. He is the only Black artist commissioned for the project having recently designed a porcelain enamel piece for the Inglewood arena entitled “Cultural Playground.”
Massenburg’s other work includes commissions with DCA, Metro Expo Line Farmdale Station, the Kia Forum and the Dak’Art Biennial of Contemporary African Art in Dakar, Senegal. Massenburg is the recipient of many awards, including the Art Matters Foundation, the California Arts Council and DCA Individual Master Artist COLA Grantee.
A San Diego native, Massenburg spent the majority of his childhood in South Los Angeles. He has a studio in Inglewood at 808 N. La Brea Ave. Massenburg says that drawing was a big part of his childhood and early adulthood. He attended California State Long Beach and took art classes but ultimately majored in business.
“Most people may not even have- they have their passion but they may not have the business part which is so critical in not only survival but also the empowerment of who we are in our communities as far as developing and growing,” he said.
He later began attending the Watts Towers Festival and was inspired by mentor John Autterbridge he met at the nonprofit. He began to do small art shows, referencing where he grew up in South LA, noting that the 1991 shooting death of 15-year-old Latasha Harlins occurred just a mere four blocks from where he lived. Around the same time, his mother and biggest supporter of his art passed away.
“Then 1992 happened, everybody knows about the Rodney King verdict, before that there was a verdict that was very critical and they needed to get that right. Once the city started erupting in anger about the verdicts. I start questioning what does my art mean? I paint pictures but I want to find a way to make a difference.” These two events coupled together caused him to question the meaning of his art and prompted him to want to make a difference in his community and to create art that sought out to answer questions of the lack of racial justice.
Shortly after, the City of LA, the Cultural Affairs Department and the Getty created the L.A. Recovery Fund. The L.A. Recovery Fund supports individual artists, organizations and groups to create work within the local community. Massenburg applied and began to teach classes at Sylmar Juvenile Hall and work with Sheenway School & Culture Center, an all-black private school. He also served as Art Commissioner in the City of Inglewood.
Massenburg uses multiple methods in order to create various works of art. One of his techniques includes working with a canvas, on board and or paper. Afterwards, he will cut, draw or paint canvases then cut out collages and glue them on the base of the painting. Other artistic mediums include painted murals, work with ceramic tiles, and mosaic art. Massenburg submitted a proposal for the project at the Intuit Dome and met with various people in order to view the model of the Intuit Dome. He then submitted artwork design ideas for his piece.
“Cultural Playground” is on the outer portion of the building, on Century Boulevard and Prairie Avenue, and is the first piece of visible art upon entering the Intuit Dome. Massenburg says his piece focused on the history of Inglewood and the settlers throughout Los Angeles, namely Black and brown people. His work is a culmination of kids playing, sports and culture, the piece also features small streets and areas in Los Angeles. Currently he is working on a documentary about emerging artists after the 1965 Watts Riots, and recently finished work with Rose South LA, a memorial dedicated to remembering and honoring Black women and girls who were murdered by serial killers.
Massenburg is one of two Inglewood based artists who commissioned work on the Intuit Dome. He says of the opportunity to work on the project, “It was a great opportunity to be able to do a project of that magnitude.They gave me an opportunity to express in regards to our community. I just wanted to make a difference. I feel honored.”