California Locos brings together more than 40 years of Los Angeles culture, as seen through the perspectives and artistic contributions of the individuals who helped shape it. This book showcases the life and creative endeavours of the original five Locos over three generations: Chaz Bojórquez, Dave Tourjé, John Van Hamersveld, Norton Wisdom, and Gary Wong. It also extends its reach to encompass additional talents like Mister Cartoon, Shepard Fairey, Estevan Oriol, Retna, OG Slick, and many more. Within its 432 pages, the book seamlessly weaves together elements of surf and skate culture, street art, tattoo art, street photography, graphic design, and music, offering a comprehensive celebration of Los Angeles in all its diverse and gritty glory.
To be a LOCO means embracing a crazy, wild passion for life, fostering creativity, nurturing a rebellious spirit, and maintaining an open-minded appreciation for the rich tapestry of ethnic and cultural diversity in our city and around the world. LOCOS represents a movement that embodies innovation, multiculturalism with a defiant nature.
The book spotlights the most influential artists from the West Coast of the United States, featuring numerous never-before-seen photographs and sharing the captivating stories behind them. It’s a visual journey that encompasses the worlds of tattoo art, surf culture, skateboarding, and street art. With three generations of legendary LA artists and over 40 years of LA culture, this book boasts an impressive collection of 702 colour and 125 black-and-white illustrations.

Dave Tourjé was born and raised in the culturally eclectic Northeast L.A. of the 1970s, and his upbringing amongst the skaters, and the area’s tribal friction play a role in his work. Tourjé was also a musician and a member of the influential L.A. band, the Dissidents. They played shows with notable acts like Camper Van Beethoven, Saccharine Trust, and The Minutemen, to name a few. Tourjé’s artwork oscillates between high and low, punk and institutional hegemony and was the subject of a one-man exhibition covering 15 years of paintings on acrylic glass at the Riverside Art Museum in 2002. It has also been featured at the Oceanside Museum of Art, the Orange County Museum of Art, and Laguna Art Museum. In 1998, Tourjé helped form the Chouinard Foundation by purchasing Nelbert Chouinard’s home. The foundation’s purpose is to restore the lost history of one of the world’s great art schools.