Beyond the Tattoo: Watts Native José Morando Makes His Gallery Debut at EL VELORIO, Honoring Family, Heritage, and Community
On Saturday, October 10, EL VELORIO returned to Plaza de la Raza for its 16th anniversary, bringing together a packed house to celebrate art, music, culture, and community. Among the many talented artists contributing to this year's gallery was José Morando, a Watts, California native whose work bridges fine art, digital design, tattoo artistry, Mexican cultural traditions, and family remembrance.
For José, the significance of art extends far beyond an image on a canvas. It is a way to tell stories, honor cultural roots, and connect with people through shared experiences. With more than 11 years of professional experience in art, José has continued to develop his craft across multiple creative disciplines. His journey has also led him to become a sought-after Los Angeles tattoo artist, where his precision, fine-line artistry, and distinctive style have earned him a loyal following of clients and social media supporters.
Now, José is bringing that artistic vision into the gallery space, marking an important milestone with his gallery debut at EL VELORIO.
A Painting That Brings Generations Together
For his contribution to the EL VELORIO gallery, José created a powerful work inspired by Día de los Muertos, faith, family, and the enduring connection between the living and those who have passed on. At the heart of the piece is the Xoloitzcuintli, the ancient Mexican dog traditionally associated with guiding souls on their journey through the afterlife. The composition brings together the Xoloitzcuintli, the Virgin Mary, and portraits of family members, weaving together spirituality, remembrance, and the love that continues beyond death.
The painting became even more meaningful when José attended the event alongside his mother and abuela, his grandmother. As they stood before his work, they were met with an emotional surprise: José had included portraits of loved ones who had passed away, creating a deeply personal tribute to the family's shared history.
What might have initially appeared to be a beautiful painting became something much more intimate—a visual expression of love, memory, and connection across generations. Through his art, José gave his family a moment to reflect on the people they carry in their hearts and the traditions that keep their memories alive.
It was a reminder of what makes art so powerful. Sometimes, a painting does more than tell a story; it gives people an opportunity to see their own lives, their loved ones, and their history reflected back at them.
From Tattoo Artistry to Fine Art
José's painting process reflects the same thoughtful approach found in his subject matter. Working on wood, he began with an orange underpainting before building the composition with oil paint. Using raw umber, titanium white, and Mars black, he focused on three values—light, medium, and dark—to create depth, contrast, and emotion.
His restrained black-and-gray approach, influenced by his tattoo work, gives the piece a striking visual presence while allowing its symbolism and family portraits to remain central. The result demonstrates how artistic skills can move across mediums, with techniques developed through tattooing informing a painting rooted in cultural identity and personal experience.
José's work invites viewers to reflect on their own relationships with family, faith, and loss. It reminds us that cultural traditions are not simply things we inherit; they are stories we continue to tell, reinterpret, and pass on through creative expression.
A Watts Story: Growth, Talent, and Community Pride
José's gallery debut represents more than a new chapter in his artistic career. It also reflects the journey of a young artist whose creative roots are firmly planted in Watts.
Growing as an artist while navigating life's challenges in Watts has helped shape the perspective and determination he brings to his work. His story speaks to the talent that exists within the community and the importance of creating opportunities for local artists to develop their craft, share their stories, and reach new audiences.
Long before this gallery debut, José was already making an impression on his high school community. His former Watts high school art teacher, Chay Ross, joined him at his debut and remembers his exceptional artistic ability and the many ways he contributed to the school through his creativity.
“José has always had an extraordinary artistic gift,” Ross shared. “From being a featured artist at our school art fair to creating illustrations and yearbook covers and representing Watts in major art competitions, he consistently found ways to share his talent with his community. Seeing how much he has grown as an artist has been incredible. His work truly blew me away.”
For Ross, witnessing José's development as an artist is a powerful reminder of what can happen when talent, dedication, and opportunity come together. The student who once represented his school through illustrations, yearbook covers, and art competitions is now stepping into a gallery and sharing a deeply personal work with a broader audience.
His progress is worth celebrating—not only because of how far he has come, but because he continues to carry his community with him.
José Moreno is making Watts proud. His journey demonstrates that artists from communities too often overlooked have stories, skills, and perspectives that deserve to be seen and celebrated. His success is personal, but its impact reaches beyond him, offering inspiration to young artists who are still discovering what their own creative paths might become.
Celebrating Culture, Heritage, and the Power of Art
EL VELORIO has long provided a space for artists and community members to come together and celebrate the richness of Chicano and Mexican American culture. From the Catrinas and lowrider and bicycle shows to skull-painting workshops, live painting, food, and music, the event creates opportunities for cultural expression to thrive. This year’s celebration also served as a fundraiser, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Tattoo Heritage Project in Long Beach, California, to help establish a national tattoo museum. The initiative honors the history, artistry, and cultural traditions of tattooing while helping preserve the stories and contributions of the artists and communities that continue to shape this enduring art form.
Within this vibrant gathering, José's work offered a quieter but equally powerful experience: an invitation to remember, reflect, and reconnect. His painting honored Mexican cultural traditions while telling a story that was uniquely his own—a story of family, faith, artistic growth, and the community that helped shape him.
For José Moreno, being featured in the gallery marks an important milestone and an opportunity to share his vision with a broader audience. As a Watts native, multifaceted visual artist, and sought-after Los Angeles tattoo artist, he represents the many ways creativity can bridge disciplines, preserve cultural memory, and bring people together.
His gallery debut is not only a celebration of where he is today; it is a celebration of where he comes from and the people who have been part of his journey.
Through his painting, José honors those who came before him, celebrates the traditions that shape his identity, and gives visual form to a universal truth: love and remembrance keep our connections alive.
Congratulations to José Moreno on this meaningful milestone, and to all the artists who made the 16th anniversary of EL VELORIO a celebration of creativity, heritage, and community.
