Paul Botello - prints and biography

Paul Botello (b. East Los Angeles) is a painter, printmaker, and muralist whose career reflects both a deeply personal connection to his community and a broader engagement with global issues. Raised in a family that valued creativity, Botello was introduced to art at an early age by his brother, David Botello, a co-founder of the influential Chicano muralist collective, East Los Streetscapers. At just eight years old, Paul assisted David on large-scale public murals, an experience that set the foundation for his lifelong dedication to the arts.

Botello went on to earn both his B.A. and M.F.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles, where he studied painting and expanded his artistic practice. In 1997, he served as a visiting professor at Pitzer College in Claremont, where he shared his skills and vision with a new generation of artists.

Throughout his career, Botello has remained committed to muralism, a tradition that has long been central to the cultural identity of East Los Angeles. His murals are characterized by vibrant colors, dynamic compositions, and an expressive energy that captures both personal and collective narratives. In 1994, he traveled to Berlin, Germany, where he collaborated on a monumental mural titled Global Chessboard, a work that underscored the universality of art as a vehicle for social commentary and cross-cultural exchange.

Whether created in his own community or abroad, Botello’s murals serve as symbolic narratives that bridge the personal and the public. His works often address pressing social issues—inequality, identity, and resilience—while remaining rooted in a visual language that is celebratory, expressive, and accessible. Beyond their aesthetic power, his murals function as public dialogues, inviting viewers to reflect on their own place within broader social and cultural contexts.

Today, Paul Botello continues to live and work in Los Angeles, contributing to the city’s rich mural tradition and expanding the reach of Chicano art into a global conversation.
Photo of Paul Botello courtesy of Pitzer College