Skip to Content
Art

El Mac “Portrait of a Dying Cockroach” Video

We've featured a lot of LA-based artist El Mac's work through the years and one of the most common questions we get in the comments is "how does he do it"? Here's a time-lapse from last year's Art Basel which should give some insight into the process. From the artist's blog:

Here's a new timelapse video of a piece I painted for the Public Provocations show at the Carhartt Gallery held during the last Art Basel in Switzerland. This was painted with just spraypaint and fatcaps, no stencils or projectors, etc. As I explained in this earlier post, this was based on a photograph I took of a cockroach on the floor of the Margulies Collection when we painted their building during the last Miami Art Basel. It felt appropriate to then paint this during the Swiss Art Basel, alongside all the glamour and wealth. (Someone told me they don't have roaches in Switzerland)

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from L.A. TACO

DAILY MEMO: A New CA State Bill is Introduced To Hold Private Detention Centers Accountable, Border Patrol Spends The Week in Meetings, and ICE Continued Targeted Arrests

Senator Perez today introduced SB 995, the Masuma Khan Justice Act, designed to strengthen state oversight of detention centers by allowing state agencies to inspect facilities, instituting fines of $25k per day, and revoking licenses of private detention facilities when they fail to meet health and safety standards.

February 6, 2026

LAPD Charges at Hundreds of High School Students in Peaceful Walkout Protest at MDC

LAPD arrested at least two teenagers protesting ICE raids in Los Angeles yesterday. They were also seen corresponding with ICE agents on Alameda Street during the demonstrations.

February 6, 2026

Weekend Eats: Mushu Pork Tacos, Komal Expands, and A Oaxacan ‘Tacobijado’

Plus a Mexico City butcher shop lands in Culver City right on time for the Bad Bunny Bowl.

February 6, 2026

Exclusive: Detention Center Captives Are Throwing Lotion Bottles Wrapped With Notes to Organizers Outside Otay Mesa Facility

“For 280 days we haven’t eaten a single piece of fruit, banana, apple, orange, or anything fresh," an Otay Mesa captive communicated through handwritten note. "We are all in one big room with no doors or windows. We can’t see any grass or trees. We are all constantly sick."

February 5, 2026

The Rigorous Path to Becoming a Lion Dancer In One of Chinatown’s Oldest Dance Groups

A day in the life of Immortals Lion Dance in L.A.’s Chinatown, where generations of dancers—some in their 70s—perform at parades, weddings, and on-screen in films.

February 4, 2026

DAILY MEMO: Democrats Help Approve Temporary DHS Funding, Demand ICE ‘Behaves’

LAPD Chief McDonnell is laughed at by attendees at the L.A. Police Commission while L.A. City council member, Hugo Martinez, leads a rebuke in the L.A. city council meeting against McDonnell's refusal to enforce the new state laws against agents and law enforcement wearing masks. Meanwhile, ICE continues to operate while CBP is missing.

February 3, 2026
See all posts