Skip to Content
Art

Preview: Teen Angels at the LA Art Book Fair

11:11 AM PST on February 23, 2017

[dropcap size=big]T[/dropcap]een Angels Magazine, Kill Your Idols, and Printed Matter proudly present TEEN ANGELS, an exhibition featuring the artist known as Teen Angel who in 1977 began working working full time as an artist and writer for Lowrider Magazine. In 1981 he ventured into publishing on his own and started Teen Angels Magazine; with no constraints, he was able to create a magazine just the way he wanted featuring artwork, dedications, photographs, poems, and articles all focusing on life in the streets of the Varrios of California and the Southwest. Long before MySpace, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or any other form of social media existed, if you were a teenager or young adult from the Varrio and wanted to know what was happening in other Varrios across the United States, there was only one place to find out, Teen Angels Magazine.

From the late 70’s through the 90’s, Teen Angels Magazine gave young Chicanos an outlet to connect with other Chicanos through dedications, pen pals, poems, photos and art. Rejected by larger chain stores, the only place to find Teen Angels was in liquor stores and small mom-and-pop markets in the 'hood'. He went on to create over 200 issues which today are highly collectable due to their rarity. Teen Angel passed away in early 2015 but his legacy lives on.

The exhibition will include original Teen Angels Magazine cover art, the entire collection of Teen Angels Magazine's 200+ issues, model cars, miniature buildings and more, all created by Teen Angel himself, including many unpublished, never before seen original pieces of artwork.

This exhibition is made possible by the generous support of LEVI'S.

Please enjoy this selection of preview images from work that will be displayed at the fair, along with the cover of one of the limited edition Teen Angels books which will be available for sale.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More Stories

Exclusive: Video Footage Appears to Show Drinking Water Contaminated With Worms Inside Adelanto ICE Processing Center

Detainees at Adelanto claim that staff have provided them with water from an unknown source that is routinely contaminated, despite a federal judge’s orders to provide detainees with clean, potable water. A video L.A. TACO received backs this up.

A New Backyard-Only Brazilian Steakhouse Opens In Pasadena

“I am trying to recreate an atmosphere that is very close to a backyard barbecue in Brazil,” the chef tells L.A. TACO. “People can expect good music, lots of protein: beef ribs, steaks, sausages, and veggies."

July 31, 2026

Did FIFA’s New Investment Scheme Kill The World Cup?

FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s greed finally pushed everyone to the limit as UEFA threatens a boycott of all FIFA tournaments, including the World Cup, and CONCACAF have formally rejected FIFA’s latest proposal.

July 30, 2026

Remember the 99 Cents Only Art Show? Artists Allege They Got Ripped Off.

A number of local artists involved in a heavily attended, viral art show in a former 99 Cents Only Store tell L.A. TACO they’re still yet to be paid for the work that was sold.

July 29, 2026

Who’s At Risk of Being Detained at Airports by ICE? What We Know.

After good samaritans prevented ICE from detaining a Vietnamese-Australian man at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, community watch groups are receiving more calls about airport targets.

July 29, 2026

A California DJ Recounts the Horrors of Immigrant Detention at Otay Mesa

Diana Ledesma alleges forced pregnancy tests, a potential infectious disease outbreak, and human-sized cages during her nearly four-month imprisonment at the San Diego facility.