Meet the Humans of Downtown: stories and snapshots from the urban core of Las Vegas
By Zoneil Maharaj
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Two captivating, colorful new murals grace the walls of the John E. Carson building on the corner of 6th and Carson. Commissioned by Downtown Las Vegas Properties and dubbed “Connecting Then and Now,” the murals are an abstract homage to the mid-century era of the building, combining geometry and modernism with a dose of psychedelia — hallmarks of artist Eric Vozzola’s work.
“My work is really influenced by graphic design,” Eric says. “I’ve always loved combining that with nature. I love the juxtaposition and contrast of flat graphic geometric elements with realism.”
The Las Vegas born and bred artist, captured in action by Ryan Yoro, has left his mark on DTLV walls since 2014 when he painted his first mural at the Urbanity Apartments. He followed that up with murals at Life Is Beautiful’s Art Motel in 2015 and 2017, with a mural on a shipping container on Fremont Street in 2016 and a mural on 7th Street in 2019, both of which still stand today. His work also graces the old entrance to Market in the Alley on Fremont Street near 11th Street with a mural inside The Noise Project at Fergusons Downtown. He’s got plenty more in store.
Eric’s in such demand that after eight years behind a computer screen, he was finally able to quit his casino graphic design job in 2019.
“It’s literally a dream come true. I love being able to support my family with my art,” he says. “I just love being able to work every day and do this. Every new opportunity is such a rush.”
His work is an amalgamation of his interests, experiences and surroundings. Psychedelic pops of color bounce off prismatic patterns and play with desert landscapes.
“I just love how weird the desert can be,” he says. “The desert reminds me of psychedelia. It’s so unique. I love all the colors and patterns of the desert. Our sunsets are so vibrant.”
With his fingerprints all over Las Vegas, he hopes to take his art worldwide.
“That’s the ultimate goal,” he says. Despite his ambition, he remains humble.
“I feel like I’m an average Joe. If I can keep supporting my family with what I do, then I feel like I can inspire other people too,” he says.
For more stories like this, follow#HumansOfDTLV on Instagram.
