About
Hello, my name is Marcus Sandoval. My career as a professional artist started in 2010 after earning my Bachelor’s degree in graphic design. At this time, I was working out of a small studio apartment in San Diego, California while bartending at night. My artwork often took over my space. It wasn’t uncommon for paintings to be drying on my bed while I slept on the floor. I would participate in any pop art event I could and organized my own events at different venues around town. I would soon graduate into a larger workspace studio and opened brick and mortar gallery in San Diego’s East Village. Calling the space “Molotov Gallery”, named after the incendiary weapon used in guerrilla warfare, I found it to be the perfect metaphor for the art I aimed to create. In making works metaphorically explosive from inexpensive, accessible materials. For the next few years I would host shows out of the space while giving other like-minded local artists a venue to show their work.
In 2014 I got my first commercial contract to create hand painted murals and assist in designing a 3,0000 square foot restaurant and bar in downtown San Diego. This would be followed soon after by several other local businesses hiring me for custom artwork. Due to plans to create a new development, the Molotov Gallery storefront was closed in late 2014. I continued to use the name as a moniker for my work since then. In years to follow, I constantly worked with businesses in Southern California while creating and showing my own artwork. Over the next four years, I created artwork for over 50 businesses. Spending a majority of my life in Southern California, a crossroad for change was in the horizon.
In the summer of 2018 I decided to relocate to Nashville, Tennessee. Music has always had a direct influence on my work so the move seemed like a tailor made idea. I fell in love with rich history, culture and soul the city had to offer. Since then I have traveled throughout the country doing murals and creating new work. I continue to consistently experiment with new mediums, different processes and techniques.
Statement
My work is a tribute to the spirit of the American 1960s and 70s imagery and pop culture, an era defined by its groundbreaking style and cultural dynamism. Drawing from the glamorous visuals of vintage magazines and advertising, the infectious music of the era, the sleek allure of classic American car design, I delve into this vibrant period through a diverse range of mediums. Each piece reflects my fascination with the era's unique blend of sophistication and rebellion, reimagined through contemporary artistic practices.
I channel the bold colors and dramatic forms that characterized the mid-century art scene, infusing my compositions with a sense of nostalgic excitement. My murals extend this vision into public spaces, transforming urban environments into immersive experiences that echo the glamour and creativity of the past. Using street art techniques, I blend retro motifs with modern techniques to create unique works that resonate with audiences who appreciate both vintage and contemporary design.