Elisha Oloapu

My work is deeper than glorifying gangs and street life. I am diligently assembling an archival record in anticipation of the impending wave of gentrification, which threatens to erode our cherished recollections of childhood and the enduring bonds we have cultivated throughout the years. Those halcyon days of frolicking in the streets until dusk hold a special place in our collective memory. Despite the differing trajectories our lives have taken, this work perseveres as a tribute to the community, crafted by and for its residents. From the doctors, dealers, Pastors, to the pitbulls and poodles, dream chasers and clout chasers, The hard workers in blue collars to the gang bangers in colors. This undertaking is a universal tribute to all who have played a role in my community’s shared narrative.