FULLERTON, Calif. – Shopping carts are a symbol of both abundance and desperation. While most use them to shop for groceries, the unhoused use them to collect recyclables and store their belongings. Artist Alvaro Naddeo sees it as a symbol of inequality.  

“This piece is about social inequality and it’s about this contrast,” said artist Alvaro Naddeo. “There is a feel of a dystopian future in it and at the same time it celebrates the human creativity and how resourceful we are.”

Born in Brazil, his family is originally from Uruguay. He works as an art director in advertising like his father before him. He lived in Peru, New York, Tampa, and moved to Los Angeles five years ago. He has witnessed a lot of poverty.

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“I see how much the homeless situation is really a problem in Los Angeles and that’s the reason, one of the biggest reasons why I do this kind of work,” said Naddeo. “I believe at least I’m making people think about and I’m making people talk about it.”

A Peugeot bicycle welded to a shopping cart as a sidecar, it’s a fully realized sculpture based on a watercolor that speaks to L.A.’s homeless crisis.

Alvaro is one of eight Latino artists invited to the Fullerton Museum Center in an exhibit called “Instruments of Change.” Curated in collaboration with Thinkspace Gallery, they have been given unprecedented access to the interior.

Andrew Hosner is the curator and co-owner of Thinkspace Gallery.

“Well, all of the murals for ‘Instruments for Change’ are ephemeral murals in that once the exhibition is over, they’re going to bring out the white rollers and go right over them,” explained Andrw Hosner. “And a lot of the notion of that is to reflect how they are in the streets. Murals don’t last forever.”

Much of the artwork may not last forever, but the representation of artists from Latin America and Alvaro’s exposure to visitors will.

“We know that in Orange County and California, we have a big Hispanic population,” said Naddeo. “It is nice that you see the same representation in museums in arts so I’m really happy to be a part of this.”

Go see the art before it’s gone forever.