Love Letter to LA
The Vegan Joint Community
The Vegan Joint, a woman-owned, Thai-owned, nearly 20-year-old plant-based restaurant in Los Angeles, unveiled a community mural in Downtown LA created by local artist and longtime guest Michael Rangel. Donated by the artist, the mural serves as both a love letter to Los Angeles and a symbol of resilience as small restaurants continue to navigate the post-pandemic landscape. The installation helps bring renewed energy, visibility, and foot traffic to Downtown LA while celebrating community, creativity, and the neighborhood The Vegan Joint proudly calls home.
Michael Rangel
Michael Rangel is a Los Angeles-born and raised, self taught artist working across large-scale murals and oil paintings on canvas. He has been drawing and painting his entire life, using art as a way to connect with others, express emotion, and inspire positive change. Since beginning his mural practice in 2019, his work has continued to grow, focusing on storytelling and bringing color, culture, and energy into everyday spaces.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, this mural is my personal love letter to the city that shaped me. A postcard themed mural so locals and visitors alike can all connect and interact with. I want people to be able to find their own neighborhoods, memories, or moments reflected back at them when gazing at the mural, feeling invited to be part of the larger story of LA.
Placing this mural in Downtown Los Angeles, outside of The Vegan Joint, was intentional. TVJ represents values that align with care, compassion, and inclusivity, which made this wall feel like the right home for a mural about connection. Just like DTLA, The Vegan Joint is where different communities meet, making this wall the right place for a mural that reflects connection, belonging, and a shared love for the city.