South Huntington Commissions Andaluz The Artist To Paint Mural

SOUTH HUNTINGTON, NY — An artist returned to his scholastic roots to paint a mural. Efren Andaluz III, known as "Andaluz the Artist," was commissioned by the South Huntington School District to paint a mural at Walt Whitman High School. Andaluz graduated the school in 2006, according to a news release.

Andaluz is known for his vibrant, colorful and realistic murals. He returned to his old stomping grounds over the holiday break to paint a mural that exemplified what the district called "colorful culture and diversity that everyone can admire." Andaluz was commissioned by the Walt Whitman High School World Language and Art Departments, South Huntington Educational Foundation (SHEF), Miles for Michael, and the WWHS PTA.

The mural can be found in the 300 wing stairwell by the high school’s Performing Arts Center and extends from the floor to ceiling.

The painting, in a collage-like style, depicts scenes of countries from around the world. It joins together with famous artist Frida Kahlo as the Statue of Liberty that symbolizes how art and culture are implicitly connected.

"When I was coming up with the idea, I thought of something that spoke true to New York but also America as a whole," Andaluz said via the news release. "I love painting the Statue of Liberty, and Frida is the epitome of feminism as well as being Latina. I wanted to showcase the Latino culture while also including different cultures and monuments to show unity."

The mural was inspired by the diversity within the South Huntington community, said Aileen D’Addario, Whitman’s World Language Honor Society advisor.

"It represents the French, Italian, and Spanish languages that are taught at Whitman as well as other cultures from around the world," D'Addario said. "The goal was to also connect the World Language and Art hallways together by including a famous Latina artist in the work. We hope it conveys the message of freedom, equality, hope, acceptance, peace, and unity that is the foundation of our incredible nation."

The teamwork of bringing the painting to fruition was highlighted by Sheila Buhse, chairperson of SHEF and race director of Miles for Michael.

"Efren Andaluz's talent is incredible, and it is on full display in the high school where he graduated and has since gone on to pursue an extremely successful career," Buhse said. "Having graduated from WWHS myself along with many of our SHEF members, I know we take great pride in the fact that someone from our community has achieved such wonderful success. This art mural will be a reminder to our current and future students of ‘what is possible.’ This is a wonderful message for our students that dreams are here for them, and they are attainable."

Andaluz has gone on to paint numerous murals. One of his most notable works is the Kobe Bryant mural located in Costa Mesa, California, where Andaluz memorializes the famous basketball legend by being the first and only person to have painted him, his daughter, and all of the victims of the tragic helicopter crash in January 2020.

Andaluz said his favorite mural he created was in Riebe's Art Supply that was in Melville before it closed.

"It was my art supply store growing up and they taught me a lot about the different equipment and airbrush techniques," Andaluz said. "When I painted the side of that building, I did it as a tribute for art legends throughout history like Bob Ross, Frida, Da Vinci, and Andy Warhol."

Walt Whitman students are excited about the mural, as well, according to the district. Students in Mr. Rodriguez's Spanish 4 College course responded to the mural in a class assignment.

One student, Lana Maniatis, wrote that Andaluz's mural is very powerful and has deep meaning.

"The image of the statue of freedom in the center represents freedom and equality for all," Maniatis wrote. "The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of the welcoming lands of America that are home to immigrants. There are also different monuments and structures on the mural that represent different cultures and ethnicities. The purpose of this mural is to show that America is a home for everyone. It shows that they support people of all cultures. The words unite, culture, and diversity also highlight the beliefs on which America was founded. America is everyone's home where people can seek refuge and make a new life."

Andaluz was born in Queens. His childhood was heavily influenced by his family and community, according to the release. His love of art stems from Hip-Hop, and he was fond of the graffiti-tagged walls in his neighborhood while growing up. Hip-Hop would play a significant role in his future art style.

When he was young, Andaluz loved drawing different cartoon characters and superheroes. His grandfather, Efren Andaluz, who was also an artist, bought art books for him and taught him different drawing techniques.

At the age of 10, Andaluz and his family moved to Long Island. His dreams of an artistic career took off when his parents gifted him an airbrush kit. Andaluz taught himself how to airbrush and fielded orders from classmates. He then realized he could make a living off his passion for art. He started his own company, On Da Loose Designs, where he helps startup companies with creative ideas, such as branding, logos and social media concepts. In 2014, Andaluz established himself as Andaluz the Artist — when he would paint while rapping.

In each piece, Andaluz aims to paint a story through collage-like imagery by using his knowledge of realism, pop art, portraiture, graffiti and graphic arts. With those skills, he strives to create inspiring and powerful pieces.

"We thank Andaluz the Artist endlessly for this captivating and significant addition to our high school and community as a whole," the South Huntington School District stated. "It will truly serve as an earnest reminder of acceptance, hope, and unity for our Wildcats to appreciate for years to come."