Remembering Selena: California muralists reflect on Selena's 'timeless' impact

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- It's been more than 25 years since Selena Quintanilla, the Queen of Tejano music, was tragically killed. But in the hearts and minds of so many, she lives on. And murals are a very public way to honor her life and legacy.

Among the artists who've paid tribute is Los Angeles based Levi Ponce.

"To me Selena represents just my childhood. Like growing up in the airwaves there wasn't a lot that represented me, that represented my people, my town, my pueblo, my barrio. There wasn't a lot," said Ponce. "And Selena was everywhere in English and in Spanish."

In 1995, Selena was just 23 years old when she died. Friday would have been her 50th birthday.

For Hayward muralist Irene Shiori, Selena's impact lives on.

"For me Selena is a very iconic idol for women, for Mexican Americans, Chicano culture, her influence in fashion and music," said Shiori.

Shiori partnered with Danial Paniagua, a Stockton muralist, to add a Selena mural in Stockton.

"She was just an inspiration for us as people as a community. And we just felt that we needed a mural like that, that would pay tribute to her in a way here in Stockton, California because we've never had a mural of her," said Paniagua.

And each mural is unique. Many artists said their inspiration was drawn from something about Selena and her experience that resonated within them.

"It's in black and white as a sort of... it's in the past right," said Ponce about his mural in Los Angeles. "But everything around her is in full color just like all of the joy around her and all of the joy she radiated from that smile."

Whether it was her success as a Mexican American, her music, fashion, or her love for fans, murals celebrate everything Selena was and continues to be, because, well, as her fans have said, 'anything for Selenas.'

Where Selena Quintanilla-Perez murals can be found across California

Levi Ponce's mural at Plaza De La Raza

3540 N. Mission Rd., Los Angeles, CA 90031

The mural at Plaza De La Raza has been up since 2013. In 2014, it became home to the #SelenaFanGathering in Los Angeles where fans from all over celebrate Selena Quintanilla-Perez.

"Stay Strong" Mural

1600 Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA. 90026

Signed by @hengone and @la_steezy, the mural at Echo Park Fashion facing Sunset Boulevard features Frida Kahlo, Dolores Huerta, and Selena Quintanilla.

"Portrait of Hollywood" at Hollywood High School Auditorium

1521 N. Highland Avenue - Hollywood, California

Eloy Torrez painted 13 entertainers for a mural in 2002 on the east wall of the Hollywood High School Auditorium. One of those depicted in Selena.

Hija De Tu Madre mural by artist @joyhjliu

102 N. Boyle Blvd., Los Angeles, CA. 90033

Women Empowerment Mural at Ray and Roy's Market

2800 E. 4th St., Los Angeles, CA. 90033

On the side of Ray and Roy's Market, Isabel Peinado's mural painted in 2017 features 16 women, including Selena. Peinado explains on her website that she made the mural to "remind everyone that we are a country of immigrants, that's what makes us diverse and beautiful, like the 16 influential women she painted in her mural."

Gustavo Zermeño Jr.'s mural at Soul On Ice 24/7

2491 W. Washington Blvd., Los Angeles, CA. 90018

Soul on Ice, a sports and streetwear store in L.A., has a mural that can be seen when the store is open, featuring Selena in a Dodgers hat.

Tha Sloe's Mural at on West Jefferson

2431 W. Jefferson Blvd., Los Angeles, CA. 90018

Selena faces 5th Ave., standing between two roses. Tha Sloe completed the mural in 2019.

"Selena: The Series" mural

1200 South Hope St Los Angeles, CA 90015.

As part of the promotion for the Netflix series "Selena: The Series," artist Emilia Cruz created the mural that faces Hope St. In an Instagram post announcing its installation, Cruz shared that she found Selena as an inspiration. "It was important to be able to see someone in the mainstream media who felt so familiar," she said. "I still remember that I played her cassette nonstop in my little pink boombox."

Tetris Wai's mural at Novacane Bar & Grill

2420 E. 58th St., Vernon, CA. 90058

Artist Tetris Wai installed a mural on the side of Novacane Bar in Huntington Park in 2021. It can be seen in the parking lot and depicts Selena with the artist's name in big letters next to her.

Melany Meza-Dierks's mural at Superior Nut Company

5200 Valley Blvd., Los Angeles, CA. 90032

Meza-Dierks's mural shows various musical artists like Tupac, Aaliyah and Selena in front of a galaxy of purples and blues. They were introduced to Valley Blvd in 2021.

Gustavo Zermeño Jr.'s mural at Awebo Fashion

10874 Venice Blvd., Culver City, CA. 90232

Another one of Zermeño Jr.'s murals of Selena can be found in Culver City, facing Girard Ave. It depicts Selena singing in her iconic purple jumpsuit.

Nick Santos' Mural at El Hair Studio

114 N. Palm Ave., Santa Paula, CA. 93060

Nick Santos' mural at El Hair Studio can be found in the parking lot of the studio, depicting Selena in a color-blocked illustration.

Rocio Cintron's Mural at The Americana at Brand

216 S. Brand Blvd. Glendale, CA. 91204

Located at the Americana at Brand in Glendale, Cintron's mural of Selena is painted on the side of a utility box. She paints the singer in a cartoon style, dancing with a mic and white rose.

Stockton mural at Discount Market

48 S San Joaquin St. Stockton, CA 95202

On the side of Discount Market, a mural of Selena sitting at a table is shown facing E. Market St.

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