Here's what the artist said about his painting:

"The young girl, a child really, appears older than her years... the result of living in a harsh urban environment. Like many of my portraits, the subject is anonymous, but based upon observations done 'in the field'. One day I saw such a girl standing in the streets of Los Angeles, and decided she'd be the perfect subject for a painting. My portrait of this girl is near life sized and painted on stretched linen.

People outside of LA may not realize this, but the true face of my city looks more like this girl than the faces you see in Hollywood films. Even though the dark haired, browned skinned peoples are quickly becoming the majority - they do not share the wealth and political power of the white community. At least... not yet."