Angel Ortiz (b. 1967)

Angel Ortiz was born in New York. He is also known as LAII, LA2, or LA Rock, names which stand for "Little Angel" and are often seen as his tags.

At thirteen, he began his career when he met Keith Haring in 1980. For a number of projects Ortiz collaborated with Haring from 1981 to 1984. He continued to make his own artwork after his work with Haring ended. However, Ortiz is often overshadowed by Haring's fame.

He has been fighting to make his past and current work more well-known. In 2008 he famously tagged his name in a restored Haring outdoor mural without permission.

Ortiz is still living in New York and continues to create graffiti art.

Selected Exhibitions:

1982
Tony Shafrazi Gallery, New York City, with Keith Haring

1983
Fun Gallery, New York City, with Keith Haring
Galerie Watari, Tokyo, Japan, with Keith Haring
Robert Fraser Gallery, London, United Kingdom, with Keith Haring
Special Projects Paint Fiorucci, Milan, Italy, with Keith Haring

1990
Future Primeval Queens Museum, Flushing Meadows
Corona Park, New York with Keith Haring

2001
Follin Gallery, New York City

2002
Clayton Patterson Outlaw Museum, New York City

2003
LA II & Keith Haring, Due amici a New York negli anni '80, Putignano Arte

2004
Scope Art Fair, Los Angeles, California

2005
Galleria Leonardo Galerie, Bolzano, Italy.

Sources Include:
www.fineartamerica.com
www.artantide.com

The Puerto Rican graffiti artist Angel Ortiz, known by his artist name L.A. II, was discovered by Keith Haring in the early 1980s, when he saw his graffiti paintings in the Lower East Side. Haring promptly asked him to cooperate, so that Ortiz decided to leave the High School.

In 1982, the artists organized their first collaborative exhibition at Tony Shafrazi's gallery in New York. In return, L.A. II encouraged and taught Haring how to use spray paint, amongst other things.

Today, works by L.A II can be found in museums around the world. Besides, they are regularly on display in international galleries.