While reportedly of no relation to the legendary graffiti writer and street artist Chaz, photographer Gregory Bojorquez has created quite a name for himself in his home of East Los Angeles and beyond. His new solo show at Hardhitta Gallery displays a five-piece series of photographs from a recent bloody shootout in the streets of Hollywood. Bene Taschen is presenting the show at his pop-up art space, Hardhitta Gallery, during the LACMA Artwalk tomorrow.

Taschen has described the artist’s work as merciless and looking almost staged, and certainly his new series will fit these descriptions well. Find a synopsis from fellow LA-based artist Retna and show details below.

In December of 2011 while walking on Sunset Blvd, near the intersection of Vine Street, Bojorquez was literally caught in the crossfire of a dramatic shoot out between a lone gunman and LAPD. As Bojorquez instinctively snapped pictures, police shot the gunman dead in the street. One innocent bystander was also shot and later died in the hospital. Bojorquez’ photographs were carried by hundreds of newspapers around the world, but have never before been available to view as a sequence of fine art prints.

This series of photographs form the backbone of “.45 Point Blank,” which is a retrospective of Bojorquez work beginning in 1992 through 2011. The gritty, street-level work features the kind of grimy glamour that is Bojorquez’ calling card. From Boyle Heights to Beverly Hills, Bojorquez ability to capture the essence of such a disparate group of subcultures signals a major photographic tour de force.

Gregory Bojorquez - .45 Point Blank
Hardhitta Gallery
5900 Wilshire Blvd, East Annex (Variety Building)
Los Angeles, CA 90036

Show runs: June 9th-July 12th, 2012