Meet Kyle Holbrook | Executive Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kyle Holbrook and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kyle, do you have some perspective or insight you can share with us on the question of when someone should give up versus when they should keep going?
For me, giving up is not an option when I’ve made a true commitment. If I gave my word, that means something. No matter how hard it gets, no matter what obstacles come up, I believe you see it through to the end. That’s about integrity. It’s about discipline. It’s about how you build your life and your reputation.

I always say this: the true definition of a person is how they react when times get hard. Anybody can be good when things are going well. That’s easy. What really matters is how you show up when things are difficult, when you’re tested, when everything in you wants to walk away. That’s where character is revealed.

I believe everything is connected. The energy you put out, the commitments you honor, the way you show up in hard moments, all of that comes back to you. If you allow yourself to quit once after committing, it becomes easier to do it again. That mindset can slowly shape your entire life. So for me, once I commit, there is no scenario where I walk away.

That said, there is a difference between honoring a commitment and staying in something that is harmful. If you’re pouring into a situation where there was no real commitment, or you’re trying to help someone who isn’t willing to help themselves, that’s different. You don’t “quit,” but you do step back. You create space. You protect your energy.

You cannot sacrifice your mental health, your well-being, or your purpose trying to carry something or someone that isn’t moving forward. In those cases, stepping back is not failure, it’s clarity.

So the way I see it is simple:
If you gave your word, you finish it. No matter what.
If something is harming you or draining you without purpose, you adjust, you step back, and you move forward in a healthier way.

That’s not giving up. That’s growth.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

My art is rooted in people. At the heart of everything I create is collaboration, community, and connection. I have painted in 51 countries and 49 states, but no matter where I am in the world, my process always starts the same way: listening. I want the people who live in a place, learn in a school, worship in a church, work in a company, or walk through a neighborhood to see themselves in the work.

What sets my art apart is that it is not just something people look at. It is something people become part of. I have developed a collaborative mural process where students, families, teachers, community members, and people of all backgrounds can physically contribute to the artwork. They write messages, paint colors, add their energy, and leave a piece of themselves inside the mural. The final piece becomes more than a painting. It becomes a visual record of a community’s voice.

I think of my murals as public monuments to everyday people. They are museum quality works created in public spaces, but they carry the spirit of the community inside them. The layers, colors, portraits, symbols, and movement all come from the stories around me. I want the artwork to feel powerful from far away, but when you get close, I want people to feel the humanity in it. The messages, the hands, the participation, the history, and the love are all part of the finished piece.

Professionally, I got here through faith, discipline, sacrifice, and never giving up. It was not easy. Nothing meaningful ever is. There were times when I had to create opportunities before anyone gave them to me. There were times when I had to believe in the vision before other people could see it. I faced rejection, financial challenges, logistical challenges, and moments where the work felt impossible. But I kept going because I knew the mission was bigger than me.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that art is not only about talent. It is about service. It is about showing up. It is about keeping your word. It is about understanding that creativity can heal, educate, unite, and transform people. Anybody can paint a wall, but not everybody can bring people together through that wall.

What I am most proud of is the impact. I am proud when a child who never thought of themselves as an artist sees their mark inside a finished mural. I am proud when a neighborhood feels seen. I am proud when people from different backgrounds stand side by side with a paintbrush in their hands and realize they are part of the same story.

What I want the world to know about my brand and my story is that this work is about unity. It is about peace. It is about inclusion. It is about using art as a bridge between people, cultures, generations, and communities. My murals are not just my story. They are our story.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Day 1 – Arrival + West Hollywood / Melrose energy
We ease in but still hit the ground with intention. Start on Melrose walking through galleries, street art, and independent shops. Grab something fresh and elevated at Gjelina or keep it classic LA healthy. Then sunset at the Sunset Strip—you feel the history of music, film, and culture layered into the city right away.

Day 2 – Art + Culture (Downtown LA)
We go deep. Morning at The Broad—contemporary art at the highest level. Then across to Walt Disney Concert Hall just to take in the architecture. Lunch in the Arts District, then walk the murals and studios—this is where you feel the real creative pulse. Dinner at Bestia if we want something that hits hard.

Day 3 – African American culture + Leimert Park / Crenshaw
This is essential. We spend time at Leimert Park—one of the most important African American cultural centers in LA. Live music, spoken word, art, real community energy. Then we go to California African American Museum to ground it historically and artistically.
Dinner at Dulan’s Soul Food Kitchen—real, authentic, no shortcuts. This day is about respect, culture, and understanding the city beyond the surface.

Day 4 – Beach day (Venice + Santa Monica)
We shift the energy. Bike the boardwalk from Venice Beach to Santa Monica Pier. Street performers, artists, skaters—it’s like a living canvas. Stop at the skate park and just watch the movement and creativity. Casual food, maybe something right on the water. Sunset here is non-negotiable.

Day 5 – Hollywood + Griffith Park
We tap into the iconic side but do it right. Quick walk through Hollywood Walk of Fame, then get above it all at Griffith Observatory. You see the entire city from there—it gives you perspective.
Dinner somewhere tucked away, maybe in Los Feliz or Silver Lake—something creative, not touristy.

Day 6 – Creative neighborhoods (Silver Lake + Echo Park)
This is where a lot of artists actually live and think. Coffee, bookstores, design shops. Walk Echo Park Lake, check out local galleries, small studios. This is about vibe and inspiration.
At night, maybe a low-key live music spot or pop-up event—you let the city guide you a little.

Day 7 – Reflection + one last moment
We circle back to whatever hit the hardest—maybe the beach, maybe an art space, maybe Leimert Park again. LA is about moments, not just places.
End it with something meaningful, not rushed.

What makes LA special to me
It’s not just the big names or the landmarks. It’s the layers. It’s how creativity exists everywhere—from museums to street corners. It’s how cultures intersect and influence each other. It’s the artists, the communities, the energy.

LA, at its best, is a living mural. And the real experience is stepping into it, not just looking at it.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to give a genuine shoutout to Louis Wolfson III. He’s been a mentor, a friend, and someone who truly believes in me and the work I’m doing.

What stands out most about Louis is not just his generosity, but his humility. He’s someone who has helped build communities and supported countless organizations and nonprofits, yet he carries himself with a level of humility that’s rare. He treats everyone the same, no matter where they come from or what their status is. That’s something I’ve learned a lot from.

He’s shown me that real impact isn’t about recognition, it’s about service. It’s about showing up for people, investing in others, and believing in ideas that can bring communities together.

Having someone like that in your corner, someone who not only supports you but also leads by example, means everything. He’s had a real influence on how I approach my work and how I try to move through the world.

Website: https://MLKMural.com

Instagram: @artworld187

Youtube: @artworld9887

Image Credits
Shane Dunlap

Gissel the photographer