Experience L.A. Like Never Before Through Andrew Soria’s Pop Surrealist Cityscapes

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this post ran in 2022. We’re publishing this update in honor of our September 2023 exhibition, Architecture, Interiors, and Urban Landscapes, which includes work from Andrew Soria.

Loud, saturated, erratic, and vibrant—Andrew Soria’s pop surrealist cityscapes pulse with the distinct energy of diverse L.A. neighborhoods. Amassed from hundreds of his original photographs, each work in Andrew’s Welcome to the Neighborhood series is carefully pieced together and digitally patched at the seams.

Andrew walks the streets of his native L.A. snapping pictures of “recognizable and iconic architectural elements,” documenting the city’s identity as it changes by the second. By using Photoshop to compile hundreds of images into one overstuffed virtual cityscape, Andrew hopes to capture the unique culture and spirit of each L.A. neighborhood.

Photographer Andrew Soria’s Welcome to the Neighborhood pulses with the distinct energy of diverse LA neighborhoods. — ‘Hollywood’

“My art is an exploration of culture and community,” says Andrew. “I portray the wholeness of places as they are while piecing together nuances of human behavior, habitat, and change.”

While some may view business advertisements, billboards, and signage as capitalist eyesores, Andrew sees them as neighborhood landmarks. Focusing on these architectural details helps Andrew in his quest to capture elements of modern human behavior from an uncommon viewpoint.

There are no people in Andrew’s work—but their presence is palpable. With a whoosh of electric color and a more-is-more mindset, Andrew pays homage to the tell-tale quirks of each neighborhood and its residents, inviting us to kick up our feet and enjoy the block party.

Scroll through to view Andrew’s work, then head to our September 2023 exhibition, Architecture, Interiors, and Urban Landscapes, to see his submission, “Better Days.”

“My art is an exploration of culture and community.” — Andrew Soria

Andrew Soria: Website | Instagram | Purchase Work

All photos published with permission of the artist.

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Jenna Eberhardt

Jenna Eberhardt (she/her/hers) is NOT REAL ART’s associate editor. Jenna is a writer and working artist from Asheville, NC, who specializes in watercolor botanicals and dreamy moonscapes. A true night owl, Jenna enjoys a minimum of two cups of coffee per day and isn’t afraid of the dark when she’s up late painting. As a registered yoga instructor with a background in health and wellness, Jenna believes in the brain-boosting power of a regular mindfulness practice, regarding rest and relaxation as a necessary part of the creative process.