CR 091: Mike Norice on the Power of Art to Unite Communities

The acclaimed visual artist and subject of the documentary “Artfully United” discusses his life and career.

Mike Norice, photo by Wesley Lapointe

In the inspiring new documentary Artfully United, director Dave Benner and producer Chris Walters share the story of Mike Norice, a visual artist who is beautifying some of the most crime-ridden sections of Los Angeles one wall at a time. Norice, who built a following designing custom sneakers for star clients, including Elton John, Madonna, and Tom Cruise, began painting murals in 2017, with the hopes that inspirational messages and vibrant imagery would bring much-needed positivity to L.A.’s toughest neighborhoods.

Through a tour he calls Artfully United (which shares a name with his nonprofit), Norice set out to paint 20 murals featuring messages such as Forgiveness, Harmony, and Dream Big. Fifteen of the 20 have been completed so far, often thanks to community volunteers who assist with painting. The journey to complete the first 15 murals is portrayed in the film, which also profiles Norice’s childhood in Watts, where he was raised by a single …