Former club bouncer and Los Angeles native Estevan Oriol got his start in the entertainment business managing tours for huge artists like “House of Pain” and “Cypress Hill” almost 20 years ago. While globe trotting with them he began his photography career taking flicks of the madness and glitter that surrounds international celebrities. When he was back home in L.A though, it was a much different story. He took his cues from the street life surrounding him. The singular dramatic black and white photos he produces are gripping, beautiful, and authentically menacing portraits of individuals fully immersed in L.A gang lifestyle. Blessed with a talented eye and a hood pass, he takes pictures in places armed with a camera where most tough guys would take a weapon. Offered for the first time to the public for free, in this exclusive interview from The Run Up, Estevan Oriol expresses his thoughts, methods, and views on approaching everyday with the hunger of a hustler who doesn’t know where his next meal will come from.

As an introduction to the new Carrot Fall/Winter 2008 collection, we present you their collaboration with photographer Estevan Oriol. The front features a photo by the artist and the back the signature of both the artist and the brand.

Expect the Carrot x Estevan Oriol t-shirt to become available in the near future.

On September 26 (Friday), The Last Laugh will host a launch party for Estevan Oriol’s 2009 LA Women Calendar. He’ll be on site signing copies, as will cover girl Rachel Sterling. Additionally, his newly design playing cards will be on display and for the taking. If your in LA, make sure to head down to Last Laugh.

Images of the flier and some previews of the LA Women after the jump.

Photographer Estevan Oriol’s latest works with Upper Playground includes a calender featuring some of the fine women he regularly shoots. Black and white and color photos live side by side, each month a new lady. Two new tees, see above, are also out now from the Fall 2008 line. 

Previews from the Estevan Oriol calender after the jump. Very nice indeed.

Estevan Oriol has just dropped a new line of tees. Staying true to his roots, the photographer captures the tough and gritty side of LA with honesty and reverence. (via Juxtapoz). 

Stussy London recently held an Estevan Oriol signing in their store. As part of the event they released the Stussy x Neighborhood Boneyards Estevan Oriol t-shirt. The artist was in place for the event.
Here above you see the t-shirt. After the jump some more images of the signing.

Estevan Oriol has once again created some new t-shirts for Upper Playground. As part of their Spring/Summer ‘08 collection they present the "Always Open", "Watch Tower "and "City Of Angels" t-shirts. 
All three are now available in the Upper Playground online store. More images after the jump.

After already previously presenting you the first two series of the Stussy Customade Our Gangs project, we show you today the third series.
This time Stussy got together with Will Sweeney, Estevan Oriol, Alexis Ross and Peter Bagge. Each artist contributed one graphic to the series. Expect each t-shirt to be coming to stores soon in a black and a white colorway.
Detailed images of all 4 t-shirts after the jump.

San Francisco-based apparel and art company Upper Playground, photographer and director Estevan Oriol and artist Mister Cartoon are excited to announce the unveiling of a series of four one-of-a-kind retail establishments in the Skid Row area of downtown Los Angeles. Each storefront will offer customers a unique fashion and fine art experience. In celebration of the new properties, the three entities will host anopen house on Saturday, May 31, 2008 that will feature a special art exhibit and appearances from some of the world’s leading designers involved in the project.
Upper Playground is the pioneer of combining fashion and fine art. In celebration of the new store opening, there will be a special art exhibit featuring the works of Usugrow, Sam Flores, Jeremy Fish, David Choe, Herbert Baglione, San, Retna, Saber, Alex Pardee, Ron English, Doze Green, Slick, Armsrock and David Ellis. Many of the featured artists on display also contribute designs to Upper Playground’s apparel line.
In addition to Upper Playground, the new venture includes “The Last Laugh,” which will house the Mister Cartoon and Estevan Oriol retail experiences.
The fourth location involved in the new retail project will be a rotating concept that will house unique fashion and art concepts for short periods of time. During the open house, it will feature a display of custom motorcycles from 1998 AMA 250cc Champion-turned motorcycle designer Roland Sands and limited-edition fashion pieces from designer and model Tony Ward’s line, Six in the Face. From August through September the site will be transformed into a truly unique promotional experience for the upcoming feature film from Overture Films called “Righteous Kill” starring Robert De Niro and Al Pacino. SA Studios Global, the agency of Estevan Oriol and Mister Cartoon, was selected to produce the iconic poster for the film. The space will become the exclusive promotional headquarters for the film and will feature a shrine to the film’s stars.
Upper Playground & The Last Laugh
125 E. 6th Street (between S. Main St. and S. Los Angeles St.)
Downtown Los Angeles, California
Wow, not one store, but actually 4 ventures will be opened and it sure sounds like it is worth passing by once in a while. Even if not for the clothing, there seem to be many other reasons to check out the space. The hype around opening retail spaces in Los Angeles does not seem to find an end.

The original prints from the Undefeated – adidas Originals – Estevan Oriol: 1979 capsule photo exhibition at Firmament in Berlin are now available for sale in-store and online. Each print – from an edition of 10 – is framed, numbered and signed by Estevan Oriol.