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Luis Peralta Del Valle’s Solo Show Instills Love, Hope and Art

WASHINGTON INFORMER — When one drives or walks through the neighborhoods in the District, colorful murals jump off building walls, making the city a prettier, more art-filled place. Chances are, many of those murals are by 38-year old artist Luis Peralta Del
Valle.This month, the artist, who started tagging walls as a graffiti artist in his teens, was selected for a solo show at the Anacostia Arts Center.

Published

7 years ago

October 31, 2019

Oakland Post

One of the pieces in Luis Peralta Del Valle's solo show (Courtesy photo)

By Eve M. Ferguson

When one drives or walks through the neighborhoods in the District, colorful murals jump off building walls, making the city a prettier, more art-filled place. Chances are, many of those murals are by 38-year old artist Luis Peralta Del Valle.

This month, the artist, who started tagging walls as a graffiti artist in his teens, was selected for a solo show at the Anacostia Arts Center.

“Out of Chaos,” as the show is titled, is rife with deep meanings, symbols and pays homage to the artist’s roots, incorporating graffiti and other elements that point to street and public art. Particularly noticeable is the “canvas” he chooses — repurposed streets signs layered with recycled paper and U.S. Postal stickers.

“Road signs usually warn us about danger,” he said. “As a graffiti artist, I would usually do art on them — tag them or put stickers on them. When you see a warning sign, it usually tells you not to do something negative — stop, yield, don’t go left. I decided to put iconic and unknown figures on them.”

The realistic, classical portraiture of people who have overcome great setbacks or made great strides are painted on top the road signs in their original diamond shape and bright orange background. Other paintings are traditional canvases, but hide graffiti tags in the backgrounds. Iconic figures such as Katherine Johnson of “Hidden Figures” fame, ballerina Misty Copeland, the late artist Michael Platt and the “Father of Go-Go” Chuck Brown are the subjects of many of the works.

“‘Out of Chaos’ speaks to the human experience that a lot of African Americans and Hispanics go through — and other ethnicities go through — we live in this chaotic world and we have a lot of negative things going on,” said Del Valle, who was born in Nicaragua and spent time in refugee camps before coming to the District in his teens.

“But in these bad situations there have always been people that overcame these chaotic situations in their lives and actually excelled in their careers or whatever they do professionally,” he said.

The centerpiece life-size portrait of Misty Copeland hung on the far wall from the entrance, is majestic in its scale and grandeur, capturing the ballerina with an expression that is both regal and defiant.

“One of the great things that I came across, which I used in the Misty Copeland portrait, ‘Grace’ is a new technique. I always had these disposable plates with dried up paint because that is what I use as a palette. I put my paint on the plate and I use them. A lot of paint just dries up. I never wanted to throw them away, but I never knew what to do with this dried up paint,” Del Valle continued.

“Then one day I said, ‘my hands are really hurting. What can I do to create without using a brush so I don’t have to use my tendons?’” he said. “I got the idea to start scraping the paint off the disposable plates and adding it to my canvases. What that did was add more dimension to my canvases and I was able to add texture and at the same time add dimension to them. It took my art to a whole different level, and that is something I would have never found out if I had not had that tragedy.”

Del Valle found beauty in his tragic events, and sought to bring that element out — triumph over tragedy — in his portraits.

“Misty Copeland also broke some barriers as a ballerina,” Del Valle said. “She also came from poverty and struggles. As ballerinas, people of color were thought they could never reach the highest heights, but she is now principal ballerina. That is a door that she knocked down so that other young girls could follow her lead.”

The use of the street signs reflects a “transfiguration from one symbolic vocabulary to a new one rooted in love, hope and art. Visions of strength, determination, prosperity and beauty are created using refined elements of traditional portraiture and the embedding of positive messages,” according to his artist’s statement.

Other subjects are less known publicly, but no less vital to the message that Del Valle is trying to relay: “figures who have converted their pain, challenges and frustration into purpose.”

According to the artist, “they not only transformed their lives, but influenced the lives of others for generations.”

One with great meaning to Del Valle is Michael Freeman, whose introspective portrait faces “Grace” across the long gallery space. Freeman, like Del Valle, is a Southeast resident.

“Pastor Mike Freeman, Apostle Freeman now, is the lead pastor at Spirit of Faith Christian Center — he’s been very instrumental in my life recovering from depression and anxiety that were caused by a car accident back in 2016,” Del Valle said. “I was in a place where I couldn’t really paint like I used to — for 12-14 hours a day without even missing a heartbeat. But in the car accident, I injured my hands, my neck, my shoulders … pretty much everything that an artist needs. Every time I would paint, my tendons would burn. They gave me OxyContin for painkillers and medicine for muscle spasms. It was the worst thing for me. It made me suicidal and very depressed.”

Not only did Freeman help Del Valle recover from his darkest hours, but also he had experienced similar trauma, having had medical issues that resulted in the pastor being in a coma. He was paralyzed, and those other people who had similar conditions did not survive. However, through prayers and the care of his wife, he recovered.

“I kept trying to paint, doing what I could do, sometimes 30 minutes a day because what else am I supposed to do? I am a full-time artist,” Del Valle said.

“Out of Chaos” is on view at the Anacostia Arts Center (1231 Good Hope Road SE) through Nov. 15. Del Valle’s murals can be seen throughout the city at Savoy, Roosevelt, Watkins, Hyde Addison, Garrison, Bancroft and Lafayette elementary schools, as well as Langston Place Apartments, Sisters City Project and Children’s National Medical Center.

Del Valle is the recipient of numerous arts awards, including the 2015 National Museum of Catholic Art and Library Award and the 2013 East of the River Distinguished Artist Award. In 2017, he was honored with the NCIS Director’s Coin by NCIS Director Andrew L. Traver. More information can be found on his website, www.LuisPeraltaGalelry.com.

This article originally appeared in The Washington Informer.

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Related Topics:Anacostia Arts Center Art Eve M. Ferguson lifestyle Luis Peralta Del Valle Out of Chaos Washington D.C.Washington Informer

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61 years after Selma, Houston leaders say the fight for equality continues. The issues that sparked the marches still impact Black Americans today.

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Here is what you need to know about finding unique white elephant gift ideas that everyone wants to steal

The best white elephant gift ideas are funny enough to get a reaction but useful enough that people actually want to steal them. Look for gifts with a surprise factor, broad appeal, an inside joke, and just enough personality to spark some friendly competition. The wrapping paper comes off, the room goes quiet for half […]

Published

1 month ago

October 4, 2026

Oakland Post

The best white elephant gift ideas are funny enough to get a reaction but useful enough that people actually want to steal them. Look for gifts with a surprise factor, broad appeal, an inside joke, and just enough personality to spark some friendly competition.

The wrapping paper comes off, the room goes quiet for half a second, and suddenly everyone wants the same gift. That is the sweet spot. A great white elephant pick should make people laugh, lean in, and start plotting their next steal before the turn is even over.

Should a White Elephant Gift Be Funny or Useful?

A white elephant gift can be funny or useful, but the strongest choices usually give people a reason to laugh and a reason to keep the item. A practical gift with an odd design, unexpected feature, or playful theme can get a reaction without becoming something the recipient immediately wants to give away.

The right balance depends on the group. Close friends and family members may enjoy a ridiculous gag gift because they already understand one another’s sense of humor.

A workplace exchange, neighborhood party, or mixed-age gathering usually calls for something with broader appeal. In those settings, humor works better when it is built into an item people could still use afterward.

It also helps to think about how quickly the gift will make sense once it is opened. A strangely shaped kitchen tool, oversized mug, quirky desk accessory, or unexpectedly fancy everyday item can create an immediate reaction. Guests understand the joke right away, while the item still has enough practical value to attract a steal.

Pure gag gifts can be harder to pull off. Something that exists only for the punchline may get a big laugh during the reveal and then sit untouched for the rest of the game. If the goal is to bring one of the gifts everyone keeps fighting over, usefulness gives the joke staying power.

Memorable Present Ideas: Creating Inside Joke Gifts

Inside joke gifts can make a white elephant exchange feel much more personal, especially when most of the group shares the same stories. The trick is choosing a reference that people will recognize quickly instead of building the entire joke around something only two guests understand.

You can turn a memorable vacation mishap, office catchphrase, family story, or long-running group joke into the theme of the gift. A personalized comic book can work especially well when it turns familiar people or a ridiculous shared moment into part of the story.

Think carefully about who the joke involves before ordering anything permanent. The gift should make the person feel included in the fun, not singled out for the wrong reason.

Can You Bring Something You Already Own?

Holiday gift exchanges can be a good place to re-gift something you never used, especially if it is unopened and clean.

The following can all work if they still look presentable:

A duplicate kitchen gadget
An untouched game
A decorative item
A sealed gift set
An unopened candle
A new travel accessory

The goal is to give the item a second chance, not use the exchange as an excuse to clear out damaged or unwanted clutter.

Take a close look at the packaging before wrapping it. Faded boxes, missing pieces, visible wear, or anything that looks obviously used can make the gift feel careless.

Wrapping Budget-Friendly Gifts

Wrapping can make gifts more entertaining before anyone even knows what’s inside.

Misdirection works especially well for fun party games. Put a small gift inside a much larger box. Use packaging from an unrelated household item.

Add harmless weight so guests cannot guess what they are holding. The reveal becomes part of the joke without changing the gift itself.

You can also lean into the theme of the exchange. Bright paper, oversized bows, reusable bags, or deliberately over-the-top wrapping can make an ordinary item feel more memorable. If the gift itself is already funny, simple wrapping may work better so the surprise stays hidden until the last second.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Picking Last an Advantage in White Elephant?

Picking last can be an advantage because you get to see almost every gift before making your move. Instead of choosing blindly from the remaining wrapped presents, you can steal something that has already caught your attention if the rules still allow it.

That advantage depends on the house rules. Some games limit how many times a gift can be stolen.

Others lock an item once it reaches a certain number of steals. If the most popular gifts are already unavailable, the final player may have fewer strong options than expected.

The first player can also get another turn at the end in some versions of the game. That rule can balance things out, since the person who started with the least information may get one final chance to steal.

How Do You Plan White Elephant for a Large Group?

For a large white elephant exchange, set a firm spending limit and establish the stealing rules in advance.

Create a clear turn order before the game begins. Drawing numbers as guests arrive can save time once everyone is ready to start.

Keep the number of steals per gift limited so the game does not drag on. It also helps to have one person track which creative holiday presents have been stolen and when they are locked, especially if dozens of people are participating.

Can You Play White Elephant Virtually?

A virtual white elephant exchange can work over a video call, with one person keeping track of the turn order and each steal. Guests can either mail physical gifts ahead of time or use digital gifts that can be delivered once the game ends.

Set the spending limit and stealing rules before everyone joins. It also helps to decide how gifts will be revealed and who is responsible for sending each one afterward so the exchange does not become confusing.