Richard Shaw Taylor

Richard Shaw Taylor, age 47, of Pacific Palisades, passed on June 27 after complications of autoimmune disease; He was surrounded by family and friends.

Born August 12, 1975, Richard excelled at everything he approached.

As a young athlete, he mastered track and field, soccer, baseball, basketball, surfing, skateboarding, hiking, backpacking, skydiving and motocross. At 13, he competed in the United States TaeKwonDo Junior Olympics, where he placed second in his belt/weight ranking but declined offers from the US Olympic team. By 16, he had achieved Black Belt.

Richard was active in Palisades Boy Scout Troop #223 where he ranked Eagle Scout. For his project, at Temescal Canyon Gateway Park, he created and installed public signage, and fortified hiking trails against erosion for the safety of visitors.

Graduating from Palisades High School in 1993, Richard was voted most popular and most fashionable. He was awarded an Art Scholarship, and his illustration graced the cover of Surf ‘93. But, he was most proud of the school approved mural that he painted on campus as a gift to the community.

Rich’s artistic enthusiasm was instrumental in the beginnings of the Los Angeles graffiti movement. As XPRES, he was an original member of the “Can’t Be Stopped” crew, known for his iconic character piece-work. His CBS connections led to a partnership with Conart, an early hip-hop design venture, thus spawning Rich’s lifelong career in the apparel industry.

Rich pursued his BA degree at San Francisco State but later moved to Pasadena. He graduated with honors from the prestigious Art Center College of Design in 1998, majoring in Illustration.

During his 30-year career, Rich designed for brands, including Tony Hawk, Star Wars, Disney, Popeye, Robocop, True Religion, Rancid, and Guns & Roses. He organized many local art shows always for the benefit of socially relevant nonprofits. His privately commissioned paintings, murals, company logos and custom T-shirt designs were always in demand.

Richard married Leah (née Washburn) in 2004. They had their son, Scott, in 2006. Separated in the early 2010s, the two continued to co-parent. Scott is one of the highlights of Rich’s life.

For the past decade, Rich was dedicated to his own brand, Boneyard Artillery. His 1964 Doge Van, the “Green Ghost,” was eye-catching at every venue and fittingly housed all his hand-printed graphic Ts and merchandise. Boneyard Artillery had garnered a large following on social media.

Artist, clothier, punk rocker, vanner, beach bum, outdoorsman, do-gooder, father, brother, son, friend …

Rich delighted in watching the sunset, cracking a beer, or seeing a live band. He cruised the coast, surfed the breaks, relaxed in his van, and loved to share all this with his son, Scott.

Richard was preceded in death by his mother, Lynne Shaw Matthies Taylor.

He is survived by his son Scott Anelynne Taylor; former wife Leah Rachel Taylor; father Richard Winn Taylor II; sister Coby Dahlström, brother-in-law Eric Paul Dahlström; nephew Wyatt Paul Dahlström, and niece California Claire Dahlström.

Celebrations were held this summer locally at Temescal Canyon Gateway Park on Saturday, July 29 and for the wider community at Academy LA on Sunday, July 30.

Remembrances in Richard’s honor may still be made to the memorial GoFundMe (gofund.me/c4bc426a) where all continuing donations will go exclusively to the college fund of Richard’s son, Scott.