By Sara Beth Williams–
Anyone who’s stepped inside Beach Hut Deli in Citrus Heights is bound to notice two beach-themed murals that lend bold creativity to the laid back atmosphere.
The artist behind the colorful wall art is Andre Shaw, more widely known as Mammxth (pronounced Mammoth). At the request of owner Matt Dockendorf, Shaw painted two murals following the deli’s interior remodel.
In keeping with the beach theme prevalent throughout, Shaw painted one mural of a giant shark’s mouth against a bold red backdrop, and another of a skeleton with long blond hair wearing a black bandana, with the ocean, sandy beach, palm trees, and a blue sky in the background. Above the skeleton, large graffiti-style text reads “BEACH HUT” in blue letters and “DELI” in red letters.
Shaw said during a sit-down interview with The Sentinel that he grew up in North Highlands and would “draw for hours,” as a kid, but while growing up, he did everything but chase art until he was well into adulthood.
After he turned thirty, Shaw began to learn to draw detailed caricatures, and when he posted finished artwork online, people began to request custom artwork. From there, Shaw said everything “snowballed.”
“I went from drawing with markers and pencils, doing character-style portraits for people, then got into painting, and the first thing I painted was my daughter’s jean jacket,” Shaw said, adding that the minute he posted it, people began requesting customized painted products from him, such as hats, backpacks and shoes.
Painting murals wasn’t something Shaw initially saw himself doing, even as his art career began to take off.
“I started running into people who didn’t want jackets or shoes but wanted artwork on canvases. It was always at the request of someone, and then all of a sudden it got me into something else,” Shaw said.
As he began painting on canvases, Shaw recalled that a friend asked if he would be willing to do live painting at an art event. After he successfully completed his first live painting, Shaw said he began live painting at events regularly. Shaw live-painted at the first Art Beat in Citrus Heights, led by Citrus Heights Arts founder Gigi Rayford. Shaw said Rayford was the first person to pay him to live paint.
“That’s how I ended up getting more discovered,” Shaw explained. The first time he was asked to do a mural was after a councilmember saw him painting in Oak Park during Juneteenth one year and connected him with Wide Open Walls.
Now, having grown up in North Highlands, Shaw made it a point to work with schools in the area to paint and bring art onto campuses as much as possible.
Shaw’s Instagram account shows dozens of photos of customized artwork on hats, jackets, and backpacks, as well as murals he’s completed over the years. Most of his murals pictured on Instagram feature African American caricatures and culture.
The artwork at Beach Hut Deli was completed during the new owner’s remodel a couple of years ago. More recently, Shaw completed multiple murals on the walls of DarkHeart Brewing, along with another mural on the wall of Stones Gambling Hall.
As for future endeavors, Shaw has joined with Rayford to help promote the new CH40 Arts District and plans to paint more murals in Citrus Heights but he did not disclose when and where just yet.
Shaw has also begun to expand outside of Sacramento County and has accepted an invite to participate in an arts festival called Old Town Walls in Ontario, California. The festival features multiple artists from different cities, Shaw said.
“It’s time,” Shaw said, when talking about expanding his career outside Sacramento County.
