From the Streets to the Studio + Living the Blueprint, Brick by Brick
There are artists… and then there are visionaries who turn survival into story, and story into legacy.
Meet Ricky Joey Casarez, a Chicano Creative Director, Abstract Artist, Model, Photographer, and the resilient spirit behind Bando Studios in Chino, California. His path wasn’t paved for him. He laid each brick a day at a time.
If I party now it’s just to Celebrate a Victory. I tell people my story to let them know it’s okay to fail, not know every answer to life but to get through it and do better for yourself. Life's far from easy but it’s brick by brick and in time it gets better each day.
HOW IT STARTED…
Raised in the City of Commerce, Ricky grew up surrounded by both love and struggle. The same streets that fortified him also threatened to consume him. Tagging freeway walls, dealing to survive and learning hard lessons at a young age threatened to jeopardize his freedoms.
But pain sharpened purpose.
Ricky has survived profound loss from losing his sister and his father the following year. The weight of these devastating losses nearly pulled him under. Rehabilitation came twice, and with the crucial support and sponsorship from Mike Tyson’s team, Ricky chose life and legacy over becoming another statistic.
Brick by brick, Ricky was determined to rebuild.
What I’m most proud of is being put in fashion walks, magazines, and working with clothing brands I would wear growing up.
LIVING THE BLUEPRINT
Ricky was blessed to witness Nipsey Hussle’s movement from close range and has appeared on sets in music videos such as “FDT” by YG ft. Nipsey Hussle and absorbing a message that changed his trajectory: Ownership. Creative autonomy. The Marathon mindset.
Nipsey reinforced that Ricky’s deep-rooted Chicano identity isn’t an obstacle, it’s a signature. A force. A reason to take up space. That divine inspiration pushed Ricky further into modeling, photography, carving his own lane out and directing his own creative universe.
And through Nipsey Hussle’s legacy — our paths aligned, and our friendship was born.
Since knowing Ricky, he has shared endless hours of free game with me on how to level up my creativity and run laps around people that weren’t rooting for me, because he always was. Ricky encouraged me in many ways, from starting modelling, participating in pop-up and fashion events that he coordinated himself, putting me on to countless industry connections, creating movement and motion that I may not have without his dedication to making sure “everybody eats”, as he says.
Ricky is one of those “once in a lifetime” people that you meet. He gives people their flowers. He pushes others to their purpose. He opens doors. He sees greatness where others overlook it. He listens with heart and humility. He collaborates, never competes. Where some chase clout, Ricky forms unbreakable community. Where some move with ego, Ricky moves with impact.
CREATIVE AUTONOMY IN ACTION
Today, Ricky operates Bando Studios in Chino, CA, specializing in:
📸 80s/90s Chicano Aesthetic Photography
🎨 Graffiti-to-Canvas Abstract Art
🧥 Custom Clothing & Styling
🎥 Visuals for Artists and Brands
He’s modeled and done photography for brands he once admired, true full-circle moments that he has wholeheartedly earned.
What sets me apart from others is that I’m not afraid to express myself whether I embarrass myself from not knowing what I’m doing. I just do it.
A COLLECTIVE VISION
Comfort Collective is proud to recognize the team behind our first promotional visuals for Eaze Miracle Rub + Pain Relief, which represent community healing through artistry and creativity:
For anyone with a vision or dream, I’ll tell you exactly what Ricky always tells me: “closed mouths don’t get fed, just start.”
