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Public Art in Chinatown and El Pueblo

By Jeremy Backlar
August 22, 2010
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Los Angeles is one of the most mural crazy cities in the country. So it's no surprise that Chinatown and El Pueblo Historic Monument have their fare share of amazing public art. El Pueblo is filled with colorful murals with a strong Latino and Chicano influence, and the patchwork of ethnicities in Chinatown offer much more than just Chinese art.

Upon arriving at El Pueblo, head over to the Plaza United Methodist Church to see "The Blessing of the Animals," a mural by Leo Politi that depicts an El Pueblo tradition dating back to 1938 in which pet owners from around the city come to get their animals blessed. Walk across the street to the north side of Nuestra Senora Reina De Los Angeles catholic church, and you will see "Reina de Mexico y Emperatriz de America," a giant mural depicting La Virgen de Guadalupe with hundreds of flowers and candles adorning the base of the work.

Make your way to Chinatown Central Plaza to find all kinds of great pieces like the "Chinese Celestial Dragon" by artist Tyrus Wong, and a statue of "Seated Buddha" directly underneath it.

In addition to the Chinese art-inspired murals, there are pieces that allude to the other ethnicities and nationalities that call Chinatown home. In the front of Pacific Alliance Medical Center, located on the corner of College and Hill St., is a statue of "Jeanne D'Arc," a remnant of the days when the area had a large population of French immigrants.

Los Angeles loves its art, and the areas of Chinatown and El Pueblo are a testament to that. Even if you're not a huge art buff, this historic area of the city is worth the visit and well worth your time.

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Jeanne D'Arc | Photo by Clotee Pridgen Allochuku used under a Creative Commons license

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