Public Art
Public art on or about the L.A. River includes sculpture, poetry, murals, graffiti, mosaics, and performance art, making the river an open-air gallery of history and cultural expression for the city.
Some of our favorites to get you started:
This life-size bronze statue, located at the
Lincoln/Cypress station of the Gold Line, metaphorically connects history of the Gabrielino (Tongva) Indians who once inhabited the area with its contemporary landscape. Make sure to take note of details surrounding this piece including a 35-foot long triptych "story fence" that contains cutout text related to the Gabrielino Indians and the life-enhancing river.Water Street: River of Dreams by Cherie Gaulke, 2003
Guardians of the River Gate by Michael Amescua 1999
Located in The Anza Picnic Area of The Glendale Narrows, and named after the leader of the first overland colonizing expedition from Sonora to San Francisco, in 1775, this gate serves both a tribute and a welcoming entrance to the river.
The Great Wall of Los Angeles by Various Artists
Started in 1974 and completed over five summers, this mural depicts the history of Los Angeles, with emphasis on people of color, from prehistoric times through the 1950s. Conceived by Judith F. Baca and carried out by community members, this project is coordinated by the Social and Public Art Resource Center (SPARC).