These people might not even describe themselves as artists. They have day jobs and families to provide for, and their art is simply an outlet. Perhaps they even like staying under the radar. Regardless, the art they create and leave behind is a huge part of what makes LA the city it is.
I’m taking an art class this quarter. A few weeks ago, my professors assigned us each a region of Los Angeles. We were instructed to capture it from our own perspective. We weren’t supposed to show up, snap a photo and call it a day. We were meant to stay and observe the environment. Look around: What is it about this place that makes it unique?
I went to Venice Beach. I brought my film camera and took photos of the canals, the beachfront walkway lined with eclectic storefronts and graffiti-sprayed garage doors. The thing is, that’s what all of the tourists see. It’s not the full picture. In search of the “real Venice,” I eventually wandered onto the neighborhood streets where I found at least three different murals. I suppose I shouldn’t have been surprised – Venice Beach is known to be a haven for creatives and artists. The murals weren’t painted anywhere prominently. One of them was on a wooden fence, another on the side of someone’s house. This had me thinking about just how many murals there are all throughout LA. They’re everywhere, if you look.
As inhabitants of this city, even if just temporarily, we are given the perfect excuse to visit all of the known landmarks: the Hollywood sign, the Santa Monica Pier, the Griffith Observatory. There are lists out there – if you haven’t taken your own self-guided tour yet, you should. But once you complete that bucket list, I encourage you all to take a trip like I did. There is so much of LA that is “hidden,” in a way. Possibly one of the best ways to go about discovering these little pockets is to go in search of murals. Yes, you will certainly find the big, bold murals strategically placed to capture as many eyes as possible. But you will also find the hidden gems like I did, tucked around corners where you’d least expect them.
The days we have left at UCLA are numbered, for all of us. Some of us may stay close by, but many of us will go our separate ways, leaving this city that became our home for the last four years. I’m approaching the halfway point, and even that upcoming milestone is making me think about all of the things I want to do before my time runs out. One of those things is to take more trips like the one I took to Venice. So, long story short: Please appreciate all that LA has to offer. Especially the art. It’s everywhere, if you look.
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Featured Image: Mural on Rose Ave, Venice Beach, CA – January 2025. Photographed by Ava Moser/BruinLife
