Public Art in the Figueroa Corridor and Financial District

The Figueroa Corridor and Financial District is bordered by Pico Boulevard on the south side, and by First Street on the north side. It is an area of commercial buildings (many of which date back to the early part of the 20th century), and contemporary public works of art. This page describes public art works on Figueroa boulevard, Wells Fargo Center, California Plaza, YMCA, Los Angeles Public Library, Bunker Hill, and Pershing Square. East of this area is the Grand Hope Park. Do not reproduce information from this site without acknowledgement of the artists and their works, or of the authors of this site.

Figueroa and 4th St.

• Jerome Kirk, Aquarius, 1969. Union Bank, 445 S. Figueroa.
  • Background information on the sculpture
  • A brief biography of the artist
  • A short bibliography on the sculpture

• Fountain. Union Bank, 445 S. Figueroa.

Figueroa and 5th St.

• Christopher Keene, Salmon Run, 1982. Manulife Plaza. Bears fishing.
  • Background information on the sculpture
  • A brief biography of the artist
  • A short bibliography of resources

Figueroa and Wilshire

• Eric Orr, LA Prime Matter, 1991 (CRA%)
  • Background information on the project
  • A brief biography of the artist
  • A short bibliography on the project
  
  
• Fountain

Figueroa and 7th St.

• Neon sculpture at the Wilshire Grand on 7th Street.

• Former Home Savings of America building, Albert C. Martin & Associates, 1988. (Home Savings was purchased by Washington Mutual in 1999, and later sold to another corporation.)
  • Background information on the Public Art Program in this building.
    
  • Description of the art from a Home Savings of America brochure, no date [ca late 1980s].

  • Joyce Kozloff, Gardens of Villandry and Gardens at Chenonceaux, 1989 (CRA%).
    
    • Background information on the project
    • A short biography of the artist
    • A short bibliography on the project

  • Richard Haas, Sky Lobby (Latitude 34, Longtitude 118, A Southern California Panorama), 1989. 6th floor.

  • Carlos Almaraz. Story of LA, 1988. Another detail. Ground floor.

  • Tony Berlant. Yang Na, 1988. Ground floor.

  • Terry Schoonhoven, City Above, 1991. A mural for the Metrorail Blue Line. (CRA%)
    • View of the mural with details.
    • Detail with a partial view of Patsy Norvell's glass windows showing intricately carved motifs of leaves and vines.
    • Background information on the mural
    • Biographical information on the artist
    • A short bibliography on the mural

  • Patsy Norvell, Glass Passage, 1988. 660 S. Figueroa. Detail of Glass Passage with palm fronds. Detail of the pine-cone column
    • Brief background information on the project
    • A short biography on the artist
    • A short bibliography on the project

    • Other art works in the building, as described in 1988:
      • Frederic-August Bartholdi (1834-1904). Liberty Enlightening the World, 1876, model.
      • Edward Berge (1876-1924), Wildflower, 1915. Bronze, 42". From Baltimore, MD., Berge studied sculpture in Paris under Verlet and Rodin. He was a member of the National Sculpture Society and best known for his garden and fountain figures.
      • Frederick MacMonies (1863-1937). Nathan Hale, 1890. Bronze, 28 1/4 " x 9 1/4" x 6". Paris foundry Jaboeuf and Rouard seal. One of the most prominent American sculptors to espouse the Beaux-Arts style, MacMonnies created many familiar monuments. The statue of Nathan Hale in City Hall Park, New York, of which this figure is a small scale rendition, is one of his best known works.
      • Peter Alexander. Santa Monica I, 1988. Pastel on paper 18" x 20". Located at the coupon booth in the basement.
      • Larry Cohen, View from Malibu Canyon Road (Overcast Weather), 1988. Oil on canvas, 44" x 66". Located at the reception area in the basement.
      • Barbara Kasten. Site 14: 8991 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, c. 1986. Cibachrome print 30" x 40". Located in the secretarial area in the basement.
      • Barbara Kasten. Site 11: Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, c. 1986. Cibachrome print, 30" x 40". Located in the secretarial area in the basement.
      • Simeon Lagodich. Griffith Park Observatory from Mt. Hollywood, 1988. Oil on canvas 40: x 52:. Located at the branch manager's office on the ground floor.
      • Astrid Preston. House by House, 1986. Colored pencil on paper, 13 1/2" x 37 3/8". Located in the employee area in the basement.
      • Edward Ruscha. Two Similar Cities, 1981. Silkscreen print, 22" x 60". Located at the vault area in the basement.
      • Terry Schoonhoven. Study for Grand Central Market. Watercolor on paper, 22" x 75". Located in the employee lounge in the basement.

    For additional resources, go to the page dedicated to Metro Art.

• Fine Arts Building, built in 1927. 811 7th St.

• Poet's Walk, Seventh Street Promenade and Citicorp Center, Figueroa and 7th St. (CRA%)

• Sign at the 7th and Figueroa shopping Center (7th+Fig)

Figueroa and 8th St.

• Andrew Leicester, Zanja Madre, 1992. 801 S. Figueroa. (CRA%)

• Kent Twitchell. Harbor Freeway Overture, 1993-1994. Mural on Citicorp parking structure, view from the 110 freeway going north.
  • A short biography of the muralist

• Elynn Zimmerman, Lithos, 1991. Manulife Tower, 865 S. Figueroa. (CRA%)

Figueroa and 9th St.

• Eugene Sturman, Homage to Cabrillo Venetian Quardant, June 19, 1985. Stainless steel, bronze and copper.
  • Brief background information on the project
  • Brief biography of the artist
  • A short bibliography of resources

• Betty Gold, Holistic V, 1981. Harbor Freeway/9th Street Offramp
  • Background information on the sculpture
  • Biographical information on the artist

Figueroa and Olympic

• Michael Tansey, Daffodil Metamorphosis, 1996. (CRA%)
  • Background information on the project
  • A short bibliography on the project

Figueroa and Pico

• Staples Center:
  • Halfmile temporary construction mural, Staples arena. Removed as of fall 1999.

  • Mark Lere, Untitled Four, 1999. Staples arena, north side. Moved in 2007

  • Omry Amrany, Earvin Magic Johnson, 2004.

  • Los Angeles Sports Arch of Fame, 2004.

  • Blome, Wayne Gretzky, 2002.

  • Blue McRight, Garland, 1999. Staples arena, south side
    • Detail
    • Night view

  • Lloyd Hamrol, Press, 1999.

  • Jennifer Steinkamp, X-Ray Eyes, 1999.

  • John Outterbridge, Wing Tips with Angel Eyes at Play, 1999

• Convention Center:
  • Alexis Smith. Map of the Pacific Rim, 2002.

  • Pat Ward Williams, Gilbert Lindsay memorial, 1994.
    • Detail of the photographic inserts.
    • Detail of the photographic inserts.
    • Detail of photographs in the pavement around the work

  • Electroland, EnterActive, MetLofts, 2006 (CRA%). 11th and Flower. Lobby and external LED display.

This page provides a brief historical overview of the development of Bunker Hill, and information about public art projects, particularly in the following areas: Bunker Hill steps and surrounding area, 444 Flower building, Downtown YMCA, 333 S. Hope Street (formerly Security Pacific Tower, now Arco Center), Wells Fargo Center and Plaza, California Plaza and surrounding area, and Angels Flight.

• Public sculpture and murals at the Los Angeles Public Library

• Herbert Bayer, Double Ascension, 1969-1973. Bank of America building, west of the Library.
  • Background information on the sculpture
  • A short biography on the artist

• Doors from the Atlantic Richfield Building.

• Bike Stop, 1995. ARCO Plaza, next to Bank of America, Figueroa St. (CRA% and LADOT)
  • Background information on the bike rack

• Bike Rack next to Library Tower, 5th St.

• Lita Albuquerque, Site, Memory, Reflection, 1992-1993 (CRA%). 550 S. Hope St. Building.

• Laddie John Dill, Untitled, 1986. (CRA). 655 Hope St.

• Richard Rowley, Charlotte B., 1986. (CRA) 655 Hope St.
  • Background information on the work
  • A brief biography of the artist

• Common Threads Artists, Hidden Labor; Uncovering L.A.'s Garment Industry, temporary installation. Grand and 7th, came down in May 1998.

• Cookie Lommel and Operation Unity, California Kibbutz Exhibition, Grand and 6th, May 2004.

• Mike Rottenberg, Mary's Cherries, 2003. Standard Hotel, 550 South Flower at 6th Street, as of 2/2010.

• Frieze above the main doors, showing oil drilling, 1950s. Standard Hotel, 550 South Flower at 6th Street.

• Jenny Holzer, LED tower, 2010. Standard Hotel, 550 South Flower at 6th Street.

• Philip (?) Mural, 2010. Exterior of Standard Hotel, 550 South Flower at 6th Street.

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  Pershing Square

  • Historical information and photographs

  • Public Art in Pershing Square

05/2010