Metro Art

The Los Angeles Count Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), located at One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012, is responsible for planning, designing, constructing and operating most of the public transportation in Los Angeles County, including Metro Rail and Metro Bus. Metro Board policy mandates that 0.5% of Metro Rail construction costs be allocated for public art. This page is features public art at the Gateway Transit Center, and on the Metro Rail system. Although I took some of the photographs, most of the information and images for Metro Art have been made available courtesy of Metro files. The Metro Art web site has a complete Guide to Public Art in the Metro System.

Do not reproduce information from this site without acknowledgement of the artists and their works, or of the authors of this site.

The Gateway Transit Center is a 7-1/2 acre multi-modal transportation center located in downtown LA adjacent to the historic Union Station. Much of the work on the Gateway Transit Center is sponsored by Metro and the Catellus Development Corporation.

• Patrick Nagatani, Epoch, 1996. 3rd level. This is a collage of over 500 postcards of trains, ships, and other means of transportation, from 1900 on. The postcards are laid out in a circular pattern, suggesting a view of planet Earth from space. A series of Edweard Muybridge photographs illustrating the basic movements of a man running, first published in 1887, make reference to the most basic form of transportation and movement. For a period of about 48 hours the mural was covered by an individual who objected to the nudity of the Muybridge image. This made front page news in Los Angeles.

• Margaret Nielson, L. A. Dialogs, 1996. 3rd level. This Mural is composed of oversized photographs of famous Los Angeles landmarks and symbols.

• Jim Doolin, 4 murals, 1996:
  • Los Angeles after 2000
  • Los Angeles circa 1870
  • Los Angeles circa 1910
  • Los Angeles circa 1960

• Michael Amescua, Guardians of the Track, 1995. Steel grilles and guard rails.

• Fountains and seating areas by Roberto Gil de Montes, Elsa Flores, and Peter Shire. Paseo Cesar Chavez, 1995.
  • Fountain by Roberto Gil de Montes. Another view of the ceramic work
  • Fountain by Elsa Flores
  • Fountain by Peter Shire. Another view of the fountain
  • Ceramic seat. Another view of the work.

• Bronze bust of Nick Patsouras, dedicated November 1996.

• Kim Yasuda, Torgen Johnson, Noel Korten, Matthew VanderBorgh, Bus shelters. Detail of the metal and glass leaf overhead.

• East Los Streetscapers (Wayne Healy and David Botello). La Sombra del Arroyo, 1995. Passageway between the Metro transit plaza and Union Station. A view of the section of the ceramic work.

• While they are not public art works, the chandeliers hanging in the Metro lobby and the fountain at the Metro transit plaza represent details of architectural and space planning in urban settings.

• Look at public art works at the Union Station, which is just west of Metro headquarters and Transit Plaza.

Construction Fence Temporary Art Projects (all removed with the opening of the stations):

• Miguel Angel Reyes, Amistades. Hollywood and Vine station, Red Line.
• Stuart Vaughan, Barnsdall Art Park. Red Line
• Jody Zellen, Metropolis Captured, Hollywood and El Centro. Red Line
• Larry Gruda, Community. Hollywood Blvd, east of Highland. Red Line
• Phyllis Green, Here is looking at you. Hollywood and Orchid, Red Line.

Monthly Commemorative Metro Transit Passes:

• June-December 2000
• January-June 2001
• July-December 2001
• January-June 2002
• July-December 2002
• January-December 2003

Poetry in Motion:

Examples of bus posters with poetry:

• Elaine Klein Healy, Roofs.
• Gloria Gervitz, Migrations.

Photographic Light Box Series (selections):

• Collette Fu, Photo Binge. 7th Street Metro/Metro Center Station.
• Peter Goin, Narrative Photographs. 7th Street Metro/Metro Center Station.
• Sam Erenberg, The Complete Works of Roland Barthes. 7th Street Metro/Metro Center Station.
• Laura London, Couples, Groups and Friends. Hollywood and Highland Metro Station.

Commemorative Neighborhood Posters (selected):

• John Trevino, Chinatown.
• Manny Cosentino, Echo Park
• Karl Abramovic, North Hollywood Arts District (NOHO).
• Sarajo Friden, Venice.
• Ronald J. Llanos, Van Nuys.
• Walter Askin, Pasadena.
• Jody Zellen, Miracle Mile.
• Sam Pace, Leimert Park.
• Raoul de la Sota, Highland Park.
• Bob Zoell, Griffith Park.
• Sonia Romero, Pomona.
• Artemio Rodriguez, East L. A.

Bus Stops and Bus Shelters: