Long Beach's Hidden Gems: Unexpected Art
Long Beach is well known as a city of art and artists—and it’s easy to see why. Spectacular murals are scattered across the city, with new ones appearing almost every week. But art in Long Beach doesn’t just live on the walls; it transforms nearly every surface imaginable. Sidewalks, crosswalks, benches, utility boxes—you’ll find creativity hiding in plain sight. Here's a partial list of some unexpected places to discover exceptional art.
MOSAICS
Long Beach has an amazing array of mosaics, many dating back to the WPA era of the 1930s. Grace Clements’ spectacular mosaics “Zodiac” and “Aviation and Transportation” at Long Beach Airport are nearly 90 years old and are jaw dropping in their scope, workmanship and beauty. “Typical Activities of a Beach and Harbor City” is a massive mosaic created in 1938 depicting Long Beach residents at play on the sand. Once housed in the old Municipal Auditorium, it was moved and still resides at the Harvey Milk Promenade Park in Downtown Long Beach.
MICRO-GALLERIES
Artist Dave R. Clark's micro galleries in Long Beach are innovative, community-driven art installations that transform public spaces into very cool and accessible exhibition venues. Located in the Wrigley neighborhood, Gallery 17 (2483 Eucalyptus) and Gallery 23 (2489 Eucalyptus) are small, solar-powered box structures that offer artists a free platform to showcase their work. Clark and his associates have helped facilitate the construction of more than 20 additional micro galleries listed here.
UTILITY BOXES
There are at least two dozen painted utility boxes throughout the city, some featuring multiple images, everything from butterflies to bikes to Bigfoot. Dave Van Patten’s playful utility box in Bixby Knolls features four distinct takes on the iconic Abbey Road street scene, one featuring buffalo, another Bigfoot. Stephanie Han’s Thoroughfare and Jamuna Priti Love Box each depict beautiful and tranquil water scenes along Anaheim Street. Jose M. Loza’s Long Beach Afternoon depicts a somewhat bucolic daily happening in the city.
HIDDEN SCULPTURE
Long Beach has plenty of sculptures that demand your attention, but it also features delightful works that you can miss if you’re not paying attention. Spenser Little's wire sculpture attached to a downtown light pole at Broadway and Promenade N injects whimsy into the urban landscape. Tucked in the corner of Salud Juice (1944 E 4th St) is the tiny but wonderful creation of artists Gille and Marc, “A Little Community Support” featuring Rabbitwoman and Dogman, a heartfelt reminder of how much better it is when we hang together.
ARTY SIDEWALKS
Art is so plentiful in Long Beach, it’s not unusual to find yourself walking right over it. Sidewalk installations are many and varied, ranging from Robert Delgado’s History of LB murals embedded in the East Village walkway to Ah HA! Shoreline Stroll, an amazing lithomosaic spanning four blocks Downtown. Perhaps best known, Shadows Casting on the Sidewalk by Craig Cree Stone stretches for 14 blocks of Second Street in Belmont Shore, featuring provocative images that appear to be cast onto the pavement from parking meters.