Pico-Union’s quiet art boom: Turning a working-class neighborhood into a creative hub

Hidden along one of LA’s most iconic — and often gridlocked — boulevards, Pico-Union’s art scene is having a moment.

It is one of Los Angeles’ most densely populated neighborhoods, with more than 34,000 people per square mile. It is also among the city’s oldest.

Located west of Downtown LA, Pico-Union has the distinction of being a part of the original El Pueblo de Los Angeles settlement, putting it within the city’s original boundaries established in 1781.

The neighborhood has a rich history, from its days as an upper-class suburb to its current role as a major destination for immigrants.

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Because of this, Pico-Union is largely known for its diverse, bustling community and its stunning architecture, with many streets lined with Victorian, Craftsman and Mission Revival homes.

No discussion of Pico-Union would be complete without a mention of Powers Place, the shortest street in LA. Just 35 feet long, it runs between Alvarado Terrace and S. Bonnie Brae Street.

But Pico-Union doesn’t get enough credit for its numerous creative spaces, making it an under-the-radar spot for art lovers and practicing artists. And all of it is happening on its slice of Venice Boulevard.

The 13-mile road also has a long history as one of LA’s most famous streets. It began as West 16th Street in 1896, when a streetcar could take riders to the ocean.

By 1950, when the railcars disappeared, Venice Boulevard was more than just a major thoroughfare. It became part of LA’s identity — a vibrant, pulsating corridor that acts as a crossroads of ideas, history, and raw creative energy.

The street begins at the bohemian, stylish storefronts of Abbot Kinney in Venice and cuts an unapologetic path all the way to the dense, commercial commotion of Downtown Los Angeles. This vast stretch is a living testament to the city’s rich tapestry, evidenced by the eclectic mix of locally-owned businesses, the deep roots of numerous cultures and the explosion of vibrant, meaningful murals that adorn its walls.

In the heart of the city, where Venice Boulevard slices through the neighborhood of Pico-Union, the artistic spirit of Los Angeles finds a particularly resilient home. Along this single, vital street, one can discover the places and people that are actively ensuring the neighborhood’s powerful, creative legacy continues to thrive.

Artwork from the Pico-Union art scene on display at as-is.

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Joe Garza

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The LA Local

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as-is

A modern art gallery in a nondescript building on Venice Boulevard, as-is starkly contrasts with its mostly working-class surroundings. It offers a quiet escape from Pico-Union’s busy streets, making it a hidden gem for visitors.

While as-is looks modern, it keeps one eye on the recent past.

“The gallery has an interest in regionalism — Los Angeles in general — but also a kind of hyper-localism,” the gallery’s director Tom Jimmerson told The LA Local. “Things that have happened just a few blocks from here, maybe in the 1970s or 1980s, have ended up becoming a kind of time capsule.”

Pico-Union has had its ups and downs over the last century from being a streetcar suburb to an area impacted by freeway construction and periods of disinvestment.

Its past reputation as a creative mecca of sorts has been forgotten, Jimmerson said.

And while the neighborhood represents far more than just art, it’s places like as-is that preserve its uniquely artistic history, and may even serve as a signpost for Pico-Union’s future.

“We kind of operate as a reminder that this neighborhood has had different kinds of functions and different kinds of associations over the years,” Jimmerson explained. “Art had been one, and will be one again, no doubt.”

Location: 1133 Venice Blvd.
Hours: Wednesday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m.
Website: https://www.as-is.la/

Part of exhibit from the Pico-Union art scene at Demi Lauren Studios.

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Joe Garza

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The LA Local

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Demi Lauren Studios

Putting a paintbrush to a canvas may seem like a daunting task for those who think they don’t have a creative bone in their body. But Demi Lauren Studios proves that the barrier to becoming an artist is thinner than most people realize. It can also be a bit more fun.

Here, clients can learn how to paint from experienced mentors while listening to music, sipping on an alcoholic drink, and even smoking.

“It’s a vibe! It’s colorful, you get to relax, it’s very welcoming, and you can just have a good time,” Demi told The LA Local.

Demi said many people come in thinking they can’t paint or draw.

“But it’s easier than it looks!” he said excitedly. “Some people are totally shocked when they’re able to create something.”

Many people credit Demi’s instruction style. “I just try and break it down into shapes and familiar objects so they can make a masterpiece,” he explains.

Location: 1459 Venice Blvd.
Hours: Wednesday through Friday, 2 to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 3 to 9 p.m.; Sunday, 2 to 4:30 p.m.
Website: https://artclasseslosangeles.com/

A mural outside the Graf Lab highlights the prominence of street art in the Pico-Union art scene.

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Joe Garza

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The LA Local

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The Graff Lab

Graffiti is sometimes linked to mischief and illegal activity rather than a form of high art.

But the Graff Lab takes the craft seriously, providing a large outdoor area where artists of all ages can express themselves without the fear of being arrested.

As part of the Pico Union Housing Corporation, the Graff Lab was founded by Ricardo Guerrero, the program’s director.

“It was created out of the need for there to be an arts space in the community,” he told The LA Local.

In addition to graffiti arts instruction, the Graff Lab also hosts numerous cultural events, along with other arts and athletics educational programs.

This urban sanctuary offers artists, especially youth, a safe and supportive place to build creative skills while navigating the challenges many face outside its doors.

“A lot of the kids that hang out here and do their art,” Guerrero explained. “They tell me themselves that if it weren’t for this place that they’d probably be in a gang or dead. It’s a very rough community.”

Location: 1038 Venice Blvd.
Hours: Monday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Website: https://www.thegrafflab.com/