Just in time for the city’s 40th anniversary, West Hollywood is getting a fresh look through the eyes of the people who know it best — its artists.
Heart of WeHo, now open at the West Hollywood Library, features work from 27 artists who were asked to capture places that exist within the city’s 1.9 square miles — its streets, corners, and moments, past and present. The result is a collection that feels both personal and familiar, showing how much history and imagination fit inside such a small footprint.
The show’s official reception takes place Friday, October 24, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the library (625 N. San Vicente Blvd). Admission is free, but RSVPs are required through Eventbrite here.
The exhibition mixes nostalgia and neighborhood storytelling. Some artists reimagine lost spaces; others celebrate the everyday spots we walk past without thinking. Together, their work builds a kind of visual time capsule — a reminder that this city keeps changing but never loses its sense of place.
Three artists received top honors from the City’s Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission:
First Place: Pussycat Theater by Small Scale LA by Kieran Wright, a detailed miniature capturing the adult theater’s 1970s heyday on Santa Monica Boulevard.
Artist: Kieran Wright. Image courtesy of City of West Hollywood Second Place: Rainy Day WeHo (Tail O’ the Pup) by Rupert Lyon, a photograph shot through the window of Metro Bus #4 — part nostalgia, part urban poetry.
Artist: Rupert Lyon. Image courtesy of City of West Hollywood - Third Place: Design Dreams by Hao Jing, an abstract take on the Pacific Design Center inspired by architect César Pelli.
Artist: Hao Jing. Image courtesy of City of West Hollywood
The exhibit runs through May 2026 during regular library hours. Visitors can also explore other installations currently on view, including works by S.P. Harper, Dustin Gimbel, Tony Coelho, and Jay Lynn Gomez.
The Heart of WeHo show is part of the city’s broader effort to spotlight local creativity — from public art and performance to poetry and film.
More details on the exhibition and the City’s arts programs are available at weho.org/arts.
great chance to explore local art
Oh i like the variety of images. How nice to celebrate West Hollywood artistically. Finally the city does something i really like!