Driving Through Highland Park 90042

   The streets of Highland Park are covered in murals, street art, interesting architectural design choices, and light boxes. Across Figueroa and its cross streets, you can find several pieces of art on a lot of the walls. As someone who has grown up in the Highland Park area of 90042, a lot of these arts are embedded in my memory when I was young, so seeing them on my drives is always nostalgic. This neighborhood is always filled with love, and some shops have stayed standing, persevering for decades. 

  

 

    My dad is a retired mechanic, and my brother is a team leader technician at a dealership, so AutoZone has always been a frequent stop. The Car and Truck mural of classic cars stretches very far inside the parking lot. Featuring people bustling around, classic low riders, and Lakers player number 32, Magic Johnson. This art has survived 20 years, but it has been noticed to be erased. This mural still stands strong against the test of time, developing cracks in the paint. Low riders are classic cars that have the auto body so close to the ground that it can kiss it. It is a big part of Chicano culture as through history they would cruise around East Los Angeles on the weekends in vintage old-school makes.

    An architectural piece I always found beautiful when passing by is the Saint Ignatius Catholic Church on Monte Vista St. This church was built in the Gothic Revival style, designed by Frederick L. Roehrig. After construction of the religious schools in 1911, this current church was constructed in the 1950's by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. 

    A different church in 1916, and the current standing of this wonderful, symmetrical church is home to Mexican roots. According to the Saint Ignatius of Loyola Catholic School, the parishioners have roots in Mexico, Central America, Latin America, and Filipino heritage. It received its funding from donations to the church, fellow parishioners, and the Archdiocese, noted to be the largest Roman Catholic group in the United States. 

    Another interesting architectural building that holds memory for me is this apartment, designed with fish scales. My family watched this apartment get built from the wood foundation and paint to the overlapping scales. This area is more considered Hermon and Arroyo Secco territory, yet still remains in the 90042 zip code. Its garage entrance on Ave 60 is facing a popular road that leads to the 110 North and South freeway entrances. Its project completion was officialized in 2022. 

    

    This building was designed by  Warren Techentin Architecture and was worked on to be a living space for multi-family homes. Developed by 4Site Real Estate, this building was constructed as Type III. This translates that the exterior walls are materials that are non-combustable, but the interior walls allow combustable materials to be used. 

    From their official website, it is noted that the building wall on Ave 60 facing the gas station is intentionally slanting away to avoid collisions with the large power lines. Monterey Rd and Ave 60 as the cross streets can lead you into the Arroyo Secco Park, the renown 110 freeway as the first freeway built in Los Angeles, and its address is minutes away from Pasadena, Boyle Heights, Monterey Hills, Alhambra, and Downtown. A fun site attraction are the trees in the center dividing median with the Hermon sign. They are decorated with holiday lights and are managed to turn on every night starting in November for Thanksgiving and continue until after Christmas and New Years. 

    An honorable artwork I want to include that is not part of the Highland Park area but still holds value to my drives is the Sky High mural off the 5 freeway exit. The Mission Rd exit shows a mural that wraps around the Sky High building, painted large enough you can see it while on the freeway as well. 

    Sky High is a dispensary located on 1039 N. Mission Rd 90033, conveniently located between Lincoln Heights, Boyle Heights, Downtown, and Ramona Gardens. If you are coming from a further location, the 5 freeway will bring you over. It is mentioned that this company commissions artists to create giant murals on their walls and have custom artwork inside their waiting rooms. The murals are known to be swapped or painted over, but I have only seen this one, and it looks fresh. 

    

    This mural is painted by Cloe Hakarian, an Armenian artist who does commissions. From her Instagram she writes that they will always be one of her favorite clients. She is set to complete her sixth art project with them soon. This work was completed over the summer of 2026, and features Lakers player number 24 Kobe Bryant. Her work for this piece was complete creative freedom, alongside spray paint and doodle grids as her only materials. With its realism and neon-light-inspired lettering, the work screams Los Angeles with its welcome signs and pretty blue palm trees. 

    The Cars and Truck mural, Catholic church, and Sky High mural all feature connections to East Los Angeles Culture through its depictions of Palm Trees, low rider culture, and appreciation of the Lakers basketball team. The Saint Ignatius Catholic Church has historical ties to multiple ethnic backgrounds. Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant have ties to the Los Angeles community from the Lakers team as well as personal ties.

    I have enjoyed collecting photos and related information to them and their locations. I am always driving around and take a look at them when stopped, from how nice the art and architecture are. It was very nice to see Lakers players being represented in more than one mural around here. Palm trees also show an association with California and the paradise it is supposed to be. I liked seeing low riders be present at the AutoZone, but would like to see more art of them around. There are plenty of car repair and auto body shops around, and it is not every day you see someone actually driving one anymore. My family goes to car shows to display our own classic low riders, so seeing more art for them will be amazing. 

    

    I think it will also be cool to see more Armenian artists do street art or have more representation because they are very scarce around these areas. Majority of them are in Glendale and Hollywood, but I have met four Armenians at CalState LA outside of the club.