Historic Downtown Los Angeles Freeway Murals Face Potential Permanent Loss
Efforts to restore a series of iconic murals along a Downtown Los Angeles freeway are currently stalled, with responsibility for their upkeep disputed between the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles (MCLA).
Caltrans maintains that MCLA is responsible for maintaining the artworks, while MCLA co-founder Bill Lasarow asserts the artists transferred ownership to the state and that legislative funding is needed for regular cleaning. A previous $1.7 million state-funded restoration occurred in 2004, but three years later, Caltrans began covering graffiti and original art with gray paint – a practice artists decried as “artistic terrorism,” according to artist Kent Twitchell. A 2009 lawsuit filed by artist Frank Romero against Caltrans was ultimately unsuccessful.
A renewed restoration effort in 2013, led by muralist Willie Herrón, was hampered by personnel changes and a subsequent resurgence of vandalism. Despite anti-graffiti coatings, MCLA estimates current repair costs at approximately $2 million. The murals, originally commissioned in the 1980s, are a significant part of Los Angeles’ cultural heritage and have been featured in numerous films and television shows. “I wish people would say thank you for our art and donate money like the New Yorkers do,” said Isabel Rojas-Williams, former MCLA executive director. “Hollywood uses our murals all the time, but they don’t give money to keep them alive. If somebody said, ‘We have the money,’ I know how to do it. We could do it in time for the Olympics. Let’s do this together.” You can learn more about the history of public art at Smithsonian Magazine.
Today, October 29, 2025, Caltrans indicated it is exploring options, including the possibility of installing “fake ivy” to conceal the deteriorating artwork. Officials stated they are continuing to evaluate potential solutions, while advocates hope to secure funding before the 2028 Olympic Games, which will bring increased global attention to the city. Local arts funding has been a topic of debate in recent years.
