One of California’s most culturally significant and ambitious public art landmarks has arrived at the Skirball Cultural Center with the opening of The 1960s — A Generation on Fire: Judy Baca’s Great Wall of Los Angeles. The exhibition offers visitors an unprecedented look at newly realized monumental sections of the famous mural, approaching history not as a static record, but as a living, contested, and shared narrative in which all members of society take part.
Conceived in 1974 by artist and activist Judy Baca, the Great Wall of Los Angeles was originally envisioned as a monumental tribute to the diverse peoples of California, weaving together a visual history that spanned from prehistoric times through the 1950s. The ambitious undertaking entered a new phase in 1976 when Baca co-founded the Social and Public Art Resource Center (SPARC). Working collaboratively, Baca, alongside a diverse coalition of 400 young people, professional artists, historians, and local community members, began the immense task of painting the first major sections of what would ultimately become a half-mile-long mural inscribed along the concrete channel of the Los Angeles River. In the decades since its inception, Baca and the team at SPARC have continued their steadfast mission to extend the mural’s historical scope beyond the 1950s and into the present day.
The current exhibition at the Skirball Cultural Center focuses intensely on a transformative era. Within the gallery spaces, viewers can observe how the 1960s were fundamentally shaped by moral courage, peaceful protests, and the profound cultural awakening catalyzed by the Civil Rights Movement. It pays tribute to the "generation on fire" whose activism, dedication, and sacrifice paved the way for modern social justice movements. Crucially, the exhibition provides audiences with a rare opportunity to examine recently completed mural sections dedicated to this turbulent and revolutionary decade. These newly minted panels are scheduled to be permanently added to the existing open-air mural site along the river following their museum debut.
To provide a comprehensive view of the artistic and community-driven process behind the massive undertaking, the physical mural panels are presented alongside an extensive collection of preparatory drawings and vibrant color studies. These preparatory materials offer visitors a glimpse into the meticulous research, artistic vision, and collaborative design phases that precede the actual painting of the monumental walls. Furthermore, the exhibition features an immersive video installation designed to transport visitors directly to the banks of the Los Angeles River at the Tujunga Wash, the permanent home of the Great Wall of Los Angeles. This audiovisual component bridges the gap between the museum gallery and the urban landscape, allowing guests to experience the scale and environmental context of the public art piece firsthand.
Adding a deeply personal and contemporary layer to the historical exhibition, the presentation includes an interactive component titled MuralMemoirs. Through this feature, visitors are invited to actively engage with the themes of the exhibition by sharing their own personal histories, reflections, and connections to the eras depicted on the walls. By weaving contemporary community voices into a historical retrospective, the exhibition reinforces Baca’s foundational philosophy that public art should serve as an inclusive, evolving dialogue rather than a finalized monument dictated from above.
The 1960s — A Generation on Fire: Judy Baca’s Great Wall of Los Angeles is currently on view at the Skirball Cultural Center. To allow visitors multiple opportunities to engage with the evolving displays, individual sections of the exhibition are slated to be revealed sequentially throughout the run, spanning from October to December 2026, and continuing into the final phase from January to February 2027.
Those interested in planning a visit, exploring the institutional programming surrounding the exhibition, or learning more about the ongoing preservation and expansion of the landmark mural can find further details by visiting the official website at skirball.org.
