LEO POLITI ART ON EXHIBIT AT LAPL, Los Angeles, CA: Scenes from the City's Rich Past

Angel's Flight, Bunker Hill, Los Angeles, CA, drawing by Leo Politi

“There was no easy way to get to the top of Bunker Hill from the steep east side, so in 1901 engineer Colonel J.W. Eddy built ‘Angel’s Flight’, and all through the years, since then, his two little cable cars, Olivet and Sinai, have been taking people up and down the Hill…” (Leo Politi) 

Leo Politi (1906-1998), award winning children’s book illustrator and artist of iconic Los Angeles scenes, is the quintessential California artist. His art tells the story of Los Angeles as it was in the 1940s, 50s, 60s and 70s. Many of his paintings are in the collection of the Los Angeles Public Library. Recently, they have been mounted in a permanent exhibit in the children’s book department, along with photos of the artist at work. An excellent remembrance by Tina Princenthal, Senior Librarian, of Leo Politi and his impact on the people and life of the city is on the LAPL blog. The post includes a list of Leo Politi's books available at the library.

Painting: House of Nell McKinzie. Photo: Leo Politi with admirers.

“One of the few original residents of Bunker Hill is Nell McKinzie…She lived at 245 Bunker Hill Avenue all of her life…'Father built a plain house because he could not afford the gingerbread ornaments’ she said almost apologetically one day.” (Leo Politi)

“I asked Miss McKinzie: ‘Do you remember the Hill when you were a little girl?’ ‘Oh, yes,’ she answered. ‘Everywhere on the Hill there were beautiful homes! My sisters and brother and I used to play with other children of the neighborhood…” (Leo Politi)

Feeding the pigeons.

I went to see the Leo Politi exhibit on a recent visit to the library. It was wonderful to view the original art up close and to read the accompanying descriptions. The exhibit is in two parts—in rooms at each end of the main reading room of the children’s department.  Here are a few examples from the exhibit. I recommend that you go yourself to see them all.

Brousseau Home

“With the huge noisy city buzzing  with life all around it, the old Brousseau mansion now stands lovely and silent.” (Leo Politi)

Artist Colony Sketch.

”The many intricate stairways winding up and down Clay Street, from one building to another, and from one floor to another, gave the place a quaint atmosphere which attracted artists…” (Leo Politi)