By Lila Brown for Los Angeles Sentinel
Originally published March 18, 2026
Hundreds of community members gathered at the corner of 76th Street and Western Avenue on Saturday, March 14, to celebrate the opening of “sister dreamer: Lauren Halsey’s architectural ode to tha surge n splurge of South Central Los Angeles,” a monumental sculpture garden by acclaimed Los Angeles artist Lauren Halsey.
The free public event transformed the intersection into a vibrant cultural festival, featuring music from several DJs, vendors from Black Market Flea, airbrushing, family games, food trucks and a closing performance by legendary funk collective Parliament-Funkadelic.
Halsey, whose multidisciplinary work has been exhibited at major institutions including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Hammer Museum, described the project as a labor of love more than 17 years in the making.
“Thank you guys so much. I made this for us,” Halsey told the crowd during the community opening. “It’s been 17 years of work. I’m just super grateful to God for the abundance and the energy to follow through.”
She also thanked members of her studio team, project collaborators and family members who supported the vision, emphasizing that the sculpture garden was created with the community in mind.
The site itself is a monumental public artwork that merges Egyptian-inspired architectural elements with the visual language of South Los Angeles. The sculpture park features sphinxes, carved reliefs and Hathoric columns adorned with the faces of Halsey’s mentors, family members and community figures.
At the center of the installation is an oculus honoring the victims of serial killer Lonnie David Franklin Jr., known as the “Grim Sleeper,” who was responsible for the murders of at least 10 Black women in Los Angeles during the 1980s and early 2000s.
The opening drew a large crowd and several local leaders who praised the project’s cultural significance.
Los Angeles City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson welcomed attendees and reflected on the broader importance of bringing major art installations into historically Black neighborhoods.
“All over the world, customers like to buy Black art,” Harris-Dawson said. “But we can’t ever get them to come to a Black neighborhood. Today, because of Lauren and her crew, we’re here on the corner of Western and 76.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also addressed the crowd, calling Halsey’s work a lasting tribute to the history and spirit of South Los Angeles.
“I just think it is a masterpiece — not just of today, but of yesterday, of our ancestors,” Bass said. “You celebrate our community in the way we know we should be celebrated.”
Bass presented Halsey with a certificate on behalf of the city of Los Angeles and the City Council, praising the installation as a cultural monument that will draw visitors from around the world.
California State Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas also spoke at the event, highlighting South Los Angeles’ designation as California’s first state-recognized Black Historic Cultural District. She referenced her proposed legislation, Senate Bill 1159, which would allow Californians to donate directly to support cultural institutions within the district.
“I’m so proud that South L.A. is now California’s first state-designated Black Historic Cultural District,” Smallwood-Cuevas said. “This contribution will last generation after generation.”
The celebration concluded with a performance by Parliament-Funkadelic, turning the opening into a lively neighborhood block party.
Hip-hop artist Rapsody, who attended the event, described the atmosphere as both inspiring and deeply meaningful.
“I’m feeling inspired. I’m feeling light. I’m feeling full,” she said. “This is a celebration of Blackness — of us, of our connection. It’s about resistance through joy, through dancing and fellowship.”
Together, the opening of “sister dreamer” adds to the growing cultural landscape of South Los Angeles and aligns with the broader vision of nearby Destination Crenshaw, a transformative outdoor museum and cultural corridor dedicated to celebrating Black history, art and community along Crenshaw Boulevard.
Like Destination Crenshaw, Halsey’s monumental installation centers Black creativity and neighborhood pride, demonstrating how large-scale public art can serve as both a cultural landmark and a gathering place for residents while inviting visitors from across Los Angeles and beyond to experience the depth and vibrancy of South LA’s artistic legacy.
“I’m overjoyed that ‘sister dreamer’ is finally open,” Halsey told the LA Sentinel. “I’m excited to witness the collective gatherings, creative exchanges, educational initiatives and celebrations that will unfold during the 18 months it’ll be open.”
For many attendees, the day represented more than an art unveiling — it was a powerful moment of cultural affirmation for South Los Angeles.
As music echoed through the crowd and families explored the sculpture garden, Halsey’s vision came to life as both a monumental work of art and a communal space designed to honor the past, celebrate the present and inspire future generations.
