FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Boyle Heights Artist Awarded Major Public Art Commission for Los Angeles General Medical Center’s Restorative Care Village
Boyle Heights, CA — Los Angeles–based artist Stephanie Mercado has been awarded the façade mural commission for the Los Angeles General Medical Center’s Restorative Care Village, a groundbreaking healthcare and community campus located in Boyle Heights. The large-scale mural—measuring 24 feet tall by 70 feet wide will be prominently installed along Mission Street, one of the most highly trafficked corridors in the heart of the East LA Exchange.
This commission marks Mercado’s second public art projectand her second-largest public artwork to date, representing a major milestone in her life and a significant investment in community-centered public art.
“I am deeply honored to create a work of this scale in my own community,” said Mercado. “This project aligns with my core values—using art as a healing tool, honoring cultural memory, and creating something that uplifts and reflects the people who live here.”
The proposed mural will enliven the Restorative Care Village façade through imagery that celebrates the cultural richness of Los Angeles while honoring historical memory and collective resilience. Structured like a quilt, the composition is anchored by an aerial map of the surrounding neighborhood, forming a framework for “fabric swatches” that weave together stories of place, people, and care. Intertwined throughout the design are California native healing plants, iconic Los Angeles landmarks, and portraits of community members, symbolizing growth, dignity, and interconnectedness between the natural and social environments.
The Los Angeles General Medical Center’s Restorative Care Village is a first-of-its-kind facility designed to support Los Angeles’ unhoused population—many of whom experience intersecting challenges including mental illness, substance use disorders, and complex medical needs. The campus integrates healthcare, social services, and community spaces, featuring public courtyards and community art to foster healing, belonging, and reduced stigma.
By prioritizing dignity, recovery, and stability, the Restorative Care Village model reimagines how care can be delivered to vulnerable populations while remaining deeply embedded in the surrounding neighborhood.
The campus was designed by CannonDesign, an integrated Living-Centered Design firm with more than 1,000 creative professionals worldwide. CannonDesign’s approach centers on human experience, leveraging interdisciplinary expertise to address complex social and civic challenges through thoughtful design.
This mural commission is made possible through Los Angeles County’s Civic Art Policy, adopted in 2004, which allocates one percent (1%) of design and construction costs of new County capital projects to a Civic Art Special Fund. Managed by the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, the Civic Art Program commissions socially engaged artworks that enrich public spaces, support artists, and reflect the diverse communities of Los Angeles County across all five Supervisorial Districts.
Installation of the mural is expected to bring a powerful visual presence to Mission Street, reinforcing the role of public art as a catalyst for healing, visibility, and community pride in East Los Angeles.
About the Artist
Stephanie Mercado is a Los Angeles–based painter and printmaker whose work centers cultural heritage, community storytelling, and the relationship between place and identity. Her practice uses printmaking as a vehicle for healing, collective memory, and social connection.