Mid-City is a vibrant, centrally located neighborhood in Los Angeles, known for its rich cultural diversity, historic charm, and community-driven spirit. Nestled between Downtown L.A. and the Westside, it encompasses neighborhoods like Picfair Village, Lafayette Square, and Reynier Village. It is within this context that MIDCITY takes shape — as both an exhibition and a portrait of place.

Mid-City thrives on its artistic expression, local businesses, and dynamic food scene. From soul food institutions like Roscoe’s to bustling taco stands and Ethiopian cafés, its streets — especially Pico and Washington Boulevards — buzz with flavor and activity. Home to theaters, live music venues, and expansive murals, Mid-City is both a historical touchstone and a living, changing part of L.A. — balancing legacy with reinvention. Despite the challenges of gentrification, it remains a community rooted in creativity, resilience, and inclusivity.

The artworks presented in MIDCITY draw from this cultural landscape — reflecting its diversity, amplifying its resilience, and engaging with its ongoing cycles of transformation. Each artwork resonates with the rhythms of the neighborhood, offering perspectives that celebrate community life while also acknowledging the tensions, histories, and reinventions that shape it.

By situating this exhibition here, MIDCITY honors the neighborhood’s cultural fabric and affirms DMST Atelier’s commitment to fostering joy, access, and connection. The show is not only a gathering of artworks but also a reflection of the living, breathing energy of Mid-City itself — a place where legacy and transformation meet, and where art becomes inseparable from the daily rhythms of community life.