Project Description

Phung Huynh explores the origin story of Century City through her unique approach of urban folklore and community voices. The artwork will include portraits of recognizable actors from the area’s early history as a film studio back lot and renowned architects who built Century City, as well as everyday people who work and own businesses in the area. Phung’s research included interviews with 35 people who work in Century City to gain their perspective and integrate their portraits into the artwork. Along the train walls the artwork pay homage to Tongva creation stories, rendered in a celestial style that will create a magical experience for riders who travel through the station.

Artist Statement

“It is important that my artistic practice is an inclusive and thoughtful process that will guide the content and aesthetic of the artwork. It is also crucial that the artwork echoes the identity and perspective of the community, those who live in Century City, and those who work in Century City.”

About the Artist

PHUNG HUYNH (b. 1977, Rach Gia, Vietnam) is an artist and educator who explores cultural perception and representation through drawings, paintings, public art, and community engagement. Huynh earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts with distinction from Art Center College of Design in 1999 and a Master of Fine Arts from New York University in 2001. She is currently Assistant Professor of Art at California State University Los Angeles and serves on the board of directors of LA Más, a non-profit organization that supports BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) immigrant working-class communities in Northeast Los Angeles. In 2021, Huynh was appointed Creative Strategist for the Office of Immigrant Affairs (OIA) by the LA County Department of Arts and Culture. Her work has been exhibited internationally, and she is the recipient of the COLA (City of Los Angeles) Master Artist Fellowship, California Arts Council Individual Artist Grant, and California Community Foundation Fellowship for Visual Artists. In addition to her four public art commissions for LA Metro, Huynh has completed commissions for the LA Zoo and the LA County Department of Arts and Culture.