Alta / A Human Atlas of a City of Angels
- Apr 16
- 3 min read
Updated: May 7
May 9 - July 12, 2026
Opening Reception: Saturday, May 9, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
ReflectSpace, in partnership with the Getty Conservation Institute, presents Alta / A Human Atlas ofthe City of Angels, an internationally acclaimed social impact project by UK-based artist Marcus Lyon. The exhibition weaves together portraiture, personal narratives, and ancestral DNA data to map LA’s layered identities through the lives of 100 Angelenos who have made significant contributions to the city. On view May 9 through July 12, 2026, Alta offers a powerful, community-centered exploration of migration, belonging, and the evolving human story of the city. The opening reception will be held on Saturday, May 9, 2026, from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM. Alta/ A Human Atlas of the City of Angels at ReflectSpace is curated by Ara and Anahid Oshagan, Tom Learner, and Nicole Onishi.
Developed over four years, Alta is a research-driven portrait of Los Angeles as one of the most complex and diverse cities in the world. The project began with a year-long, citywide nomination process in which Angelenos identified individuals from within their own communities whose work embodies meaningful contribution and social impact. The resulting 100 participants—spanning artists, activists, educators, scientists, public servants, and community leaders—form a cross-section of the region’s social fabric, each representing a distinct thread in the city’s unfolding narrative.
Through a combination of photographic portraiture, app-based oral histories, and ancestral DNA, Alta constructs a multi-layered map of Los Angeles that extends beyond geography into lived experience. The project reveals patterns of migration, diasporic identity, and intergenerational memory, illuminating the city’s largely unseen intangible heritage—its stories, lineages, and networks of belonging. In doing so, it offers a powerful reflection on how Los Angeles is continually made and remade by those who inhabit it.
“Part scientific research project, part art exploration, Alta unlocks the depth of the Los Angeles region and preserves the legacy of a cohort of its most inspirational inhabitants for future generations,” says Lyon. “We hope Alta will activate a deep dialogue and inspire a space where the most important issues of our time are articulated, and heard, in order to create meaningful change.”
Initially created in collaboration with the Getty Conservation Institute for PST Art: Art & Science Collide, Alta is part of Lyon’s ongoing Human Atlas series, which merges art, anthropology, and storytelling to document human geography. While connected to a global framework, this iteration remains deeply rooted in Los Angeles, highlighting the communities and individuals who define the city today and shaping an archive for future generations.
ReflectSpace acknowledges the generous support of the Glendale Library, Arts & Culture Trust, and the Glendale Arts & Culture Commission through funding from the Urban Art Fund.
PST ART is presented by Getty. Lead partners are Bank of America, Alicia Miñana & Rob Lovelace, and the Getty Patron Program. Principal partners are Simons Foundation; Eva and Ming Hsieh, Co-Founders of Fulgent Genetics; and Peggy and Andrew Cherng, Co-Chairs and Co-CEOs of Panda Express. Additional support for Alta / a Human Atlas of a City of Angels is provided by John E. and Louise Bryson.
About the artist:
Born in 1965 in rural Britain, Marcus Lyon studied Political Science and began making art in Mexico, sparking a four-decade exploration of globalization. His work is held in international collections. He founded Glassworks in the early 1990s and has photographed figures from Queen Elizabeth II to British prime ministers. His projects span dance, disability sport, science, and social-impact work worldwide.
Accompanying Booklist:
This booklist features narratives and histories of Angelenos across time and areas of the city. There are also resources to investigate your own lineage and local history using library resources, such as AncestryLibrary.com and the Glendale History Room at Glendale Central Library.
ReflectSpace
Glendale Central Library
222 East Harvard Street
Glendale, CA 91205
View the Visit page for parking, public transit information, and open hours.