Los Angeles is alive with contradiction: Urban expanses tumble into the sea, deserts fade into mountains, and Hollywood moguls share coveted canyon real estate with New Age artist communes. It is this clash of sentiments that draws hopeful creatives from denser cities to LA’s ragged center in search of space: to make work, to find family, or to reinvent themselves.
Ariana Papademetropoulos, Artist
"I love the duality of Los Angeles. It’s haunting and beautiful. Very dark but also has its light ... the land of smoke and mirrors, the land of delusion. That’s what’s so scary and incredible about it—you can create your own reality. The more I leave, the more enamored with it I become."
Arta Gee, Model and Actor
"I was born in the Bronx—my parents are Albanian from Montenegro. I take a lot of pride in that, because they have a rough story of coming to the States and creating this life for us. Coming to LA has taught me patience. It was a challenge to adjust. Of all the places in the city, my jujitsu gym is one of the main communities and support systems I have in my life. It’s where I learned how strong I am.”
Essence Harden, Artist and Curator
“I’m constantly surprised at how beautiful I find LA. I love seeing all the fruit trees that are everywhere, but also the intense industrial landscape of the place. I’m like, Man, this place is wild for its cement and persimmon trees at the exact same moment.”
Tiye Amenechi, Filmmaker
"It has been an uphill battle getting used to this city. I don’t know if I will ever fully understand it. I love the beach, but my relationship to it is complex. I can't swim so it's a place I come to marvel at. Since I came here, I realized I had spent the majority of my life in my comfort zone. Now, I’m learning to sit with discomfort."
Jane Moseley, Model and Artist
"I originally moved here for the space—I got tired of lugging paintings and sculptures on the subway. I’m also a big nester. Creating a sanctuary is very important to me, and I wanted to be surrounded by nature and to have lots of animals. When I got my place, it was completely desolate. Just dirt. Slowly, I’ve been able to transform it, which has been so rewarding."
Massima Bell, Actor, Model, and Musician
"Two years ago, I got a cheap used car near my dad’s farm in Iowa and drove here. I didn’t have a plan—it was very much a trust fall—but LA opened its arms to me immediately. I’m still learning how to stay connected with the natural surroundings while existing in this major metropolitan area. A huge part of that is walking up hills. That process of elevating myself to get a different perspective on the city I live in has been a beautiful part of my experience here."
