Corita Kent's Former Studio Becomes Historic-Cultural Monument

HOLLYWOOD, CA — Sister Mary Corita Kent's former Hollywood studio was officially designated a Historic-Cultural Monument Wednesday. The studio, located at 5518 Franklin Ave., is now one of a handful of women-affiliated sites to receive the protective designation.

According to the Los Angeles Conservancy, 3% of the city's Historic-Cultural Monuments are "associated with women's heritage."

“We are filled with gratitude for every person and organization that has been on this journey with us, sharing in the faith that the ordinary can indeed be extraordinary," Corita Art Center Director Nellie Scott said. "There remains a long road to walk together in preserving and promoting the legacies of significant women artists like Corita Kent. We applaud CHC, PLUM, and the Los Angeles City Council for paving the way for future conversations focused on equity.”

"This work to uphold the legacies of women artists and cultural leaders is ongoing in Los Angeles and across the U.S.," Scott continued. "Corita reminds us that hope is not just optimism; hope is hard work. Hope means showing up every day for others. As we turn the corner from this pandemic, we will need spaces like the one at 5518 Franklin Avenue."

The Corita Art Center applied for the designation after learning of a developer's plan to demolish the studio. The center partnered with architectural historian Kathryn Wollan, Hollywood Heritage and the Los Angeles Conservancy to apply for the designation.

With an HCM list designation, city law allows the commission to formally object to the issuance of a demolition permit, delaying the demolition for up to 180 days, plus another possible 180-day extension, if approved by the City Council, to allow for time to preserve the monument, according to the city Planning Department.

The Cultural Heritage Commission unanimously recommended the location for landmark status during a December 17, 2020 meeting.

“We hope that this designation, in all that it symbolizes, will inspire present and future generations to use their talents, time, and tools for the greater collective good, and will ensure that those ethos are not only valued but recognized locally and nationally,” Scott said. “We wish to thank all of our partners: every person and organization who worked tirelessly to ensure that Corita’s studio would not be erased from history in exchange for a few parking spaces.”

Corita Kent was an American pop artist whose work has received increased attention in recent years. During her life, she served as the head of the art department at Immaculate Heart College, and blended her art with activism on socially conscious pieces.

Kent was diagnosed with cancer in 1974, and died in Massachusetts in 1986 at the age of 67.

City News Service contributed to this report.