About the Monument

As the AIDS epidemic continues to impact communities across the country, The Wall Las Memorias AIDS Monument stands as a place of remembrance, solace and healing. Located in Lincoln Park (Los Angeles), the monument honors lives lost to AIDS while offering a sacred space for reflection, community gathering and collective resilience. 

 

 

How it began

On December 1, 2004, World AIDS Day, after years of determined advocacy and a long battle with opposition, the first publicly funded AIDS monument in the nation was dedicated before thousands of supporters and community leaders. Today, The Wall Las Memorias AIDS Monument has more than 1,600 names etched in granite to memorializethe people who died from AIDS complications and to ensure their stories are never forgotten.

 

Design to match our culture

The monument was designed by architect David Angelo and public artist Robin Brailsford. In 1993, a community advisory board was created to select the Lincoln Park site based upon its rich cultural and artistic history with the Latino community, as well as its proximity to the local AIDS treatment center at the Rand Schrader Positive Care Clinic at Los Angeles General Medical Center.

 

Symbols of Spirit

Inspired by Quetzalcoatl, the Aztec serpent symbolizing rebirth, the monument was designed as an undulating, serpentine form. It consists of eight wall panels: six vibrant murals depicting life with AIDS in the Latino community, and two granite panels inscribed with the names of those lost. The site also includes a serene park setting with benches and an archway set in landscaped garden areas for personal meditation. In total, the monument spans approximately 9,000 square feet, with half devoted to landscaping and green space.

 

Innovating and Renovating

In 2021, The Wall Las Memorias AIDS Monument completed a comprehensive renovation costing approximately $850,000. Funding for the project was provided with the support of Los Angeles City Councilman Gilbert Cedillo and Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor Hilda Solis.

Led by Perry Cardoza of Nuvis Landscape Architecture, the renovation introduced a new irrigation system, fresh landscaping: including fifteen fully grown trees, new walkways, state-of-the-art LED lighting, and custom iron art details. Together, these improvements enhance accessibility, sustainability, and the monument's service as a welcoming, enduring space for remembrance and community connection.

 

Artists Behind The Wall Las Memorias AIDS Monument

The Wall Las Memorias AIDS Monument in Lincoln Park, Los Angeles, was created by a team of public artists who brought its murals and design to life. The project was designed by architect David Angelo and public artist Robin Brailsford, with the mural work executed by several local artists from Self-Help Graphics in Boyle Heights.

The mural artists include:

  • Yolonda Gonzalez
  • Miguel Ángel Reyes
  • Pauolo Botello
  • Hugo Crosthwaite
  • Alex Alferov
  • Kathy Gallegos

These artists were part of the Chicano Art Movement and trained at Self-Help Graphics, a community arts center that became a hub for Latino public art. Their work on the monument’s six mural panels depicts life with AIDS in the Latino community, complementing the two granite panels that bear the names of those who have died from AIDS.

Visit the Monument

The Wall Las Memorias AIDS Monument is located in Lincoln Park at 3600 N. Mission Road, Los Angeles, CA 90031.

 

Virtual Walkthrough Find a Name Add a Name

Donate to Support the Monument