5 KASSIA RICO
EXHIBIT E
Budget: $2900
Presenting Organization: Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority Location: Posters integrated into Metro System’s stations and buses; original artwork submitted to the Los Angeles Metro’s Private Collection Medium: Vectorized Print-Ready Art
Dimensions: N/A
Date: June 2022
In Our Hands - Public Art Poster
Honored to announce the first collaboration with the folks at the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority Arts Program to create a poster for their local artists series, SIL VER LININGS. Metro Art enriches the customer experience through innovative visual arts and programming, promoting ridership and connecting people, sites, and neighborhoods across Los Angeles County. This site-specific artwork seamlessly incorporated the expanding Metro system, enhancing the visual aesthetics of transit environments and establishing a distinct sense of place.
PAST WORK
Public Art Visualization for Los Angeles Metropolitan
Transportation Authority by Kassia Rico
PAST WORK
Los Angeles Times Collection
One selection of an illustration series covering mental health for Californians. For this editorial project, I was invited as an artist to investigate real Southern Californian stories and community voices through a series of lead artwork with The Los Angeles Times.
Budget: $500 / per graphic
Organization: The Los Angeles Times,
Art Director, Ibanez-Baldor, Martina
Location: LatinX Archives
Medium: Vectorized Art
Dimensions: Digital, N/A
Date: January 2023
PAST WORK
www.kassiarico.com [email protected] 626.283.1587 KR Studio HQ
Glendale, CA 91205
Montrose Benches, Our Garden Spot
A Journey Through Time and Art
The artistic concept was developed by Glendale-based
artist Kassia Rico. Nestled between the Verdugo Mountains and San Rafael Hills, the project themes highlight the natural beauty of Montrose and a serene vantage point overlooking the historic Glendale & Montrose Railway site. The three circular benches are a fusion of art and history - a portal - where the past is woven into the present. Crafted with smalti glass, the journey of the bench begins before the entrance, where a bespoke art application encircling each bench shines, echoing community stories and reflecting light and history in equal measure.
Upon entering, the intermediate space illuminates a legend through chroma tile and smalti inlay. As you move eastward, a tiled analog clock fashioned from a preserved railway ticket marks the founding year, surrounded by names that recall the land use.
Each element, from the smalti glass to the stainless steel edges, is carefully chosen to complement the natural beauty and cultural richness of the site. Together, they form a cohesive narrative that invites discovery, wholeness, and connection.
“As I walked down Honolulu Avenue, the heart of Montrose, I found inspiration in the everyday scenes and the array of locals I encountered. The murmur of conversations, the laughter of children at play, and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee from nearby cafes drew me into the city’s vibrant culture. In Village Square, an encounter with a married couple on their way to dinner highlighted the simple joys and challenges of daily life. At Moo Mia, the relaxed atmosphere, framed by lush trees and open skies, was cherished by young couples and those seeking a moment of solitude. Conversations with residents, like one near the Star Cafe bench about our shared heritages and favorite spots in Glendale and Montrose, have been invaluable.
These walks are treasured opportunities for me to connect with the city’s rich historical charm, witnessing how history and modern-day life blend in the actions and interactions of its citizens. The inspiration for my art project comes from these individuals. Their varied backgrounds and the city’s heritage are the foundations of my work—a heartfelt tribute to the people who collectively shape this city. My project seeks to capture the community’s essence, encouraging public engagement and nurturing a sense of belonging.”
-Kassia
The connections I have with the following neighborhoods range in nature from living or working there, being born there, growing up there or frequent visits.
Agoura Hills | Alhambra | Altadena | Arcadia | Atwater Village | Beverly Hills | Burbank | Canoga Park | Century City | Chinatown | Culver City | Downtown | East Los Angeles | East Pasadena | East San Gabriel | Glendale | Hollywood | Hollywood Hills West | Koreatown | Los Feliz | Monrovia | Montrose | Pasadena | San Gabriel | Sherman Oaks | Silver Lake | Studio City | Temple City | Topanga | West Hollywood
Honolulu Avenue
A Mosaic of Community and Heritage
Honolulu Avenue is poised for a transformation, one that intertwines the threads of history with the heart of the community.
We’re introducing three handcrafted art installations that will serve as landmarks of engagement, history, and beauty.
Principal Goals
1.) History of the Site
Craft three handmade art installations that embody the spirit and history of the city, with each location serving as a unique story and weaving the street’s history into the present.
2.) Enhance Sightlines
Enhance the existing brick and cement structures with areas of emphasis, both on the street and across it, featuring visually stunning designs that invite interaction and contemplation.
3.) A Meeting Place
Generate a communal space that fosters a sense of belonging and celebrates an interconnectedness between humanity and nature.
4.) Respect for Integration
Create artworks that are bold and harmonious with the
environment, challenge our understanding of art, and inspire visitors and residents intellectually, aesthetically, and emotionally.
3.) Generate a Loop of Converging Meanings
Sloping hills, hibiscus flowers, wings of a butterfly, forget-me-not flower petals, peacock feathers, and an analog clock offer viewers many interpretations.
Our goal is to craft an immersive experience that honors the legacy of Honolulu Avenue in a single open voice while inspiring a new generation of stories and connections.
Moo Mia Bench Concept
Diameter: 14’7” | Smalti-Wrapped Mosaic Feature
Base Color: Softened rose
Floor Feature: Multicolor hand-cut smalti mosaic
Bench Seat Tiles: Varigated glass tile, in rose
Durability: Selected for its enduring elegance and ability to withstand the elements
Focal Point: Celebrating nature and pollinators from Sparr Heights’ historical orchards and vineyards
Outer Wall: Sealed brick with modular tile band, painted brick, plaster, or stucco
Accent: An analog clock directing attention (east) with option of typographic quote detail
Thematic Essence: An invitation for visitors to linger and experience a sense of unity and wholeness.
This is a digital representation of the concept art only, and not the final tile and wall treatment.
Village Square Bench Concept
Diameter: 14’5” | Smalti-Wrapped Mosaic Feature
Base Color: Softened lime
Floor Feature: Hand-cut smalti mosaic in soft citrus-hues Bench Seat Tiles: Varigated glass tile, in citrus-hues
Durability: Selected for its enduring elegance and ability to withstand the elements
Floor Palette: Calming blues and dappled greens
Accents: Centered Analog Clock (pointing eastward) with option of typographic quote detail
Outer Wall: Sealed brick with modular tile band, painted brick, plaster, or stucco
Edge Treatment: User-friendly steel delineation
Materials: Options of Stainless Steel, Nickel/Brass Plating, or Corten Steel
Thematic Representation: Homage to the Montrose peacock.
This is a digital representation of the concept art only, and not the final tile and wall treatment.
Star Cafe Bench Concept
Diameter: 13’11” | Smalti-Wrapped Mosaic Feature
Base Color: Stillwater blue, symbolizing the power of Jewel City’s water Floor Feature: Hand-cut smalti mosaic in stillwater blue Bench Seat Tiles: Varigated glass tile, in stillwater blue Exterior Motif: Dual Hibiscus, harmonizing with local architecture Artistic Inspiration: Tongva tribe history and movement across the two mountains, city flora, and historic railway
Outer Wall: Sealed brick with modular tile band, painted brick, plaster, or stucco
Accents: Analog Clock (east) with option of typographic quote detail Edge Detailing: Stainless Steel, Nickel/Brass Plating, or Corten Steel Thematic Representation: City’s essence,
transportation, mountains, and the cycle of time.
This is a digital representation of the concept art only, and not the final tile and wall treatment.
CUTTING
124 INCH
3.25 INCH
304
Stainless
Corten
Steel
Material:
x3
x3
x2
x2
x3
“They’ll wonder why they feel so good. People will gather at our garden spot, and flourish.”
Thank You
Please let me know if you have any questions. I’m happy to offer further details or additional comments, if needed.
Thank you and I am looking forward to hearing back from you! Artist
Kassia Rico
Smalti Fabricator and Installer
Mosaicos Venecianos De Mexico
In Alliance
Vivienne Khau, Designer & 3D Modeler
LaserBend, Steel Fabricator
Chop ‘em Down Films, Videography Consulant
Salomón Huerta, Painter, Mentor & Consultant
Studio Doff, Architect & Visual Design Consultant
Luna Ikuta, Industrial Design Consultant
Xavier Rumph, Urban Design & Industrial Design Consultant