Alta / A Human Atlas of a City of Angels at ReflectSpace
Photos by Marcus Lyon. Left: Scarlett Paulina De Leon & Ocean De Leon-Edwards, Housing Justice Activist; right: James M. Lawson Jr., Pastor
By Marcus Lyon, in collaboration with the Getty Conversation Institute
ReflectSpace, in partnership with the Getty Conservation Institute, presents Alta / A Human Atlas for the 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 for the City of Angels at ReflectSpace is curated by Ara and Anahid Oshagan.
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.
Activating a deep dialogue
“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.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Born in 1965 in rural Britain, Marcus Lyon studied Political Science and developed a four-decade artistic practice exploring globalization and social change. A portrait artist and founder of Glassworks, his interdisciplinary, socially-engaged works are exhibited internationally and held in major collections, alongside his ongoing work as a speaker, activist, and advisor.
Exhibition Dates: May 9 – July 12, 2026
Opening Reception: Saturday, May 9, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM – More information can be found at ReflectSpace.org
Location: ReflectSpace / Glendale Central Library 222 East Harvard Street, Glendale, CA 91205 Phone: (818) 548-2021
ABOUT REFLECTSPACE
ReflectSpace is curated by Ara and Anahid Oshagan and is an inclusive exhibition gallery designed to explore and reflect on social justice issues, human rights violations and genocides through the arts. Immersive in conception, ReflectSpace is a hybrid space that is both experiential and informative, employing art, technology, and interactive media to reflect on the past and present of Glendale’s communal fabric and interrogate current-day global human rights issues. ReflectSpace is housed in Glendale Central Library and online at ReflectSpace.org.
ABOUT LIBRARY, ARTS & CULTURE
Founded in 1907, the Glendale Library, Arts & Culture Department includes eight neighborhood libraries including the Brand Library & Art Center, a regional visual arts and music library and performance venue housed in the historic 1904 mansion of Glendale pioneer Leslie C. Brand, and the Central Library, a 93,000 square foot center for individuals and groups to convene, collaborate and create. The department also serves as the chief liaison to the Glendale Arts & Culture Commission, which works to continually transform Glendale into an ever-evolving arts destination. Glendale Library, Arts & Culture is supported in part through the efforts of the Glendale Library Arts & Culture Trust (GLACT). For more information visitGlendaleLAC.org, or contact Library, Arts & Culture at (818) 548-2021 or via email at LibraryInfo@GlendaleCA.gov .
ABOUT GLENDALE
Known as the “Jewel City,” Glendale is the fourth largest city of Los Angeles County. With a population of almost 200,000, Glendale is a thriving cosmopolitan city that is rich in history, culturally diverse, and offers nearly 50 public parks & facilities, with easy access to a municipal airport. It is the home to a vibrant business community, with major companies in healthcare, entertainment, manufacturing, retail, and banking. Visit GlendaleCA.gov for more information and follow us on social media @MyGlendale.
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