Gabriel S. Lopez

1. "The Hellhole" (2024) 16"x 20" Giclée Print 

2. "Two Families at Echo Park Lake" (2024) 16"x 20" 

3. "Abandoned Bungalow at the Stires Staircase Bungalow Court" (2024) 16"x 20" Giclée Print

In my latest body of work, Echo Park, I aim to preserve the essence and culture of my neighborhood as it undergoes gentrification. In 1989, a year after immigrating to the United States, my mother moved into a two-bedroom apartment in Echo Park. She raised me there and we have lived in Echo Park for more than twenty years. Echo Park, located in Northeast Los Angeles, was once a predominantly Latinx, Asian, and working-class neighborhood. However, since the early 2000s, the population of minority residents in Echo Park has severely declined due to gentrification. Many people have been illegally evicted and displaced because they could not afford unjust rent increases. Upscale businesses and luxury housing have gradually taken their place, catering to wealthier, often white newcomers.

Throughout my childhood, I witnessed the loss of people, homes, and businesses that were the backbone of my neighborhood. I never thought I would experience gentrification first hand until 2023, when my home was sold to new owners. The new owners paid my neighbors to move out, and then they remodeled the building. My mother and I were the only tenants able to remain in our home due to tenant protection laws. Within a year, I watched a place dear to my heart become just another property that gentrification profits from. This inspired me to document my neighborhood before it disappears completely. 

I took all of the photographs on foot, revisiting familiar places and exploring new areas. I connected with my community by capturing longtime residents, including friends and elders, architecture, businesses, and the changes reshaping my home. The original residents of Echo Park are underrepresented, particularly in photography. As an artist, I feel responsible to ensure that our experiences are respected and not forgotten. Through this series, I aim to raise awareness of the harmful effects of gentrification on communities of color in Los Angeles, while also highlighting the beauty of the environments that shape us. 

Insta: @gabrielslopez