A Love Letter to LA

For many of us living in Los Angeles, every part of the city carries its own mood. We are drawn to its charm for many different reasons—the light, the proximity to nature, the smell of jasmine, the motion-picture industry, the sea of untold stories and places we discover on a daily basis. In terms of architecture, virtually any style can be found in Los Angeles, from Spanish Colonial Revival and Art Deco to citrus groves-turned-movie lots, midcentury landmarks, and postmodern creations. 

The recent Los Angeles wildfires have left entire neighborhoods in ruin, marking one of the most traumatic events that most of its citizens have likely experienced. To watch a community come together after facing such adversity is truly inspiring. And the support continues in unexpected ways: When Henrybuilt reached out to architecture and design photographers to contribute pieces of their work for a fundraiser for the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation and the California Community Foundation Wildlife Recovery Fund, the response was almost immediate, and overwhelmingly generous. 

Through the lens of architecture and design photographers, the twenty-nine donated images comprising this exhibition capture the essence of Los Angeles—its beauty, resilience, and complexity. From Roger Davies’ portrait of Tadao Ando’s Malibu beach house to the iconic Sheats-Goldstein Residence captured by Joe Fletcher and Chris Mottalini’s intimate glimpse into Anaïs Nin’s library in her hidden retreat, each piece captures the light, texture, and essence that defines this extraordinary city. One moment, captured by Yoshihiro Makino, is a celebration seen from Charles Bukowski’s window, while the next shifts to something uncanny: a flock of birds soaring over his gravesite. 

Other works on view, contributed by Dominique Vorillon, Jenna Peffley, and Michael Wells and others, reveal stories often untold—the heart of Los Angeles beyond its flashiness, the people who made it, those who haven’t become stars but continue to reach for them. Los Angeles is loved for its surreal possibilities, a place where dreams can become reality and where, through time, layers of culture, and buildings, we can create new spaces. 

For some, architecture is like a friend—built into our storytelling and perhaps carrying a deeper sense of belonging, identity, and reflection. 

Featured Artists Include: Tanveer Badal, Roger Davies, Chase Daniel, Casey Dunn, Joe Fletcher, Alanna Hale, Mark Edward Harris, Laure Joliet, Stephen Kent Johnson, André Jones, Arturo + Lauren, Chris Mottalini, Yoshihiro Makino, Matthew Millman, Ye Rin Mok, Jenna Peffley, Jeremy Samuelson, Eric Staudenmaier, Tim Street-Porter, Nils Timm, Erik Stackpole Undehn, Dominique Vorillon, Paul Vu, Taiyo Watanabe, and Michael Wells.