At No Blue Mondays, our mission is simple—Destroy the Mundane. We uncover stories, people, and places that break the routine and invite you to see the world differently. Today’s journey takes us to an unlikely place of beauty: the Los Angeles River.
The Unexpected Beauty of Concrete and Silence
In 2017, California native John Kosta, living in Los Angeles at the time, decided to take a day trip into the main concrete channel of the Los Angeles River. What he found was not the typical postcard vision of California’s beaches or palm-lined streets, but something raw and captivating—glorious isolation, profound silence, and brutalist architecture that few ever take the time to notice.
John Kosta began a mission to document the entire 51-mile stretch of the river, from its origins in the San Fernando Valley all the way to Long Beach Harbor. His photographs revealed not just water and concrete, but a world of textures, shadows, and stories carved into the city’s infrastructure.
The River That Outsizes the Mississippi in Flow Rate
While many imagine the Los Angeles River as a small trickle winding through the city, the reality is staggering: during peak storm events, it can carry more water per minute than the mighty Mississippi River.
This sheer capacity is a direct result of the river’s history. Originally a free-flowing waterway, the Los Angeles River was forever changed after the catastrophic flood of 1938, which killed over 100 people and displaced thousands. In response, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers encased the river in concrete, transforming it into the massive flood-control channel we know today.
A Brutalist Canvas for Exploration
For John Kosta, the river was more than just a flood channel—it was a vast, open-air gallery. The repetition of geometric concrete patterns, the interplay of light and shadow, and the uninterrupted stretches of urban wilderness became the subject of his ongoing photographic project.
His work reminds us that beauty doesn’t always come wrapped in flowers or sunsets. Sometimes, it’s found in man-made lines, unforgiving textures, and the absence of distraction.
See the Paintings in Person
The paintings of John Kosta LA River scenes are currently featured at the Hilbert Museum of California Art.
Hilbert Museum of California Art
167 N. Atchison Street, Orange, CA 92866
www.hilbertmuseum.com
Hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. Closed Sunday and Monday.
Visiting the Hilbert Museum is a reminder that art can be pulled from the overlooked corners of life. Like No Blue Mondays, the museum’s exhibitions challenge us to see the extraordinary in the everyday.