PRESS RELEASE – City of Torrance Approves New Public Art Mural

The City of Torrance is proud to announce an exciting new public art installation coming soon to the DoubleTree by Hilton Torrance South Bay featuring internationally recognized muralist Robert Vargas.

Known for his large-scale, iconic works across Los Angeles and abroad, Vargas will bring his signature style to Torrance with a dynamic mural celebrating the love of Dodgers baseball, international connections, and some of the franchise's most popular athletes.

The Torrance City Council approved the project unanimously at the City Council Meeting on Tuesday, February 10, 2026 reaffirming the City's commitment to arts, culture and economic vitality.

The mural will highlight the meaningful connection between baseball, Japan, and the Torrance community, a city proud of its rich Japanese-American heritage, a more than 50-year relationship with Kashiwa, Japan and recent friendship city relationships with Oshu and Bizen, Japan, the hometowns of Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. With the Dodgers' deep ties to fans across the globe, the artwork will reflect both local pride and the global power of sports to unite communities.

"This is more than a mural, it's a celebration of who we are as a city." said Torrance Mayor George K. Chen. "Welcoming an artist of Robert Vargas' caliber to Torrance is a major milestone. This project has incredible potential to energize our economic landscape, increase tourism, and further establish Torrance as a cultural destination in the South Bay."

The mural, to be installed at 21333 Hawthorne Boulevard, is expected to become a prominent visual landmark along the Hawthorne Boulevard corridor, attracting residents and visitors alike. Installation details and a public unveiling event will be announced in the coming weeks.

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