A vibrant city northeast of Downtown Los Angeles that sits at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains and serves as a major cultural and tech hub.
Pasadena has range. One minute you’re walking past historic architecture and indie bookstores; the next, you’re inside a media studio, art center, theater, maker-friendly reuse shop, or design campus that has shaped artists across the world. Known as the “Crown City,” Pasadena brings together art, literature, film, theater, design, science, food, music, and community in a way that feels classic and fresh at the same time. For young LA creatives,, it’s a city where you can browse, build, study, perform, shoot, write, design, and dream without needing to be “in the room” yet. Pasadena gives you something even better: places where you can start.
Dive into some of the creative studios, public art, production hubs, and performance spaces in Pasadena below.
- ArtCenter College of Design: a world-renowned design school with galleries, lectures, exhibitions, and public programs exploring illustration, transportation design, filmmaking, photography, product design, and visual arts.
1700 Lida St. & 1111 S. Arroyo Pkwy, Pasadena, CA 91103 | (626) 396-2200 | admissions@artcenter.edu | Instagram - Armory Center for the Arts: a contemporary arts center featuring free exhibitions, teen arts programs, community workshops, artist talks, and hands-on studio classes.
145 N. Raymond Ave., Pasadena, CA 91103 | (626) 792-5101 | info@armoryarts.org | Instagram - Remainders Creative Reuse: a creative reuse center, affordable art supply thrift store, gallery, and makerspace that helps artists create sustainably while stretching their budgets.
787 E. Washington Blvd., Suite 101, Pasadena, CA 91104 | remainders.pas@gmail.com | Instagram - Vroman’s Bookstore: California’s oldest independent bookstore with author talks, book signings, writing events, and shelves dedicated to art, design, photography, film, and music.
695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91101 | (626) 449-5320 | orders@vromansbookstore.com | Instagram - Pasadena Media: a community media center offering hands-on training in filmmaking, podcasting, television production, editing, audio engineering, and digital storytelling.
150 S. Los Robles Ave., Suite 101, Pasadena, CA 91101 | (626) 794-8585 | Instagram
Peruse Pasadena Now for daily arts news, community events, festivals, gallery openings, lectures, workshops, theater, music, film, and local opportunities.
Hometown Heroes: Notable creatives hailing from Pasadena
- Grammy-winning indie singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers
- Award-winning science fiction author Octavia Butler
- Luxury fashion label Rodarte (Kate and Laura Mulleavy)
- Opening Ceremony co-founder and creative director Humberto Leon
- Rock legends Van Halen
- Modern funk pioneer, producer, and DJ Dâm-Funk
