As the nation reflects on a century of organized Black history commemorations, Pasadena artist Riea Owens is contributing to the milestone through her selection as cover artist for the City of Los Angeles’ 2026 African American Heritage Month Calendar and Cultural Guide.
A Pasadena native whose work often draws from the cultural landscapes of Pasadena and neighboring Altadena, Owens brings a distinctly regional voice to a national tradition dedicated to documenting and preserving Black life and culture.
Originally launched in 1926 by historian Carter G. Woodson as Negro History Week, the observance has grown into the monthlong recognition now celebrated across the country. This year’s theme, “A Century of Black History Commemorations,” invites reflection on the artists and cultural stewards who continue shaping that legacy.
For Owens, that stewardship is expressed through paint.
A local artist in a defining moment
Owens’ recognition carries particular resonance for the Pasadena area, where artists frequently serve as visual historians of community life. The honor arrives at a time when cultural preservation feels especially urgent. Recent disasters, including the Altadena fires, have resulted in the loss of personal archives, artworks, photographs and community records. These losses remind us how fragile cultural memory can be.
Elevating a local artist within a widely distributed civic publication signals more than artistic achievement. It underscores the importance of protecting creative voices rooted in place.
From advertising to canvas
The cover was unveiled during Los Angeles’ 76th Annual Citywide Black History Month Celebration at City Hall. Cultural Affairs leaders described Owens as a multidisciplinary artist and curator committed to supporting fellow artists while encouraging younger generations to pursue creative paths.
After retiring from a successful career as an advertising art director, Owens returned to painting in search of a more tactile relationship with creativity, a transition she has described as emotionally stirring and deeply fulfilling.
Her featured work emerges from her Les Sapeurs series, inspired by the stylish movement originating in the Congo known as La S.A.P.E. (Société des Ambianceurs et des Personnes Élégantes). Often translated as the “Society of Elegant People,” the tradition views fashion not as ornament but as a declaration of dignity, identity and self-definition.
Style as cultural language
Owens’ paintings place Black dandyism within a broader diasporic lineage in which dress has long functioned as a form of expression and resistance. The tradition echoes across eras, from the tailored elegance of the Harlem Renaissance to contemporary interpretations of intentional style.
Featuring Black men as subjects while highlighting the artistic vision of a Black woman, the cover reflects the breadth and complexity of Black cultural life while aligning with the longstanding mission to ensure that Black history is not only remembered but continually interpreted through art.
A centennial seen through Pasadena
By honoring Black dandies across time and geography, the 2026 cover affirms a principle that has guided a century of remembrance. Black culture is central, enduring and worthy of careful preservation.
For Pasadena, the moment carries particular pride. One of its own now represents the visual face of a commemoration that bridges past and future, local and national.