Telepeer

Famed artist Robert Vargas puts his mark on Torrance with new Dodger mural

March 23, 2026

The city of Torrance is launching a new public arts project and it’s starting with a grand slam as one of the area’s most celebrated muralists pays tribute to the Los Angeles Dodgers and Japanese culture.

“This mural adds to the fabulousness of our city and gives Torrance another bragging right,” said Debbie Hays, director of Discover Torrance, which is organizing the new project launching this month with the creation of a mural by famed artist Robert Vargas.

Titled “Samurai of the Diamond,” the mural, located on an outdoor wall at the DoubleTree by Hilton at 21333 Hawthorne Blvd., features Dodger stars Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki and is meant to be a tribute to the city’s Japanese roots, since Torrance is home to a well established Japanese community.

“This is not just another mural, or even another tribute to the Dodgers,” Vargas said in a statement. “This mural is about these three ambassadors of Japan that came here to Los Angeles and brought greatness, and shared their culture with our city to bridge unity.”

The city of Torrance is launching a new public arts project and it's starting a mural by Robert Vargas that pays tribute to the Dodgers and Japanese culture. (Photo courtesy Discover Torrance) — The city of Torrance is launching a new public arts project and it’s starting a mural by Robert Vargas that pays tribute to the Dodgers and Japanese culture. (Photo courtesy Discover Torrance)

Vargas is a renowned muralist known for large-scale freehand murals like “Angelus,” a 14-story mural near Pershing Square, “LA Rising,” a 150-foot Shohei Ohtani mural on the Miyako Hotel in Little Tokyo, “Our Lady of DTLA” and other murals across the city . He also paints internationally and has held solo shows and earlier this year Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously declared Jan. 24 to be Robert Vargas Day.

“I hope that when people see this new mural they can feel our connection to the Japanese community and appreciate the up and coming art scene here in Torrance,” Hays said. “I hope people are inspired by his art.”

The new piece, which is 130 feet tall by 50 feet wide, came as a result of a new program recently approved by the city to bring additional murals and creative installations to Torrance. So far there are no set number of murals the city hopes to add but Hays said they have a focus in mind.

“We are looking at sports because we have the upcoming Olympics and our city is also the birthplace of AYSO soccer so we would like to have a soccer mural,” she said.

“And I can’t think of a better way to quick off the program than with Robert Vargas,” Hays said.

Famed artist Robert Vargas puts his mark on Torrance with new Dodger mural Orange County Register

News Details

Famed artist Robert Vargas puts his mark on Torrance with new Dodger mural

News

CONTACT INFO

QUICK LINKS

SERVICES

CURRENT NEWS