Los Angeles Transforms Old Hospital Into an Emotional Art Haven
An immersive art exhibition called Hospital of Emotions has taken over four floors of the old St. Vincent Medical Center in Los Angeles. Running from May 27 to July 31, 2023, the show features work from over 70 artists, each piece tied to emotional themes like grief, fear, and joy. The event also supports the site’s future as a behavioural health campus, set to open by the 2028 Olympics. The former hospital building, now hosting the exhibition, will eventually reopen as the St. Vincent Behavioral Health Campus. Planned for completion before the 2028 Games, the redevelopment carries an estimated cost of $300 million. Once finished, it will offer addiction treatment, mental health services, recuperative care, and housing—including over 800 beds for interim and permanent supportive living.
A portion of ticket sales, priced between $42 and $58, will go toward the nonprofit overseeing the behavioural center’s operations. Beyond healthcare, the campus will include a standalone arts, community, and workforce training centre. The *Hospital of Emotions* exhibition itself divides its artwork into thematic ‘departments,’ mirroring the emotional experiences of patients in a hospital. Visitors move through spaces dedicated to sadness, hope, and other feelings, each curated by different artists.
The exhibition serves as both a cultural attraction and a fundraiser for the upcoming behavioural health facility. When the campus opens in 2028, it will provide critical mental health and housing services while preserving a space for community engagement. The project marks a major transformation for the historic medical site.
