City of Hope Outpatient Center

Creating Sanctuary: Art and Healing at City of Hope.

When patients enter the City of Hope Outpatient Center in Duarte, California, they’re greeted by more than just a medical facility—they’re welcomed into a space where art transforms the healing experience. Through a carefully curated art program featuring 65 custom commissions and over 300 thoughtfully selected pieces, every corner tells a story of hope, joy, and community. The result is an environment that goes beyond traditional medical settings to offer moments of reflection and peace.

Beginning in July 2022, KBAA’s healthcare art advisors embarked on an ambitious journey to transform the Duarte Outpatient Center into a space where art and healing intersect. The mission was clear: create an artistic oasis that would support patients and families throughout their recovery journeys. Understanding that many patients spend several days a week at the facility during their treatment, the team focused on crafting an environment that feels both empowering and peaceful.

At the heart of the art program lies a stunning suspended ceiling sculpture by Ball-Nogues Studio. This signature piece required extensive collaboration between KBAA, the artists, project architects, and lighting engineers to ensure both aesthetic beauty and structural integrity. The result is a breathtaking installation that transforms the space into something extraordinary. The art program’s aesthetic is built around playful colors and organic forms that reflect the natural world. From multidimensional wallcoverings to site-specific installations, each piece was selected to create an environment that feels lively and nurturing. Local and regional artists were specifically chosen for focal works, helping to ground the space in its community while maintaining the vibrant, hopeful aesthetic that defines the program.

A custom triptych by Tom Owens, titled “Transforming Care, Breaking Through, Advancing Hope,” perfectly embodies City of Hope’s mission. Using flashe emulsion, each panel creates dynamic compositions that speak to different aspects of the healing journey—from convergent lines propelling viewers toward hope, to subtle shifts representing the transformative power of care, to celebrations of breakthrough innovation in healthcare.

Throughout the center, art creates moments of connection and contemplation. These carefully selected pieces work in harmony with the space to offer gentle respite, reminding us that in the journey toward health, moments of beauty can provide comfort and support.