The Compton Art & History Museum, currently located in a strip mall, plans to relocate into a new facility next year. The museum will increase in size from 900 square feet to 4,500 square feet.
Courtesy photo
Darlene Donloe is a freelance reporter for Wave Newspapers who covers South Los Angeles. She can be reached at ddonloe@gmail.com.
By Darlene Donloe
Contributing Writer
COMPTON — The Compton Art & History Museum is set to become a cultural landmark in the city, with a significant expansion planned for its new location.
The museum, which opened its doors in February 2023, plans to relocate next year to a 4,500-square-foot building nearly a mile away from its current site, allowing it to increase its exhibition space.
Led by Kevin Sherrod of Gensler, a global architecture and design company, the expansion will feature a theater, roof deck, and glass canopy adaptable for art installations, cementing the museum’s role as a vibrant hub for art, history and community engagement in Compton.
In a recent interview with a local television station, Sherrod implored the city to wrap its arms around its traditions.
“Hey, Compton,” he said. “You don’t have to export your culture.”
Currently limited to 900 square feet, at its current location at 306 W. Compton Blvd., the Compton Art & History Museum has hosted nine exhibits, 60 local artists and welcomed 4,000 guests, in its two-year history. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free.
“Right now, the building is going to be leased by another nonprofit, not by us,” said Marquell Byrd, co-founder of the museum along with his wife, Abigail Lopez-Byrd. “We are still in talks with the owner for them to sell it to us. Our biggest challenge is funding.”
Marquell Byrd said the museum will continue to showcase the work of local Compton artists.
“It’s important,” he said. “It’s important for the community to have a space where they can see and be themselves.”
Since it opened, tucked in the corner of a strip mall, the museum has celebrated the rich history and art of the city.
The museum has presented art exhibits and hosted arts workshops for teens and the general public, showcasing the cultural heritage of Compton’s diverse communities, including Black, Latino, Asian and indigenous residents, and offering a perspective on the city’s history and identity.
The new space, located at 961 W. Compton, an eight-minute walk and three-minute drive from the current location, will be five times the size of the current location, offering ample space for exhibitions, programs and community events.
The expansion will enable the museum to reach a broader audience, foster deeper connections with the community and provide more opportunities for local artists.
Marquell Byrd said that, in addition to the upgrades, there also will be a stand-alone parking lot, two permanent exhibition areas — one to display the history of Compton — and an archiving area, as well as a gift shop.
“We want the new museum to be interactive,” Byrd said. “You can go in a studio and be Dr. Dre, or you can pick up a tennis racket and be one of the Williams sisters [Venus and Serena]. The ability to see and touch is an important part of the plans.”
Byrd couldn’t give a definitive start date for the expansion, but he said he wanted it to begin next year so that it would be ready for the Olympics in 2028.
“People will definitely be coming to Compton during the Olympics,” he said. “We will have an exhibit called ‘The Compton Olympics’ about the people from Compton who participated in the Olympics, as well as other sports figures from the area.”
The exhibit currently on display through January is “Boundless Echoes,” which takes a deep dive into immigration issues in Los Angeles. It includes photographs by local photographers, including Marquell Byrd, who documented federal immigration raids in the area.
“We wanted to showcase what is currently happening in our community,” Byrd said. “I was tear-gassed and hit with pellets. It was happening two blocks from my house. I went out. I let people know we’re standing with the immigrant community. No one should feel anxiety, whether they have papers or not. Think about it — someone with a mask pulls you out of a car and then tells you where you’re going. That has to feel so crazy.”
Byrd said the Compton Art & History Museum has become a staple within the community.
“Community members can show their art and see themselves in the art,” said Byrd, who came up with the slogan, “A Museum in Every Hood.” “It is also a place to build with others. This whole thing came about because people didn’t see themselves in some other museums. My wife and I visited some other museums, but we never saw ourselves. We had a vision and just started working toward it. We didn’t stop.”
“I wish I had this same type of space in Compton when I was growing up,” said co-founder Abigail Lopez-Byrd. “That’s why we came up with Color of Compton and why we came up with the Compton Art & History Museum. We recognized the importance of people seeing themselves in the art, and how important it is to preserve the history of the community.”
The Byrds, both passionate about preserving Compton’s history and showcasing its artistic talent, have created a space that embodies the city’s spirit. With a focus on community-driven programming, the museum has become a gathering place for locals and visitors alike.
“I feel like I’m walking in my purpose,” Marquell Byrd said. “The community needed this.”
Abigail Lopez-Byrd, a Compton native and founder of Color Compton, a youth-driven art and history nonprofit, brings a wealth of experience and dedication to the museum’s mission. Her background is in photography and education. She is currently studying for her Ph.d at UC Riverside.
“Color Compton is located above the museum,” Marquell Byrd said. “We have a lab and cohorts on how to film, how to do video productions, an archiving fellowship program, and more. It’s a space where we engage and have hard conversations about things that happen in the community.”
Marquell Byrd, 35, originally from Woodbridge, Virginia, has an audio engineering background. He fell in love with Compton when he and his wife, whom he met in Spanish Harlem, pulled up their New York stakes seven years ago, and moved west to California.
“I felt comfortable as soon as I got here,” Byrd said. “There was something about the city. It felt like home. But it also felt like it needed something to uplift the community. It needed a museum of its own.”
The Compton Art & History Museum is more than just a cultural institution; it’s a symbol of community empowerment. By providing a platform for local voices, stories and art, the museum helps to reclaim and celebrate Compton’s identity.
“It’s important to tell the whole story of Compton,” Marquell Byrd said. “The stigma has ruined most of the Black and brown communities. The reality is, we’ve had some great people come out of Compton. We have Venus and Serena Williams, Kendrick Lamar, Anthony Anderson, Ava DuVernay, Eazy E, Kevin Costner, Niecy Nash, Dr. Dre, and more. We want people to know, Compton is bigger than us.”
The museum’s programs and exhibitions are designed to engage visitors of all ages, promoting education, creativity and social change.
As the museum prepares for its new chapter, Marquell Byrd expressed gratitude for the community’s support.
“Support is essential to our community’s growth,” he said. “Every contribution brings us closer to a permanent space where Compton’s stories, art and culture are preserved and celebrated.”
When he thinks of Compton, Byrd said he thinks of resilience.
“All of those single-story narratives about Compton aren’t necessarily true,” he said. “There are beautiful people here. I believe in the community and in this museum.
“God was the one who reminded us that He brought us this far. He said, ‘Do the work and I’ll bless it.’ It has changed my life in the best way. I’m thankful for this community. To Compton, I say, ‘Thanks for accepting me.’”
