Artwork Detail

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Topographical Map

Artist: Young, Joseph

Object Date: 1962

Medium: Glass, polished stone, and granite on brick

Imperial Dims: Overall: 240 x 960 in.

Department(s): Internal Services

Supervisorial District: 1

About the Artwork:

Topographical Map is a 20-foot high by 80 foot wide high-relief mosaic and granite mural by artist Joseph Young located on the northern face of the Hall of Records. The mural depicts a bird’s eye view of the geologic features of the county of Los Angeles and its water resources. Mountainous areas are black, valleys are brown, and the Pacific Ocean is a colorful mosaic of green and blue tile. Pinkish granite represents the county’s northern boundary at the Sierra Mountains. Joseph Young worked closely with the building’s architects to achieve a design for the exterior wall of the auditorium. Young originally designed the mural to only portray geological features but added the county’s water sources to incorporate the piece with the large reflecting pool located at the wall’s base.

About the Artist:

Joseph Young (1919-2007) was a native of Pittsburgh and received his BA degree from Westminster College in Pennsylvania. After serving in World War II, he studied at various art schools and academies both nationally and abroad. Young had a long and distinguished career as a public artist in multiple media including mosaic, stained glass, pre-cast concrete, granite, and wood. Two of his many projects include the Triforium, a kinetic sculpture at the downtown Los Angeles Civic Center, and the Los Angeles Holocaust Monument in Pan-Pacific Park.