Gallery Reopening Soon
For nearly five decades, Keni Arts has documented the soul of communities through his vibrant plein air paintings. From the streets of America to the landscapes of Africa, Brazil, and beyond, his brush has captured people and places. Yet, nowhere has he felt more at home than in the ‘Denas’—Altadena and Pasadena—where this artistic journey has been deeply rooted since 1977.
But on January 7, 2025, the Eaton Fire changed everything. Over 9,000 houses and businesses were lost, including his home and cherished sites Keni had once immortalized on ‘canvas’. Now, in a powerful act of resilience and artistry, he returns to these sites to create •Beauty For Ashes—a series that reimagines Altadena in its moment of transition, documenting destruction, renewal, and hope.
•Isaiah 61:3
Beauty For Ashes
Home: circa 1985 
1-9-22 Home: The day after 
2-19-25 Home: 2 weeks after Eaton Fire 
4-29-25 Home: Debris Removal 
4-4-25 Home: Post debris removal 
3-15-14 Fuel & Faith -Altadena Community Church 
3-6-25 Fuel, Fire & Faith – Altadena Community Church 
9-10-14 Notary 
9-4-14 Notary Neighbor 
3-18-25 Notary & Neighbor 
11-15-14 Abundant Harvest LIFT Church 
2-20-25 LIFT Church 
1-28-16 Rhythm Village & Dutch Bakery 
1-30-25 Rhythm Village & Dutch Bakery 
5-7-15 Western Fence 
Eaton Fire: 2-09-25 Western Fence 
4-27-20 Altadena Senior Center 
2-21-25 Altadena Senior Cerner 
6-27-16 Mary’s Market 
2-14-25 Mary’s Market after mudslide 
7-6-16 Café de Leche 
2-4-25 Café de Leche 
5-28-17 Baja Ranch Market 
4-20-25 Baha Ranch Market 
2-3-18 Altadena United-Methodist Church 
2-24-25 Altadena United Methodist Church 
7-13-05 Davies – Farnsworth Park 
3-20-18 Davies – Farnsworth Park 
3-13-25 Davies – Farnsworth Park 
3-18-20 Altadena Post Office 
12-7-20 Altadena Post Office 
1-22-25 Altadena Post Office 
4-25-18 Triangle Square 
4-26-18 Triangle Square 
1-29-25 Triangle Square 
4-2-18 Lifeline Fellowship Church, aka: The Purple Church 
2-20-25 Lifeline Fellowship Church, aka: The Purple Church 
4-8-18 Aldi Supermarket 
3-9-25 Aldi Supermarket 
1-16-21 Altadena Hardware 
11-3-18 Altadena Hardware Sign 
1-14-25 Altadena Hardware 
3-25-20 Pizza of Venice 
2-02-25 Pizza of Venice 
11-4-19 The Bunny Museum 
1-31-25 The Bunny Museum 
2-5-20 Steve’s Bike Shop 
2-11-25 Steve’s Bike Shop 
5-12-20 Nazarene Church 
3-10-25 Nazarine Church 
3-27-20 Eliot School 
4-25-25 Eliot Arts Magnet School 
4-16-20 Altadena Community Church 
2-22-25 Altadena Community Church 
7-3-20 Altadena Country Club 
4-4-25 Altadena Country Club 
7-16-20 Everest Burger 
1-25-25 Everest Burger 
7-28-20 Akbar Coffee 
2-12-25 Akbar Coffee 
9-18-21 Little Red Hen Restaurant 
1-28-25 Little Red Hen Restaurant 
11-23-22 Fox’s Restaurant 
1-23-25 Fox’s Restaurant 
12-14-22 Dope Shop 
3-1-25 Dope Shop 
4-26-23 Eliot Arts Magnet School 
2-1-25 Eliot Arts Magnet School 
5-19-24 Amara Kitchen 
2-25-25 Amara Kitchen 
1-25-25 Mail Call-Pasadena Post Office 
2-9-25 Billy Graham & Red Cross Disaster Assistance 
3-23-25 Fritzie’s Place 
3-24-25 Highview House 
3-25-25 Ving Scene: Victor Ving Mural 
3-30-25 Rusty Rides
PRESS
NY Times • Why Did It Take a Fire For the World to Learn of Altadena’s Black Arts Legacy? • Read
Colorado Boulevard • Beauty For Ashes: Keni Arts Reception Sparks Healing in Altadena After Fire • Read
Art on the Stairwell
Vroman’s Bookstore
695 E. Colorado Blvd.
Pasadena, CA • 91101
Monday – Sunday • 10:30am-6pm