Rooted

at Civil Coffee

Las raíces hacen posible el florecer.

On view until XXX

5629 N Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90042, United States

Rooted presents work by photographers whose practices are shaped by place — artists who understand that creative work does not emerge from urgency, but from time, familiarity, and a deep relationship with the environments that hold them.

The exhibition brings together photographers Jorden DeGaetano, Ian Merzwinski, and Kelby Reck. Each artist approaches image-making as a form of observation, returning again and again to the landscapes, rituals, and moments that have shaped their way of seeing. Their photographs are not simply captured — they are grown through patience and presence.

Civil Coffee has always operated with the same philosophy. A café is not just a place to drink coffee, but a place where routine becomes ritual and community takes root. Within these everyday spaces, people gather, pause, and find the conditions that allow creativity to emerge.

Rooted reflects on what artists — and communities — need in order to grow: a sense of place, a sense of belonging, and the quiet stability of returning to the same ground again and again.

Las raíces hacen posible el florecer.

Featuring Artists

Jorden Degaetano

Jorden DeGaetano is a Los Angeles–based photographer whose work explores gesture and the fleeting intersections between people and landscape. Rooted in the idea of perpetual nostalgia and drawing from the visual language of early-1990s Americana, his images are sun-washed and observational, revealing the quiet poetry of human behavior.

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Ian Merzwinski

Ian Merzwinski is an award winning Los Angeles based photographer whose work explores scenic landscapes taken across the globe. Raised in a rural landscape in Northern California, he tends to have a grounded, peaceful nature, that is felt through his photos. He emphasizes stillness, composition, and the use of natural light, with film being a significant influence on his style. It evokes a sense of timelessness and nostalgia, allowing you to experience a photo in a unique way by immersing you in the scene.

Kelby Reck is a director & photographer based in Phoenix, Arizona. His unique style & color usage provokes a wave of nostalgia. Making modern photography feel like a past memory.

He has been working on set for a decade , exercising his ability to adapt by working in various genres , such as fashion & sports.

Kelby is a self-taught artist who has undoubtedly spent many hours disciplining his visionary talent in order to yield success.

Including being a recipient of two Rocky Mountain Emmy awards. When asked about his goals for the future, he leaves it open ended. He believes art is what you make it & doesn’t want to put a limit to that.

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