Bold Route 66 Murals Transform Pasadena’s Colorado Boulevard

Collage of Murals at (L-R) 1543 E Colorado, 2762 E Colorado and 1765 E Colorado (Photos courtesy of Victor Ving)

Drivers cruising down Colorado Boulevard are finding themselves greeted by bold new murals that celebrate Route 66, a reminder that Pasadena has long been part of America’s “Mother Road.”

By News Desk

Local artist Victor Ving has been steadily reimagining the city’s stretch of the highway, working at a faster pace as the Route 66 Centennial approaches next year. His newest mural debuted November 10, 2025, at Villain Custom Cycles, where a ribbon‑cutting ceremony marked the occasion.

The artwork, designed in the style of a vintage Art Deco travel poster, captures the spirit of America’s westward drive for opportunity. A life‑size map charts the highway’s historic path through Pasadena, while the host business itself reflects the immigrant success story the mural honors. Jose Morales, who opened Villain Custom Cycles in 2001, has built the shop into a thriving motorcycle hub over the past two decades.

Ving’s ties to Route 66 are personal. For five years, he and his wife, photographer Lisa Beggs, lived full‑time in an RV, painting murals in cities along the highway. Their journey took them from Chicago and Litchfield to Albuquerque, Oklahoma City, and Santa Monica before they eventually settled in Pasadena.

The project was made possible through a Saving Places Grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “Route 66 is an international icon that covers more than 2,400 miles and serves as a showcase of diverse cultures, landscapes, and experiences,” said Rhys Martin, Preserve Route 66 Initiative Manager. “These murals will give travelers an opportunity to stop, make a memory, and take their time to explore.”

Collaboration has been central to the effort. Ving has worked with Pasadena businesses and organizations to install hand‑painted Route 66 signs along Colorado Boulevard, reviving local awareness. Volunteers from Impact, a Pasadena‑based rehabilitation center, joined in by preparing the wall for the mural.

“We want this to become a must-stop photo spot for travelers, especially motorcyclists riding Route 66,” Ving said.

As the Route 66 Centennial coincides with Colorado Boulevard’s 150th anniversary, Ving’s murals are more than decoration. They are cultural milestones, positioning Pasadena as a vital stop in the national story of mobility, nostalgia, and reinvention.

Victor Ving in front of one of his murals at 2000 E. Colorado (Photos courtesy of Victor Ving)