Venice Beach’s bohemian soul fades as gentrification reshapes its legacy

Before skaters and artists vanish, one photographer freezes Venice Beach’s rebellious heart in time. Will its spirit survive the wave of change?

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2026 January 12 . 11:23 AM

1 min read

The image shows a group of people walking down a street, holding a banner that reads "Raise Your... — The image shows a group of people walking down a street, holding a banner that reads "Raise Your Ambition, Not the Sea Level". There are bicycles parked on the side of the road, and in the background there are trees, buildings with windows, light poles, and a clear blue sky.

A Homage to the Home of Hippies, Freaks, and Body Artists - Venice Beach’s bohemian soul fades as gentrification reshapes its legacy

Venice Beach, a haven for free spirits since the 1930s, is now facing changes due to rising rents and gentrification. A new photo book, 'Venice Beach: The Last Days of a Bohemian Paradise' by Dotan Saguy, captures its fading bohemian spirit before it disappears. The book, priced at €39.90, pays tribute to those who embrace individuality without compromise. Venice Beach, known for its eccentrics, skaters, and artists, is threatened by soaring housing costs, pushing out long-term residents and altering its unique character. Saguy's images serve as a visual record of a place in transition, highlighting the people who have made Venice Beach legendary before gentrification alters its identity forever. The book offers a glimpse into a community fighting to preserve its way of life, with rents climbing and development accelerating, Venice Beach's bohemian roots face an uncertain future. Saguy's photographs stand as a testament to the neighbourhood's defiant spirit, one that may soon exist only in memory.