Rhonda Love, the tireless artist and advocate of humanity without whom many leaders in Long Beach would be lost sheep, has succumbed to cancer. And with that, leaves behind an emboldened legacy shrouded in Black excellence, Long Beach pride, communal uplift, civic fulfillment, and a stellar example of what it is to be a distinct human.
For many—including myself—Rhonda represented everything Long Beach is and could be. Fiercely kind, her and I shared a love of the Downtown and our city as a whole. And to this day, I have seen it rarely matched. A tireless patron of the arts and steadfast upholder of social justice, Rhonda had both patience and intelligence. With those talents, she used them to educate with humility. Uplift with kindness. And force each and every person she met to be their own light.
In the words of Long Beach Arts Council Executive Director Griselda Suarez, Rhonda “worked tirelessly to bring the community together and ensure that many artists felt seen.
“The first time I met Rhonda, I had only a few months in my role at the Arts Council. By that time, I had lost my hair due to chemotherapy treatments, and she gave me such a warm welcome to the Mayor’s office that I completely forgot about my head wrap slipping. This is one of her greatest gifts she shared with many: the absolute joy of connecting with people and making them feel that they belonged.”
Rhonda Love’s love of herself and Long Beach.
Rhonda Love, after retiring from a long career in city service, was finally ready to devote her energy to creative expression following her departure from former Mayor Robert Garcia’s office. And she did just that: registering under the council’s ArtsLB Artist Registry, she jumped headfirst into the East Village art scene, becoming a dedicated member of the Art Walk committee, and one of the loudest champions for reviving the event that now stands as one of DTLB’s most distinct. Her first activation—under the name DreamKreator, which soon became her studio that melded media and social change—lit up Linden Avenue with a massive LED screen that showcased her multimedia work.
But Rhonda wasn’t just showing her own art; she was working behind the scenes, too. Calling on city contacts. Rallying support. Shaping the future of the Art Walk, Downtown, and the entirety of the Long Beach creative community. She even created the Celebrating Black Excellence awards in 2018 to recognize outstanding individuals in Long Beach who exemplify caliber within the Black community.
She went on to receive several microgrants and community project grants to bring her visions to life through the Arts Council. But, according to Griselda, it was the 2022 California Creative Corps program that offered her a breakthrough moment. Partnered with Mental Health America of LA and Long Beach, Rhonda created the Social Pivot Exhibition—a powerful community-based installation that addressed climate change, COVID, social justice, and civic engagement. Her goal was simple but ambitious: to educate and inspire people of all ages to become agents of change. Clients at MHA helped shape every step of the project, embodying the kind of inclusive, community-driven artmaking Rhonda always stood for.
Cancer be damned: Rhonda never let a single diagnosis stop her determination to make Long Beach a better place for everyone.
Like Griselda’s cancer journey, they shared a sisterly connection beyond friendship: In March of 2024, Rhonda herself was diagnosed with breast cancer, and by September, it had progressed to Stage 4. Gone were her iconic braids. In place: her also iconic head wrap. Her body? Obviously altered. Her spirit? Never stronger.
“When she shared her diagnosis with me,” Griselda shared, “she also shared her determination to fight. And we all witnessed what it means to face pain and fear with grace and strength. Throughout her journey, she remained true to herself and combined ancestral knowledge with modern medicine. As I sat in committee meetings with her just months ago, and anyone else who may have done so, I learned about passion and dedication. Rhonda Love worked arduously to create heroes of change. She set the prime example.”
This couldn’t have been more true the last time I saw her. We both received the Spirit of Downtown award—an honor I think we both deeply cherished—and when I told her we keep saying we have to work more together, she said, “Look at this. Look around. We are doing the work. You even took my advice,” she said, brightly smiling.
She had once told me that, if I had put the energy I put into food toward art, my “soul would find a larger space to mold itself.” With that, my Long Beach Art Scene column was born. And while I know I can do better, Rhonda—and I will—you will always be a part of my art writing.
Long Beach leaders uplift the spirit of Rhonda Love.
Various leaders have shared their pain and sadness with the loss of Rhonda.
Congressman Robert Garcia:
“The loss of Rhonda Love deeply saddens me. Rhonda worked with me in the Mayor’s Office. She managed my schedule, kept me on task, and was an exceptional team member. She was also incredibly kind and motivated by her love of people. After she left our office, she remained active and continued to grow her business and community involvement. She loved our city. We stayed in contact over the years, and I recently saw her at a mayor’s office reunion I hosted. I am also grateful to her family and her partner, Greg, for allowing me to convey a message to her over the phone last night. We all miss her already, and my love goes out to her family. She will always be with us.”
Mayor Rex Richardson:
“Our City of Long Beach family is heartbroken by the loss of Rhonda Love, a dedicated public servant, member of the city family, and cultural advocate who contributed so much to our community. Rhonda’s warmth, commitment, and passion for service touched everyone around her. My thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time. We are grateful for her years of service to the city and the impact she made on our community.”
Robert Marquez, event organizer:
“Rhonda was my friend—a great friend—and she invested in me as a person. We had so many great talks about the arts and events in Long Beach. Or about our connection to our faith journeys. I loved her joyous smile and, even in sickness, she still carried it and shone her own beauty. I am going to miss her so much. There is no Grey LB and Time & Space without her love for me and us.”
For the Downtown, Rhonda was an essential cog, light, and leader.
Perhaps no leader is struggling more with the loss of Rhonda than Downtown Long Beach Alliance CEO and President, Austin Metoyer. Their long relationship—largely built through Austin’s growth from advising the economic development department of the organization to leading it after previous leadership ultimately failed the team—was highlighted by her board membership for four years, from 2020 to 2024. (Years, mind you, that could largely be considered amongst the organization’s most turbulent.)
“I owe a lot to Rhonda,” Austin said. “During a tumultuous time due to the pandemic and transition within our own organization, Rhonda remained a guiding and calming voice on the Board. When I assumed my current role, she was a constant advisor and friend and continued to put her faith and trust in the work we were doing. Rhonda was family and she saw all of us as part of her family. My heart and love go out to her partner in life, Greg, and to her entire family.”
