A painting of Jackie Robinson now hangs a short distance from where he grew up, after Los Angeles artist Richard Aguilar donated the portrait to the Pasadena Museum of History's permanent collection.

The portrait is featured in "Pasadena Palette: Selections from Pasadena Museum of History's Collection," a year-long survey of paintings tied to the city. It will remain on view through Sunday, Dec. 27, 2026, in the History Center Galleries at 470 W. Walnut St.

Anuja Navare, the museum's director of collections, said in a July 23 statement reported by ColoradoBoulevard.net that the painting helps fill a gap in the museum's holdings and strengthens its ability to tell a more complete story of Pasadena's past.

Robinson's ties to Pasadena run deep. He grew up in the city, attended Washington Junior High School and John Muir High School, and competed in football, basketball, baseball, and track before enrolling at Pasadena Junior College. At PJC, he was a four-sport superstar who led teams to conference and state titles. He still holds the school record for longest run from scrimmage at 99 yards, and he broke his older brother Mack Robinson's national community college broad jump record at 25 feet, 6.5 inches.

Robinson transferred to UCLA, became the university's first student to earn varsity letters in four sports, and in 1947 broke Major League Baseball's color barrier when he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers.

PCC's Hall of Fame page calls him "the greatest athlete in community college sports history." The school's football stadium is named Robinson Stadium after Jackie and Mack, and the Lancers baseball team plays at Jackie Robinson Memorial Field at Brookside Park, next to the Rose Bowl. Pasadena also honored the brothers with a bronze memorial across from City Hall.

Aguilar, a Boyle Heights native and lifelong Dodgers fan, studied art at California State University, Los Angeles before a 38-year career in law enforcement, during which he continued to paint. He has created murals for the Oscar De La Hoya Youth Foundation and the Hollenbeck Youth Center.

"I wanted this piece to serve as more than just a portrait. I want it to be an invitation," Aguilar said in the museum's July 23 announcement. "My hope is that when the public views this work, they are moved to look deeper into Robinson's life and reflect on the immense impact he had on the Black community and on the fight for equality for all minorities."

The galleries are open Thursdays through Sundays, noon to 5 p.m. Admission is $9 for adults, $7 for seniors, and free for museum members, students, and visitors under 19. Parking is free in the museum lot off Walnut Street.