Josh “Bagel” Klassman, raised in Venice Beach, California, has spent over three decades chronicling the area and its people. Immersed in the roots of Venice’s culture, Bagel’s storytelling and journalistic abilities, offer a profound glimpse into its history and evolution.
Growing up surfing the Venice Break Water and spending time at the lively Venice Pavilion (demolished in April, 2000), Bagel experienced an era filled with influential moments but with a camera in hand. His lens captured the raw energy of the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s—a time characterized by grit and exhilarating chaos. His close-knit circle was very diverse but from surfing and skating to graffiti these interests brought them together.
Despite the changes that have transformed Venice over the decades, Bagel remains original, still capturing the essence of daily life in the neighborhood he calls home. His regret lies in not capturing certain local spots that have vanished- thus, in 2020, he went around documenting the remaining mom-and-pop shops during the pandemic.
Bagel’s work serves as a time capsule, preserving moments and places that have ceased to exist, serving as a poignant reminder of Venice’s roots. Collaborating with friends, notably Jayme Burtis, has added another dimension to his storytelling, culminating in shared pieces that merge photography and graffiti, creating an ongoing visual narrative.