Noah Purifoy (1917–2004) moved to Los Angeles in 1953 and enrolled as the first African-American student at what is now the California Institute of the Arts. Purifoy graduated with a BFA just before his fortieth birthday. With fellow artist Judson Powell he organized the exhibition “66 Signs of Neon” with material salvaged from the Watts Rebellion. He co-founded the Watts Towers Arts Center, and initiated various programs to bring art into the prison system. The Noah Purifoy Outdoor Sculpture Museum is situated near Joshua Tree in the Mojave Desert.