What happened to Jordan Mitchell? GoFundMe raises over $139,000 as LA artist suffers devastating loss in Eaton fire

The Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, brought unspeakable tragedy to the Mitchell family, forever altering the life of local artist Jordan Mitchell. The community is now coming together to help Jordan rebuild after he narrowly escaped the fire that claimed the lives of his father, Anthony Mitchell, and brother, Justin Mitchell, as well as destroying their family home.

Jordan Mitchell, the sole survivor of his immediate family, was hospitalized with injuries sustained while escaping the fire. As he recovers, he faces an arduous path forward—grieving the loss of his loved ones, coping with the destruction of his childhood home, and rebuilding his life from the ground up.

In the wake of this tragedy, Jordan’s close friend Andrew launched a GoFundMe campaign to rally support. The campaign has raised over $130k so far, as people from near and far contribute to help Jordan begin anew.

The funds will go toward covering Jordan’s immediate and long-term needs, including:

• Replacing clothing, toiletries, and other necessities lost in the fire.
• Covering hospital expenses and ongoing care as Jordan recovers physically.
• Securing a safe and stable place for Jordan to live and heal.
• Providing access to therapy and emotional support as he processes his grief and trauma.

"No donation is too small—every dollar makes a difference," Andrew emphasized on the fundraiser page. "If you can’t donate, sharing the campaign is equally impactful."

Anthony Mitchell, Jordan's father and an amputee who used a wheelchair, and his adult son Justin, who had cerebral palsy, lived together in the family’s cherished home. Tragically, they were unable to evacuate in time. Authorities later found Anthony by Justin’s bedside, a poignant testament to their bond.

Sharing the GoFundMe link on their Facebook, a user, Jasmyne Cannick, shared:

"Jordan is now facing an overwhelming road to recovery—physically, emotionally, and financially. This fire claimed the life of his father and his brother in addition to losing his childhood home."

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Who is Jordan Mitchell?

Jordan Mitchell is known for his remarkable artistic talent, particularly exploring the racial wealth gap through his work. His artwork has inspired many, with one of his creations even featured in a book project by journalist Louise Story and Ebony Reed. Louise Story shared Jordan's artwork on her Facebook with the caption:

"One of the families with two deaths in LA is the family of Jordan Mitchell, a talented artist who a year ago created the below image for my book project with Ebony Reed. I’m so sorry that Jordan has lost his father, his brother, and his childhood home and I’m posting a Go Fund Me his friends made for him below in the comments"

Jordan Mitchell, a Pasadena-based artist, shared insights into his journey and challenges during a Substack interview by Louise Story and Ebony Reed. Jordan expressed that his love for art began early, drawing on printer paper stacks in his father’s office as a child.

“I would constantly get in trouble as a 4-year-old for drawing on the entire stack,” he recalled.

Inspired by comic artists like Jim Lee and Becky Cloonan, as well as editorial illustrations in The New Yorker and Wired, Jordan sees art as a way to translate ideas into impactful visuals. Mitchell said:

"You’re not just telling a story; you’re giving people a reason to sit and think about it."

'The art world isn’t very accessible,' Jordan noted, citing racial and class barriers. While opportunities have improved over the years, biases persist. Two of Jordan’s works address the Black-white wealth gap. One shows a fiery bridge blocking progress, symbolizing systemic barriers, while another depicts an uncrossable chasm representing the lack of systemic support.