The LA Art Show, which is always a fun, exciting event, wrapped last week, running from February 5 to Sunday the 9th.
As the 25th Annual LA Art Show came to its conclusion, the producers stated they are proud to announce the dates of next year’s fair. The LA Art Show, recognized as one of the most comprehensive international contemporary art fairs in America, will return to the LA Convention Center from February 10 – 14, 2021, coinciding with Frieze LA.
“LA is one of the most creative cities in the world, and it has been my dream for us to be recognized as a true arts capital, not just the center of the entertainment industry,” says LA Art Show Founder and Executive Director Kim Martindale, adding, “When I created the LA Art Show 25 years ago, there weren’t any big art fairs here. My intention has always been to use this fair as a platform to grow the LA art market into one that people are proud to buy from. It’s truly rewarding to see that mission accomplished on the 25th anniversary of the LA Art Show.”
The 2020 LA Art Show featured exhibitions by over 130 international galleries, museums, and non-profit organizations from 23 different countries. More than reportedly 55,000 attendees experienced the four day event.
Exhibitions included that by Kazu Hiro, who was nominated for an Oscar for his special effects makeup work on “Bombshell,” who unveiled two new ICONOCLASTS sculptures of Audrey Hepburn at this year’s fair, presented by Copro Gallery. His photorealistic recreations of Abraham Lincoln, Salvador Dali, Frida Kahlo, and Jimi Hendrix drew admirers before they even entered the show, including Charlize Theron, pictured with the artist above.
Diverse Art LA, curated by Marisa Ciachiolo, featured an impressive floor-to-ceiling MOLAA Pride Flag created by artists Leo Chiachio and Daniel Giannone. Next to this was Viktor Freso’s “The Birth of the Niemand,” featuring 16 larger than life statues that patrons could walk amongst and pose for photos with.
The Japanese American National Museum booth drew patrons in with Taiji Terasaki’s “Transcendients: Heroes at Borders” exhibition, an immersive meditation on the atrocities of the Japanese-American concentration camps during World War II, and a celebration of the heroes who fight for equality and democracy today.
The Broad Museum presented “I See You, I Am Seen: On the Impact of Diversity” to shine a spotlight on efforts to incorporate more diversity into art museum staff.
The gallery work was equally varied including showcases by CORE, a dedicated space for galleries from around the world, MODERN + CONTEMPORARY, representing the vast spectrum of contemporary painting, illustration, sculpture and other artforms from around the world, ROOTS, honoring the voices and art movements of the past that continue to be informative of modern and contemporary art, INK, showcasing the continually evolving movement of East Asian ink painting, WORKS ON PAPER, exhibiting photographs and other pieces not on traditional canvas, DESIGN LA ART, showcasing high concept furniture and functional art, and PROJECT SPACE, dedicating exhibitions to specific artists from leading galleries.
The European Pavilion gallery section featured over a dozen galleries from Spain, Italy, the UK and beyond, in celebration of the profound influence that European art has had on the world.
Jane Kahn Gallery was back, with their beautiful tapestries of masters including Chagall and Picasso. K Contemporary had a notable work “Sisters in Fur Coats with Birds” by Daisy Patton, and Mizuma Art Gallery had a nice piece by Amano Yoshitaka, “Lady Blue.”
“The Swimmer” is a well crafted sculpture represented by L’Arcada Galeria D’Art from Spain by Coderch & Malavia, and BG Gallery was back again with a nice work by Fred Tieken titled “Brainstorm Series–Number Fourteen,” referencing one of my favorites; Jean-Michel Basquiat.
Bruce Lurie Gallery was back, and Conde Contemporary featured Darian Mederos’ work, which must be seen in person to be properly appreciated, including the attention grabbing “Bohemia,” (oil on canvas). Daphne Alazraki Fine Art was back, with the outstanding work of Jean-Pierre Cassigneul; “Rendez Vous.”
General Investment Group was present with works by Renoir, among more. K+Y featured Jeff Rob’s noticeable “Apperture 16,” and Melissa Morgan Fine Art was back with the always popular infinity mirrored portal pieces by Anthony James that we featured last year. Rebecca Hossack Art Gallery was back with Phil Shaw’s “The Life Aquatic,” and LA based Rebecca Molayem Gallery featured her own work including a piece titled “Sabrina.”
Hayden & Fandetta from LA featured “De La Walse au Tango” (1920) by Jacques Boulenger. M.S. Rau was back, which as usual, dominated with some of the best works by masters including Monet, Rockwell, and more. Rehs Galleries also was back with equally impressive works by Daniel Ridgeway Knight (Maria Among the Poppies) among more. Gallerie Brun Massa from France represented a nice piece by Olivier Lavorel titled “1901-Venise” made in 2019 by the artist.
Despite the virus scare freaking out some, China was well represented, and the LA Art Show was as usual–packed. A tiny percent of the occasional person worse a face mask, with one guy I saw wearing one around his neck. With a few people walking around coughing, I was thankful of how fortunate we are to be in the U.S. at this time. Pray for our beautiful comrades in China. May they soon have victory over the virus, peace, and FREEDOM.
–Bruce Edwin
Be sure to check out the 2021 LA Art Show next year at the LA Convention Center from February 10 – 14, 2021.
©2020, Hollywood Sentinel
