Show Preview | LA Art Show - Southwest Art Magazine

Los Angeles, CA
LA Convention Center, February 5-9

Infinity Pool by Laurence Jones. Courtesy of Rebecca Hossack Art Gallery.

This story was featured in the February 2020 issue of Southwest Art magazine. Get the Southwest Art February 2020 print issue or digital download now–then subscribe to Southwest Art and never miss another story.

WHEN THE LA ART Show arrived on the California art scene 25 years ago, 14 galleries exhibited historic and American Regionalism artworks at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, CA—a showcase that drew about 250 attendees. The show has grown exponentially since then, with ever-evolving exhibits featuring traditional and modern artworks from all over the world in categories ranging from historic painting and sculpture to pop art to interactive installations. The event—now considered the largest art fair on the West Coast—draws upwards of 55,000 attendees. “The LA Art Show has always been about progression,” says show producer Kim Martindale, “and it’s taken us 25 years to build up to the breadth and scope of what it is now.”

: Untitled (Sisters in Fur Coats With Birds) by Daisy Patton. Courtesy of K Contemporary.

: Mirror Pavilion by Du Kun. Courtesy of Mizuma Art Gallery.

: Mickey Powerlines Dismaland by Jeff Gillette. Courtesy of Bert Green Fine Art.

Held at the LA Convention Center since 2009, the 25th anniversary edition unfolds in the 200,000-square-foot South Hall beginning on Wednesday, February 5, with a Red Card and Patrons Preview at 6 p.m. and an opening-night premiere at 8 p.m. More than 100 galleries from over 18 countries contribute to this diverse, groundbreaking showcase. “There is truly amazing programming happening this year,” says Martindale, noting the return of DIVERSEartLA, a large section of curated artworks designed to connect international artists, curators, museums, and nonprofits with audiences in Los Angeles. “For the first time ever, work will be presented by the Danubiana Museum of Bratislava,” he adds, “with a special exhibition from the collection of Homeira Goldstein.”

: Untitled by Thota Vaikuntam. Courtesy of Arushi Arts.

: Like Other Days by Marcellina Akpojotor. Courtesy of Rele Gallery.

: Airport 5 by Sium Jang. Courtesy of Gallery Artwall.

Also back by popular demand is the Roots showcase, a section composed of paintings and sculptures from galleries that specialize in historic and contemporary traditional fine artworks. “Rehs Galleries has been with us in Roots since the very beginning, so it’s extra special that they’ll be with us for the 25th anniversary,” Martindale says of the New York exhibitor, which focuses primarily on realist art from the 19th and 20th centuries. And for the second year in a row, Trinity House Paintings, of London and New York, returns with “new historic material,” he adds. “The name Roots actually comes from the roots of art, but also the roots of the LA Art Show. We started 25 years ago with galleries that were dealing with historic and representational works, and over the years, we have grown to incorporate more modern and contemporary art.”

: Dreaming of Expectations by Zhao Kailin. Courtesy of Mandarin Fine Art Gallery.

: Dama Del Chicle 2 by Gerard Mas. Courtesy of 3 Punts Galeria.

: Space Station 6 by Ilhwa Kim. Courtesy of the LA Art Show.

The largest section at the LA Art Show, called Modern + Contemporary, spans a wide range of contemporary painting, illustration, sculpture, and more from galleries in Los Angeles, the Pacific Rim, and countries around the world. Also bringing an international focus to the show is the new European Pavilion, where visitors can explore artworks from Spain, Italy, and the United Kingdom. “The pavilion will be a celebration of the profound influence that European art has had on the world,” says Martindale. “Within this section is a special exhibit showcasing Catalan artists from 1900 to the present, offering a glimpse into the modern art history of the region.”

All proceeds from patron ticket sales, and 15 percent of proceeds from opening-night ticket sales, are donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the exclusive charity partner of the LA Art Show this year. —Kim Agricola

contact information
310.822.9145
www.laartshow.com

: Fragmento de un Paisaje by Manuel Mendive. Courtesy of Acacia Gallery.

: La Tarde by Manuel Mendive. Courtesy of Acacia Gallery.

: Del Sur, Retratos de Punta Arenas y Valparaíso by Vicente González Mimica. Courtesy of Art Museum of the Americas Organization of American States.