This month’s featured exhibitions in Los Angeles offer a glimpse into the diverse and thought-provoking art scene in the city. From contemporary social issues to innovative approaches to artmaking, these shows showcase a range of perspectives and ideas. Here are some highlights:
Alan Luna: Modernisisimo
Located at La Plaza Projects in East Los Angeles, Alan Luna’s exhibition features two distinct bodies of work that challenge traditional notions of Mexican culture and American modernism. Luna’s Metametates series reimagines traditional stone grinding slabs in provocative compositions, while his Huipiles Colorados pays homage to Indigenous garments through a modern lens. This exhibition invites viewers to reconsider the intersection of tradition and contemporary art.
Edith Dekyndt & Richard Long
Okey Dokey Konrad Fischer presents a unique collaboration between Edith Dekyndt and Richard Long, two artists who explore the natural world in their work. Dekyndt’s Imagine Inscape series combines AI technology with fossilized wood to create striking tapestries, while Long’s land art offers a tactile connection to the earth. This exhibition highlights the intersection of art, nature, and technology.
Phallus :: Fascinum :: Fascism
The Box hosts a powerful group show that challenges societal norms and explores the link between sexuality and militarism. Featuring nearly 200 artists, including Lynda Benglis and Math Bass, this exhibition offers a diverse range of perspectives on contemporary issues. Through a multiplicity of voices, Phallus :: Fascinum :: Fascism invites viewers to confront prevailing ideologies.
Sam Shoemaker: Mushroom Boat
At Fulcrum Arts, artist Sam Shoemaker presents a unique project that blurs the boundaries between art and science. Shoemaker’s kayak made from mushroom mycelium symbolizes his commitment to ecological art practices and innovative thinking. By showcasing the boat and accompanying videos, Mushroom Boat invites viewers to consider new possibilities for sustainable art.
Nancy Lupo
Kristina Kite Gallery features Berlin-based artist Nancy Lupo’s inventive sculptures that play with memory and materiality. Lupo’s Hark series reimagines everyday benches in unconventional colors and textures, challenging viewers to see familiar objects in a new light. Through her creative use of materials, Lupo invites us into a whimsical yet thought-provoking world.
Casting a Glance: Dancing with Smithson
Marian Goodman Gallery presents Casting a Glance, an exhibition that pays homage to the pioneering artist Robert Smithson. Featuring works by artists like Steve McQueen and Leonor Antunes, this show explores Smithson’s influence on contemporary art and his innovative approach to site-specific installations. By engaging with Smithson’s legacy, these artists offer new perspectives on space, time, and materiality.
Horror
SprĂĽth Magers delves into the realm of horror with a group show that examines the visceral aspects of fear and revulsion. Inspired by the horror genre, artists like Arthur Jafa and Kara Walker explore themes of trauma and discomfort in their work. By tapping into the darker aspects of human experience, Horror challenges viewers to confront their fears and anxieties.
Daniel T. Gaitor-Lomack: You Can Hate Me Now
Night Gallery showcases Daniel T. Gaitor-Lomack’s assemblages made from found objects in the streets of Los Angeles. Through his poetic sculptures, Gaitor-Lomack reflects on the city’s turbulent history and the resilience of its residents. You Can Hate Me Now invites viewers to reconsider the value of discarded materials and the stories they hold.
A Tender Excavation
Luckman Gallery presents A Tender Excavation, an exhibition that explores alternative narratives through the use of archives. By transforming family photos and historical documents into new artworks, artists like Zeynep Abes and Mercedes Dorame challenge conventional interpretations of history and memory. Through their innovative approaches, these artists shed light on forgotten stories and silenced voices.
Enrique MartĂnez Celaya: The Sextant
At the Wende Museum, Enrique MartĂnez Celaya’s The Sextant offers a poignant reflection on his family’s history in Cuba. Recreating his father’s modernist house, Celaya explores the complexities of exile and political upheaval. By intertwining personal narratives with larger historical events, The Sextant invites viewers to contemplate the intersection of individual experience and global forces.
