Known to naturally evoke curiosity and wonder, as well as elevate your mood, art provides a safe space for you to connect with others and explore your own thoughts and feelings. Filling up the Los Angeles scene this month is a host of exhibitions that celebrate veteran boundary-breakers and contemporary artists who have paved their own pathways in life. From Pace Gallery, which pays tribute to iconic Black American photographer, Gordon Parks, this month, to Eastern Projects’ honoring of Chicano collective Los Four on the 50th anniversary of their seminal LACMA show, the L.A. landscape is filled with a collection of art for all to engage with. Below is a list of some of the art exhibitions hitting L.A. this month that you won’t want to miss.
Kentaro Kawabata / Bruce Nauman
Nonaka-Hill blends together two seemingly opposing artists together to create an exhibition of wonder. This show focuses on the works of Japanese porcelain sculptor Kentaro Kawabata and American multi-media artist Bruce Nauman. Kawabata is seen through whimsical ceramics that resemble off creatures or vessels that crackle or burst, freezing energy of the kin. While Nauman’s work included his early experiments with ceramics, large-scale sculpture, video, and works from the series Infrared Outtakes (1968/2006) and Fingers and Holes (1994). Guests can head to Nonaka-Hill through July 20 to catch this exhibition of hyper saturated-colors.
“Los Four”: 50th Anniversary of the LACMA Exhibit 1974–2024
In 1974, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) organized its first exhibition of Chicano artists, called “Los Four,” which featured Carlos Almaraz, Beto de la Rocha, Gilbert “Magu” Luján, and Frank Romero. LACMA displayed their paintings, sculptures, and murals that highlighted Mexican-American life in LA and the Southwest, Indigenous symbology from both sides of the border, and the civil rights struggles of “El Movimiento” with expressionistic vibrancy.
For LACMA exhibition’s 50th anniversary of “Los Four,” Eastern Projects is celebrating its legacy with a presentation of work spanning five decades, including contemporary work by Romero.This celebration runs through August 3.
I’d Love To See You: A Juxtapoz Magazine Story At 30 (Part 1)
Rusha & Co. are opening its doors for the first in a series of exhibitions that highlight the influence of Juxtapoz Magazine, which was was founded 30 years ago in California by Robert Williams, Fausto Vitello, C.R. Stecyk III, Greg Escalante, and Eric Swenson as a platform for alternative and underground visual culture. This exhibition will feature works on paper from a wide range of artists who have graced the magazine’s pages like, April Bey, Corita Kent, Hannah Lupton Reinhard, Nehemiah Cisneros, Raymond Pettibon, Swoon, and many others. Don’t miss this first installment, which runs through August 14.
Hyperobject: Art in the Age of YOLO
The Fellows of Contemporary Art (FOCA) present L.A. with a show featuring young artists engaging with how the internet mediates our world. Featuring seven contemporary artists who were born between 1991 and 2003, and raised on the internet, will also engage with the nostalgia for the early days of online freedom. The exhibition is set to run through August 17.
The art scene in Los Angeles this month offers a diverse array of exhibitions that encourage exploration and connection. From the tribute to Gordon Parks at Pace Gallery to Eastern Projects’ celebration of the iconic “Los Four,” these events reflect the vibrant cultural tapestry of the city. Each exhibition presents a unique opportunity for visitors to engage with groundbreaking artists and their impactful work.
Moreover, exhibitions like “I’d Love To See You” and “Hyperobject” highlight the evolving influence of alternative art movements and the role of technology in shaping contemporary expression. This dynamic landscape fosters curiosity and invites everyone to partake in the transformative power of art, making it a must-visit destination for enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
