Dispatch: La Art Fairs Are Live Again

After 2 years of confinement Angelenos took a long needed break from zoom meetings and were out in force to be reunited with the art community. Not exactly back to normal but everyone seemingly enjoying life in the city of angels once again.

The third edition of Frieze LA returned and was presented in a new and preferred location next to the Beverly Hilton hotel. The new structure designed by wHY architecture’s, Kulapat Yantrasast, is a much bigger space with gorgeous over head light throughout which created a warm environment.  Over a 100 exhibitors from 17 countries were represented.  Among the L.A. galleries at the event’s return led by newly appointed director of Frieze LA and New York, Christine Messineo, were Hauser & Wirth, LA Louver, Jeffrey Deitch, Blum & Poe, Gagosian.  Many of the New York galleries returned to Frieze LA again, but the ones garnering the most attention were the New York galleries who are setting up outposts here on the coast, including David Zwirner, Lisson Gallery, Danziger, Sean Kelly, Karma and Pace. Currently on view at Pace New York is Southern California Light and Space superstar, the late Peter Alexander.

LA Louver’s brilliant solo exhibition of Leon Kossoff; A life in Painting and celebration of the publication of his Catalogue Raisonne of paintings was certainly great timing to coincide with the Getty exhibition of Poussin: The Dance has been a very good association of ideas.

In the Hotel’s Wilshire Garden, there’s a new addition called BIPOC Exchange (Black Indigenous People of Color) features 10 non-profit artistic organizations who serve BIPOC communities. Urban Voices, the skid row non profit and Tierra Del Sol, supporting artists with disabilities were among the galleries represented.

Surprisingly, or maybe not so surprisingly, there were few new artists to celebrate – people seem to be decorating and galleries servicing this desire, rather than collecting and educating their audience.

Felix returned to it’s regular spot at The Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood. A mix of established as well as emerging international galleries on 2 floors of the hotel and several poolside bungalows create a glamorous old Hollywood vibe. The pool is really where it’s at and things seem as back to normal as ever here.

The more home-spun #springbreakarteshow, NYC & LA’s curator driven art fair was filled with more than 50 exhibitions that featured fun objects that felt more experimental and captured the loaded creative energy of LA more than anywhere else.  The music and art collective Fall On Your Sword brought sound and moving image to a new level with their experiential installation,“Kneel Before Dog”.  SPY Projects debuted at Spring Break with Sasha Filimonov’s very powerful wooden crafted guns in all shapes and sizes. Representing the gun as a totem. These guns are art with consequence, emulating the form of the firearm without it’s utility, the consequence of it’s existence and it’s grip on America.