Contemporary Art takes Center Stage in Los Angeles and Beyond
Table of Contents
- Contemporary Art takes Center Stage in Los Angeles and Beyond
- Moonbliss Riverdream by Kim DeJesus at Vielmetter
- What Remains Behind by Helmut Lang at MAK Center for Art and Architecture
- Modèle vivant at Jack Siebert Projects
- Magic Echoes: Brazil Diasporas’ Vibrant Encounters with Ancestrality at M+B
- wet Reckless by Issy Wood at Michael Werner
- One Hundred Percent at 619 N western Avenue
- Finding Figures by Daniel Crews-Chubb at Roberts Projects
- kelly Akashi at Lisson Gallery
- The Perfect Tense by Sam McKinniss at David Kordansky Gallery
- Spirit Level by Tau lewis at David Zwirner
- Noir by Alex Israel at Gagosian
- Jacqueline Humphries at Matthew Marks Gallery
- mole, mold, molt by Sula Bermudez-Silverman at Hannah Hoffman
- Tell the Poets by Sarah Cain at Honor Fraser
- Winging it by Nina Chanel Abney at Jeffrey Deitch
- Plant Works by Anders Ruhwald at morán Morán
- Cryptic Aperture by Mark Yang at Various Small Fires
- Valerie Keane at Gaylord Fine Arts
- Tuning the Dial by Woody De Othello at Karma
- A Gentle Kiss to the Interior Fontanelle by Jay Payton at Sea View
- frequently Asked Questions
- What types of contemporary art exhibitions are featured in the article?
- How do these exhibitions reflect both local and global art themes?
- In what ways do the exhibitions address historical or cultural heritage?
- How are artists responding to current events and challenges?
- What innovative techniques and materials are being showcased?
- What value do these exhibitions offer to collectors and art enthusiasts?
Over the coming months, a spectrum of inventive exhibitions is captivating art enthusiasts across major U.S. cities. From immersive installations to explorations of abstraction and poignant responses to recent social upheavals, these shows provide fresh insights into the evolving nature of modern art. Below is a comprehensive look at several exhibitions, along with expanded analysis, local context, and practical implications for artists and collectors alike.
Moonbliss Riverdream by Kim DeJesus at Vielmetter
When: Through March 8
Where: Vielmetter
Why It’s Worth a Look: Drawing on traditions of Color Field and Action painting,Los Angeles–based artist Kim dejesus presents a vibrant collection of recent abstractions crafted with acrylics,oil,and mixed media on canvas. The artist’s innovative use of staining, pouring and blurring techniques is designed to evoke the endless expanses of outer space.This approach encourages viewers to reconsider their own perceptions of time, place, and consciousness. For collectors and art aficionados in the United States, the installation is a compelling example of how local artists are pushing traditional boundaries while resonating with global themes.
What Remains Behind by Helmut Lang at MAK Center for Art and Architecture
When: February 19 – May 4
Where: MAK Center for Art and Architecture
Why It’s Worth a Look: While many in the fashion realm are familiar with Helmut Lang’s designs, his transition into sculpture offers a provocative duality. The exhibition celebrates materials by emphasizing those “with a past, elements with irreplaceable presence, and with scars and memories of a former purpose.” Set against the historic backdrop of Schindler House in West Hollywood—the first slab-cast modernist house originally designed in 1922 by Rudolph Schindler—the exhibition juxtaposes modern creativity with a storied architectural legacy. This context is not only of historical interest but also serves as a model for integrating heritage into contemporary practice through art and design.
Modèle vivant at Jack Siebert Projects
When: Through February 22
Where: Jack Siebert Projects, private Beverly Hills Residence
Why It’s Worth a look: In his third Los Angeles exhibition, curator Jack Siebert transforms a 1960 mid-century home—a residence originally commissioned by Walt Disney—into a dynamic space exploring the concept of the living model.Nathanaëlle Herbelin’s modèle Vivant, 2021, lends its name to the show, which features a revolving selection of pieces by established figures such as Rita Ackermann, Isabelle Albuquerque, Buck Ellison, Alex Katz, Vanessa Raw, Joan Semmel, and Chloe Wise. This exhibition demonstrates how domestic spaces can be reinterpreted as immersive galleries that blur boundaries between art, history, and everyday life.
Magic Echoes: Brazil Diasporas’ Vibrant Encounters with Ancestrality at M+B
When: February 21 – March 22
Where: M+B
Why It’s Worth a Look: “Magic echoes” encapsulates the eclectic and diverse cultural landscape of Brazil through the works of 12 creative voices, including Amadeo Luciano Lorenzato, Arorá, Chen Kong Fang, Chico da Silva, Gustavo Caboco, hiram Latorre, Lia D Castro, Lu Ferreira, Lucas Almeida, Luciano maia, Mateus moreira, and Thiago Molon. For U.S. audiences, the exhibition is a mirror reflecting multicultural narratives that inform both local and global discussions on ancestry, identity, and migration. These works underscore how diaspora communities contribute a vibrant thread to the broader tapestry of contemporary art.
wet Reckless by Issy Wood at Michael Werner
When: Through may 17
Where: Michael Werner
Why It’s Worth a Look: American-born and British-raised artist Issy Wood, known for her “smudgy pointillism,” embarks on a visual quest for capital S Seduction, everything shiny, everything pretty, everything beautifully photographed.
The exhibition features thought-provoking imagery that includes cars, guns, and other potent symbols loaded with cultural meaning. Interestingly, the exhibition title is a playful reference to a lesser drunk-driving charge in California—a subtle nod to the interplay between law, order, and artistic irreverence that resonates with local sensibilities in the United States.
One Hundred Percent at 619 N western Avenue
When: Through February 22
where: 619 N Western Avenue
why It’s Worth a Look: Curated in just three weeks by Aram Moshayedi, this exhibition unites over 80 visual artists and creatives impacted by the LA wildfires. The show’s title,One Hundred Percent
,reflects its unique funding model in which 100% of the proceeds go directly to the artists. Moshayedi’s team, who work on a volunteer basis, taking nothing and charging nothing
, emphasizes community solidarity and resilience—an urgent message for regions across the United States grappling with natural disasters and the fallout of environmental crises.
Finding Figures by Daniel Crews-Chubb at Roberts Projects
When: Through march 8
Where: Roberts Projects
Why It’s Worth a Look: Renowned for his figurative work, Daniel Crews-Chubb takes a bold step toward abstraction in his fourth solo exhibition with Roberts Projects. In “Finding Figures,” the artist exclusively presents works on paper, emphasizing fluidity and unexpected movement. His distinctive process—in which layers are built on the floor until a preliminary figure emerges before installation—challenges traditional methodologies and offers a new outlook on artistic creation. This innovative approach can inspire local galleries and art schools to rethink process-based creation as a vital part of modern art practice.
kelly Akashi at Lisson Gallery
When: Through March 8
Where: Lisson Gallery
Why It’s Worth a look: Having endured the devastating impact of recent wildfires which claimed her home and studio, Los Angeles–based artist Kelly Akashi has refocused her artistic lens on recovery and reinvention. The renovated exhibition features works composed of glass, earth, stone, lace, and bronze—including several recovered fragments from her former studio site.The display’s immersive design, featuring stone and marble sculptures mounted on steel pedestals, reflects both loss and rebirth. Akashi’s resilience resonates with U.S. audiences familiar with overcoming adversity, serving as an artistic reminder of the importance of regeneration in the wake of calamity.
The Perfect Tense by Sam McKinniss at David Kordansky Gallery
When: Through February 23
Where: David Kordansky Gallery
Why It’s Worth a Look: In his first solo exhibition with David Kordansky Gallery, Sam McKinniss further refines his method of transforming pre-existing online images into intimate, thought-provoking paintings. His work challenges preconceived notions by using familiar subjects—from Hollywood icons like Julia Roberts to Olympic divers and even viral incidents—to create layered visual narratives. McKinniss’s innovative practice offers a commentary on the digital age’s influence on art and informs U.S. viewers about how traditional painting can still engage with modern media.
Spirit Level by Tau lewis at David Zwirner
when: Through March 29
Where: David Zwirner
Why It’s Worth a Look: in a deeply personal solo exhibition, Tau Lewis unveils five monumental sculptures alongside a quilt that previously debuted at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston. Created amid a period of profound loss and grief, each piece—steeped in inspirations from the Caribbean Sea to techno and dub music, literature, and religious studies—offers viewers a meditative space. Such work, resonant with themes of healing and transformation, holds particular significance for American audiences who have witnessed similar cultural and social challenges.
Noir by Alex Israel at Gagosian
When: Through March 22
Where: Gagosian
Why It’s Worth a Look: LA-born and raised Alex Israel redefines the noir genre with a series of newly painted streetscapes. Transforming preliminary sketches and photographs into rich, atmospheric landscapes that blend purples, pinks, and warm yellow streetlamps, Israel crafts a narrative of seductive urbanity and cinematic allure. As noted in the accompanying catalog, If israel’s pictures are seductive, they should be. Femmes wouldn’t be fatales if they weren’t. The paintings’ rich, pulpy candy colors and nostalgic lure, their slick, sensual surfaces that say come hither . . . these are not the girls next door.
This immersive visual language not only evokes the glamour of classic film noir but also reinvents it for a new generation of U.S. audiences.
Jacqueline Humphries at Matthew Marks Gallery
When: February 19 – April 5
Where: Matthew Marks Gallery
Why It’s Worth a Look: Veteran artist Jacqueline Humphries returns to Los Angeles after more than three decades with a solo exhibition featuring 12 new large-scale paintings. In addition to her dramatic canvases, the show introduces collaborative works with screenwriter and film director Paul Schrader—pieces inspired by his original handwritten film outlines. Humphries’s work challenges expectations of scale and cinematic storytelling, marking a significant cultural moment in the regional art scene.
mole, mold, molt by Sula Bermudez-Silverman at Hannah Hoffman
When: Through March 29
Where: Hannah Hoffman
Why It’s Worth a Look: mixing hand-blown glass, donkey bridles, and steel, Sula Bermudez-Silverman challenges conventional material limits in this multimedia exhibition. Her sculptures, which seem poised to burst free from their restraints, are informed by a broad spectrum of inspirations—from gnarly wrought iron to antique marble sculptures and gilded design objects. This exploration of form and structure not only broadens the creative dialog but also provides practical insights for American artists looking to break traditional molds.
Tell the Poets by Sarah Cain at Honor Fraser
When: Through April 19
Where: Honor Fraser
why It’s Worth a Look: With vibrant,large-scale paintings,Sarah Cain transforms architectural spaces into immersive environments. In her latest body of work,currency symbols serve as metaphors for collective recovery following the 2008 financial crisis. Curator jamillah James explains,
At their very core, Cain’s abstract paintings are radical and disorienting in the best possible way. her attack and command of both physical and pictorial space is incisive yet wildly generous,leaving the viewer with no singular place to stand or look.
This approach not only invites viewers to reconsider economic narratives but also mirrors broader themes of rebuilding and transformation that resonate in communities nationwide.
Winging it by Nina Chanel Abney at Jeffrey Deitch
When: Through April 26
Where: Jeffrey Deitch
Why It’s worth a Look: Known for her passionate use of vibrant hues, Nina Chanel Abney interrogates the tensions between the sacred and the secular in her latest exhibition. In a clever nod to the contemporary adage of “winging it” amidst chaos, Abney blends religious iconography with modern cultural references, including TikTok mantras. The display spans large-scale paintings, works on paper, sculptures, and features her first immersive installation incorporating neon lights. Such innovative storytelling speaks directly to an American audience accustomed to rapid cultural shifts and the need for adaptive, resilient creativity.
Plant Works by Anders Ruhwald at morán Morán
When: Through March 29
Where: Morán Morán
Why It’s Worth a Look: In his third exhibition with Morán Morán, Danish-American artist Anders Ruhwald presents seven sculptures produced in his Chicago studio over the past 18 months.These sculptures serve as dynamic vessels for meticulously arranged orchids, scrubs, flowers, and succulents. the central series,”Petitot’s Dream,” draws inspiration from 18th-century French architect Ennemond Alexandre Petitot’s etching series,Suite des Vases,which married human form with floral elements. This dialogue between natural form and crafted structure offers practical lessons in material innovation and design, echoing enduring practices increasingly embraced in American creative industries.
Cryptic Aperture by Mark Yang at Various Small Fires
When: February 18 – March 22
Where: Various Small Fires
Why It’s Worth a Look: Mark Yang’s exhibition challenges single-form portrayal by presenting his intricate compositions in paired formats. This new method—serving as an homage to Picasso’s Woman Dressing Her Hair—pairs each painting, inviting viewers to perceive two sets of narratives simultaneously.Additionally,a suite of smaller paintings draws inspiration from Bellini’s numerous interpretations of the Madonna and Child. the innovative duality underpinning Cryptic aperture encourages audiences to consider multiplicity in interpretation, a concept that aligns well with the diverse viewpoints found within U.S. art communities.
Valerie Keane at Gaylord Fine Arts
When: Through March 30
Where: Gaylord Fine Arts
Why It’s Worth a Look: Valerie Keane’s work appears to defy gravity through her use of layered metal, fiberboard, and acrylic glass, creating suspended forms that resemble disjointed sculptures. Located within a hotspot for emerging LA artists, the gallery at Gaylord Fine arts offers a glimpse into experimental aesthetics that challenge physical norms. This innovative approach not only enriches Los Angeles’ reputation as a creative hub but also serves as inspiration for regional artists striving to push the envelope.
Tuning the Dial by Woody De Othello at Karma
When: February 19 – April 5
Where: Karma
Why It’s Worth a Look: Oakland-based artist Woody De Othello debuts his solo Los Angeles exhibition at Karma with a multisensory setup that features bronze and ceramic sculptures enhanced by ambient soundscapes.The show unfolds over three distinct spaces—a dedicated sculpture room, a floating platform of ceramics, and a sand-covered floor that hosts a salon-style hanging of works. This immersive presentation exemplifies how innovative curatorial design can transform traditional galleries into vibrant experiential centers. Its success could inform the future design of art spaces across the U.S., where atmosphere and multisensory engagement are becoming increasingly valued.
A Gentle Kiss to the Interior Fontanelle by Jay Payton at Sea View
When: Through March 29
Where: Sea View
Why It’s Worth a Look: In his Los Angeles debut, Jay Payton offers a new suite of multimedia pieces that explore the evolution of organic forms and, by extension, human life. The thickly layered paintings and multimedia works present forms that seem to stretch and bend across the canvas. Intriguingly, the artist explains the title by noting that a fontanelle is a membrane-covered opening in bone or between bones, specifically any of the spaces closed by membranous structures between the uncompleted angles of the parietal bones and the neighboring bones of a fetal or young skull.
This scientific and anatomical perspective provides a framework for understanding human development and vulnerability, themes that resonate with contemporary concerns about identity and change among U.S. audiences.
frequently Asked Questions
What types of contemporary art exhibitions are featured in the article?
The article highlights a wide range of exhibitions including immersive installations, explorations of abstraction, multimedia presentations, and sculptures that blend modern techniques with past and cultural contexts. These shows challenge traditional boundaries and showcase innovative uses of materials and methods.
How do these exhibitions reflect both local and global art themes?
Several exhibitions, such as Kim DeJesus’ Moonbliss Riverdream at Vielmetter, fuse local creativity with universal themes like the expanses of outer space and the evolution of perception. Additionally, shows like Helmut Lang’s “What Remains Behind” integrate historical architectural legacies with modern artistic practices, echoing global narratives.
In what ways do the exhibitions address historical or cultural heritage?
Exhibitions like Helmut Lang’s at MAK Center for Art and Architecture position modern creative expression alongside historical contexts—such as the Schindler house—while others, like the immersive reinterpretation of mid-century homes in Modèle vivant, connect domestic spaces to broader cultural and historical narratives.
How are artists responding to current events and challenges?
Artists are using their work to reflect on contemporary challenges. For example, Kelly Akashi’s exhibition at Lisson Gallery highlights themes of recovery and reinvention after the devastation of wildfires, while “One Hundred Percent” at 619 N Western Avenue emphasizes community solidarity in the face of environmental crises.
What innovative techniques and materials are being showcased?
The exhibitions display a variety of innovative practices such as Kim DeJesus’ experimental staining and pouring techniques, Issy Wood’s “smudgy pointillism,” and Sula Bermudez-silverman’s use of hand-blown glass combined with unconventional materials like donkey bridles. These approaches expand the creative dialog and challenge conventional material limits.
What value do these exhibitions offer to collectors and art enthusiasts?
The shows provide collectors, educators, and enthusiasts with contemporary examples of artistic resilience, innovative creative processes, and a dynamic fusion of art and history. Thay serve not only as reflections of society but also as catalysts for change in the realm of modern art.
