Galleries in Downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood and Santa Monica will open their doors to art lovers and aficionados to provide them with the exclusive opportunity to experience some of the world’s most breathtaking and groundbreaking works and offer them the chance to hear from the artists themselves about the inspiration and intention behind their creations.

Navigating this treasure trove of awe-inspiring artwork sprawling across the Los Angeles landscape can seem overwhelming. I believe in art’s power to inspire and inform, transcend borders, nurture greater cultural understanding and appreciation, and build a more inclusive future for all.

First, you’ll need a quick recap of Frieze Los Angeles and Felix Art Fair. Then, you’ll need to check out these three must-see exhibits that fully embody that spirit of inspiration, innovation and connection.

Frieze Los Angeles

Frieze Los Angeles 2024, held at the Santa Monica Airport from Feb. 29 – Mar. 3, features over 95 of today’s most exciting galleries from around the world and promises to be a dynamic convergence of art, innovation and community. This highly anticipated event showcases the best of contemporary art from around the globe, bringing together a diverse array of established and emerging galleries, artists, and cultural institutions from the East and West and providing them a platform to connect and collaborate. From traditional paintings and sculptures to cutting-edge multimedia installations, Frieze Los Angeles delivers an eclectic mix of artworks that push the boundaries of creativity and challenge conventional norms.

Felix Art Fair

Felix LA runs Feb. 28 – Mar. 3 at the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel and will feature artwork from 66 galleries along with a more relaxed, poolside vibe.

Felix Art Fair is deeply rooted in the local arts scene and is focused on supporting and promoting Los Angeles’ vibrant, diverse and creative artistic community. By showcasing the work of local artists and collaborating with local galleries and cultural institutions, the Felix Art Fair celebrates the region’s continuing artistic evolution.

Felix Art Fair focuses on inclusivity and accessibility and is dedicated to providing a welcoming space where both seasoned collectors and first-time art enthusiasts can explore and engage with the vibrant world of contemporary art.

Three Don’t-Miss Exhibits

For me, the spotlight this week will shine brightest on three hidden gems—pop-up exhibits being held alongside the official Frieze Los Angeles and Felix LA exhibits.

Two are amazing pop-ups in our own Beverly Hills backyard from Marc Selwyn Fine Art and Gemini GEL. The third is a remarkable pop-up in neighboring West Hollywood, the Mexican gallery OMR, which is curated by the incomparable Esthella Provas.

Marc Selwyn Fine Art 

Marc Selwyn has an incredible booth at Frieze Los Angeles. I am particularly fond of Frank Bowling’s beautiful painting on display there, “Towards Crab Island,” which was recently featured in his Tate retrospective.

In addition to his booth at Frieze, Marc is hosting a pop-up featuring Rodolfo Abularach, one of Latin America’s most distinguished masters best known for his dramatic close-up renditions of human eyes—an image that gripped the artist for two decades—at 427 N. Camden Drive in Beverly Hills. By appointment only until March 7.

Also on display will be Lee Bontecou’s “Untitled, 2001,” which depicts an exotic dragon-like animal and was featured in her Museum of Modern Art retrospective, along with a new puzzle work by Allen Ruppersberg, “25 Ways to Start Over (#20 Do a self-portrait)”, which will be featured in the artist’s upcoming show “25 Ways to Start Over” at Marc Selwyn.

Gemini GEL Gallery

The iconic print gallery, Gemini GEL, will feature pop-ups of 27 works at the Beverly Hills Hotel from artists including John Baldessari, Sophie Calle, Tacita Dean, Darryl Pottorf, Robert Rauschenberg and Ed Ruscha.

The Gemini GEL gallery, at 8635 Melrose Ave., will also showcase a special screening of Richard Serra’s “Notebook Drawings,” a series of eight new etchings by the artist, on  March 2.

To create this project, Serra referenced a series of eight drawings which he created in an intimate pocket-sized, notebook. These prints suggest the form and radiating heat of massive solid steel sculptures as they emerge from the forging process. All drawings appear spontaneous and likely were executed quickly and simultaneously, and the challenge in making the etchings was to capture that spontaneity and evoke the smudges of the charcoal drawings.

OMR Gallery

OMR’s pop-up, which is being curated by Esthella Provas, is exhibiting provocative works by artists Doug Aitken, Atelier Van Lieshout, Matti Braun, Pia Camil, Claudia Comte, Jose Dávila, Simon Fujiwara, Alicja Kwade, Tony Matelli, Jorge Méndez Blake, Ana Montiel, Gabriel Rico, Eduardo Sarabia, SUPERFLEX and Troika.

This exhibition explores how we relate to and unite with nature, placing it at the core of our experience in this world while also standing apart from it. The works presented reflect on our inherent human nature, which encompasses both the potential for control or destruction, and the capacity to hope and dream amidst unfolding ecological crises.

Comte’s “Celya” evokes the deep-rooted interconnectedness of our natural world; van Lieshout’s sculpture, “The Caretakers,” underscores the emotions that sets humans apart from animals; and Blake’s “In the Silence You Don’t Know, You Must Go on, I Can’t Go on, I’ll Go on”, which pays homage to the ambiguous ending of Samuel Beckett’s novel “The Unnamable” are just three examples of the wonderous work on display.

Now go out and have fun looking at art! 

Agnes Lew is East West Bank’s Head of Private Banking, resident art aficionado, and self-described “concierge” for all things artsy and fun. The East West Bank Collection features 79 major contemporary works from 38 artists who bridge gender, culture and ethnic backgrounds.

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On Saturday, Feb. 10 we celebrate and welcome the Lunar New Year – the Year of the Dragon.

In Chinese culture, the dragon represents strength, intelligence and good luck, which makes this mythical creature naturally adept at fighting off evil spirits. It is believed that those born in the Year of the Dragon share similar traits to their zodiac animal – confidence, courage and wisdom.

Lunar New Year is a cherished celebration that blends the rich tapestry of traditions from my cultural roots with the vibrant atmosphere of Beverly Hills. Lunar New Year traces its origins to ancient China, where farmers relied on the moon’s guidance for agricultural cycles, marking the start of a new year on the lunisolar calendar and welcoming the arrival of spring. 

The Lunar New Year is steeped in tradition, and its celebrations are rich with symbolism that has inspired and guided generations for centuries.

As a Chinese American, this holiday has special significance for me. I’m delighted to share some of my favorite Lunar New Year traditions and ways to enjoy the celebration.

Red Envelopes

One of the most treasured New Year traditions is gifting red envelopes with lucky money. Signifying good luck, red envelopes are given to family, friends and colleagues to express well wishes for the New Year. Each year, East West Bank designs red envelopes that are given out at our branches. The imagery of this year’s Year of the Dragon envelopes symbolizes strength and prosperity and reminds us of our capacity to soar further toward a brighter future. 

Dining Out

Another wonderful New Year tradition is celebrating new beginnings with friends and family.

In the heart of Beverly Hills, my go-to spot for celebrating Lunar New Year is Joss Cuisine at 9919 Santa Monica Blvd., a small and elegant restaurant named after the Chinese word for “luck.” Joss was founded by Cecile Tang, a film director who was a trailblazer for socially critical art cinema in Hong Kong. Her unique journey includes writing and directing a musical comedy about the rise and fall of Madame Mao, titled “I, CHING,” which was a fascinating exploration of history, combining entertainment and social critique.

Cecile brought her creative spirit to the United States in 1979 and started Joss in 1987. While I love their regular menu, the restaurant’s special Lunar New Year dishes add an extra layer of festivity to the celebration. One dish that holds a special place in my heart and is expertly executed by Chef Golo is the turnip cake, or “Loh Bak Go.” This Cantonese delight, typically enjoyed at dim sum restaurants throughout the year, is considered auspicious and is a must-have for the New Year. Turnip cake is made with white radish, preserved sausages, shiitake mushrooms, dried seafood and rice flour—a delicious blend symbolizing good fortune. While I enjoy cooking and have even set up an assembly line at home to make turnip cake for friends, the labor-intensive process often leads me to Chef Golo whose expertise and technique are impeccable.

Cultural Exploration

Beyond indulging in festive foods, Lunar New Year is a time for cultural exploration. One of the most remarkable places to experience Chinese culture in Southern California is the Chinese Garden at the Huntington Library in San Marino.

This exquisite garden features a stunning lake, graceful pavilions and stone bridges set against a wooded backdrop of mature oaks and pines. It is one of the finest classical-style Chinese gardens outside of China and was meticulously constructed by craftsmen from the Suzhou region. Unique features of the garden include towering limestone rocks that are believed to embody energy-like ethers, or “qi,” and the intricate hand-laid paving patterns which are created from clay tile, shards of limestone and river rocks of various colors.

The Huntington also hosts a Chinese New Year Festival, which is another way to experience Lunar New Year celebrations. This year’s festival takes place Feb. 10-11 and features lion dancers, a mask-changing artist, martial arts demonstrations, music, and arts and crafts demonstrations. This is a special opportunity for families and friends to come together, revel in cultural performances and embrace the festive spirit.

As we come together to embrace the upcoming Lunar New Year, powered by the formidable energy of the dragon, I look forward to the warmth of family reunions, the joy of sharing auspicious dishes, and the beauty of cultural traditions that make this festival truly special.

As with all new beginnings, the Lunar New Year is an opportunity to experience something new, make new connections and reflect on our collective potential to reach further. 

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Studio Tours

Emma Webster

Emma Webster is one of the most exciting new artists in LA. She moved to LA in 2018 after getting her MFA from Yale and is rethinking the tradition of landscape painting, by bringing in the use of virtual reality. In our studio visit, she demonstrated how she models and sculpts still-life references on a computer to create landscape dioramas, and translates the scenes into panoramic oil paintings. Emma Webster’s upcoming solo show at Perrotin Tokyo opens next month, and locals can experience her work at Jeffery Deitch’s Los Angeles gallery this September.

Helen Pashgian

We had a wonderful and inspiring visit at Helen Pashgian’s Pasadena studio, which was led by the art world’s favorite architect Kulapat Yantrasat.

Helen is one of the founding members of the California Light and Space movement in the 1960s, which included other renowned artists such as James Turrell and Robert Irwin. One of Helen’s signatures is creating columns, spheres, and discs that create depth and form using light. The way she combines sculpture and light is truly mesmerizing, and anyone who gets the chance should definitely go see her iconic works in person.

Fair Booths

Anat Egbi at Felix Art Fair

Felix Art Fair Los Angeles-based gallerist Anat Ebgi always makes creative use of her poolside cabana room at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. I love the way Anat utilizes all available spaces. Everywhere you looked, the gallery had installed a work of art. This year, they turned heads with a painting by Caleb Hahne Quintana displayed in a shower, a gorgeous Greg Ito cityscape suspended in front of a mirror, and a vibrant multi-panel embroidery by Jordan Nassar across the room. Nothing was off limits–Anat hung several works outdoors on the patio including paintings by Alec Egan, Nigel Howlett, and a surreal landscape by Jen Hitchings which adorned a palm tree.

Sow & Tailor at Frieze LA

Not only is Sow & Tailor one of the most exciting galleries to pop up in LA over the past couple of years, but their booth at Frieze LA was, in my opinion, one of the best this year. Founded in Los Angeles in 2021 by Karen Galloway, Sow & Tailor supports an inclusive, diverse, and impressive program that champions multi-generational talent. At Frieze, they presented the work of a young and ambitious artist named Veronica Fernandez, who explored her personal hardships in deeply imaginative paintings and sculptures, and had her solo debut, “When You Hold Onto My Spirit, Will You Let Your Spirit Grow,” last year.

In a little over a year, Sow & Tailor has managed to curate numerous exhibitions not only for local audiences, but also globally. I have no doubt that Karen and the gallery will continue to have a positive impact on the art world for decades to come.

Galleries

Night Gallery

Night Gallery is one of my favorite galleries. Davida Nemeroff, who founded the gallery, always puts together diverse and exciting exhibition programs that reflect the energy of LA’s art scene. They continuously show some of the most exciting and promising artists working today.

I especially love Han Bing’s work, who has an exhibition up now at Night Gallery alongside Hayley Barker, Carla Edwards, and Shannon Cartier Lucy. The gallery also opened a newly expanded space in 2022, which has allowed them to show more installations and sculpture. The locations are across the street from one another, so you can see all the exhibitions without getting in the car–a real novelty in LA.

Make Room

Make Room is another incredible gallery. Founded by Emilia Yin, the gallery focuses on women, emerging artists, and artists of color. They’re exhibiting some of the most exciting artists and serve as an incubator for young talent.

Currently, there are two incredible exhibits on display to inaugurate Make Room’s new location in Hollywood. One is “In Search of Gold Mountain (Gum San),” a captivating series of paintings by the talented artist Yesiyu Zhao. This exhibition blends classical Chinese art and modern surrealism to delve into themes of identity, migration, and the pursuit of freedom, drawing inspiration from both the 16th-century novel “Journey to the West” and the California Gold Rush.

Artist Yoab Vera’s new body of work is a series of “haptic-contemplative” paintings that explore the relationship between texture, color, time, and space. His work is influenced by his nomadic studio practice, training as an architect, and exposure to post-minimal, provisional painting. The paintings reference boleros, a type of romantic ballad, and aim to trigger a contemplative mood that allows tides of memory to wash over consciousness.

Château Shatto

Downtown LA has a thriving creative scene, and Château Shatto is at its heart. The gallery was founded in 2014 by Olivia Barrett and dedicates itself to ambitious exhibitions that consider both the physical and non-physical space. I love the hands-on way the gallery works with artists to realize projects outside of the gallery space. Château Shatto’s scope is truly global: along with their year-round programs in Los Angeles, they participate in art fairs and collaborative exhibition formats around the world.

In addition to Château Shatto’s program of represented artists, which includes Aria Dean, Zeinab Saleh, Emma McIntyre, the Estate of Jean Baudrillard, Jonny Negron, and Van Hanos – the gallery also stages historical exhibitions to showcase how past practices and ways of thinking have influenced present-day artists.

Last but not least, a very special dinner.

GYOPO

On the last Friday of LA Art Week, we celebrated a night of artistic and cultural connection at Kodo, a sleek and contemporary Japanese restaurant in LA’s Arts District, for GYOPO, a nonprofit arts organization. The dinner, which I had the honor of co-hosting with GYOPO board members Christine Kim and Ellie Lee, aimed to build community and empowerment for Asian Americans in the art world. GYOPO is an amazing collective of Korean artists and cultural producers that provides free year-round cultural programs for a range of audiences. I would highly recommend checking out one of their many excellent programs.

Agnes Lew is East West Bank’s Head of Private Banking, resident art aficionado, and self-described “concierge” for all things artsy and fun.

The post The Women Who Rocked LA Art Week appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Zeng Fanzhi at Hauser & Wirth

Renowned contemporary Chinese artist Zeng Fanzhi opened his first LA presentation at Hauser & Wirth in Downtown Los Angeles on Feb. 2. It’s a fantastic collection of 10 of his canvas works, some of which tower over 10 feet tall, and six graphite drawings. 

What I love about Zeng Fanzhi’s works is how evocative they are. He explores the idea of human consciousness and wants to convey different elements of the human experience. If you look closely, you can see how he layers the paint with his expressive brushstrokes to create these rhythmic, wave-like textures that contrast brilliantly with the vivid yellows, blues, and reds prominent in these works. Through these, you can really feel Zeng Fanzhi’s introspection.

The exhibit will close April 30. 

Paul Kneale at Spring Place Beverly Hills

One of my current LA highlights is a pop-up solo exhibition of Paul Kneale’s “Beverly Hills Residency” at Spring Place Beverly Hills, curated by ARTUNER.

The exhibition, which opened Feb. 9, includes examples from three new bodies of work that are being exhibited for the first time. It consists of a series of paintings, sculptures, and works on paper that reflect the lights and colors of LA. For these works, Paul used a scanner in place of traditional artists’ tools to explore how digital facets of our existence can be manifested and reimagined in the flesh of the physical object. 

This is also the first time ARTUNER, a Europe-based hybrid art platform founded by art collector and entrepreneur Eugenio Re Rebaudengo, has curated a show in LA. Eugenio started ARTUNER almost 10 years ago and has worked with Paul almost since the beginning.

“Think Pinker” at GAVLAK Los Angeles

Personally, pink brings me joy, and an exhibit curated around this color is something we all need, given the past few years. The group exhibition “Think Pinker” at GAVLAK Gallery is a continuation of a 2010 exhibit and collaboration, “Think Pink,” between Beth Rudin DeWoody and Sarah Gavlak. 

“Think Pinker” features works by dozens of artists from around the world, all, of course, utilizing pink. Pink is one of those colors that is both universal and divisive–which gives it a uniquely interesting duality. Like Sarah Gavlak says, pink “is feminine and feminist.”

“Think Pinker” is open now and will continue through March 25, 2023.

Brigitte D’Annibale’s “B=f(P, E)” in Point Dume

Malibu is the setting for California-based interdisciplinary artist Brigitte D’Annibale’s ambitious new installation “B=f(P, E).” The installation is located on an abandoned 1-acre construction site in Point Dume and is based on the concept that behavior is a function of both personal and environmental attributes.

I love the way “B=f(P, E)” fully immerses you. When you first arrive, you encounter a gate that blocks all view of the site; once you pass that gate and progress through the installation, you’re almost forced to shed any preconceived notions you’ve had as you maneuver through.

Register for an appointment on https://www.brigittedannibale.com. Starting in June, the site can be visited during public hours.

Sea View Gallery 

SEA VIEW is the newly opened gallery by Sara Lee Hantman. Located atop Mount Washington’s scenic hills, the gallery occupies Cuban-American artist Jorge Pardo’s former studio, which he originally built as an off-site installation that was exhibited by MOCA in 1998. Twenty-five years later, SEA VIEW invites guests to similarly explore new and historic artworks outside of the typical white cube. 

“River Styx,” the inaugural show co-curated by Brandy Carstens, considers the psychological landscape featuring works by artists such as Salvo, Theodora Allen, Heidi Lau, Kelly Akashi, Erica Mao, and Frank Walter. The exhibit closes Feb. 25, so be sure not to miss it!

Felix LA

Felix LA is always a highlight of Los Angeles Art Week. The contemporary art fair, which was co-founded by Dean Valentine, Mills Morán, and Al Morán, brings together top galleries from around the world. Set within the hotel rooms and cabana suites of the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, Felix LA offers a more intimate and relaxed experience for attendees. Unlike the typical art fair setting, visitors can peruse art from a selection of over 60 international galleries, then catch up with friends by the iconic David Hockney pool, which is always an exciting centerpiece to the fair’s atmosphere. At Felix, there’s something for everyone.

Felix LA will be taking place through Feb. 19. 

Frieze Los Angeles

To me, the capstone of LA’s art week is Frieze Los Angeles. This year, it is taking place at Santa Monica Airport through Feb. 19. Returning to Los Angeles for the fourth year, this is Frieze Los Angeles’ largest edition to date and will see over 120 participating galleries from 22 countries.

The fair will feature a strong lineup of leading local and international galleries showing solo presentations and curated exhibitions from some of today’s most exciting emerging and established artists.

Agnes Lew is East West Bank’s Head of Private Banking, resident art aficionado, and self-described “concierge” for all things artsy and fun. 

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