Arts & Entertainment

The Women Who Rocked LA Art Week

After a whirlwind week, LA Art Week has come to a close. It was exhilarating seeing all the incredible art, from those both established and new to the scene. This year, women artists, gallerists, and founders made a particular splash. To wrap up, I wanted to spotlight some of my favorite shows, exhibits, and events—run by and featuring, of course, women.

Beverly Hills UTA’s Arthur Lewis’ Journey from Collector to Patron

Since joining UTA Fine Arts, Lewis has lured some of the biggest and brightest new artists from around the world to Beverly Hills. To his peers and the young artists in his orbit, he is a mentor, a collaborator and a stalwart supporter of the arts.

Christie’s Showcases Paul Allen Collection

This week, the Beverly Hills outpost of Christie’s Los Angeles is showcasing high- lights from the art collection once owned by the late Microsoft co-founder, Paul Allen.

Beverly Hills Art Show Returns Oct. 15 and 16

The City of Beverly Hills and its Community Services Department will hold the 49th bi-annual, fall Beverly Hills Art Show on Saturday and Sunday, October 15 and 16, 2022, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., in the historic Beverly Gardens Park. This year’s event will run along four blocks of Santa Monica Boulevard, from Rodeo Drive to Rexford Drive.  

Make Music Day in Beverly Hills

Make Music Day Beverly Hills took place on June 21 and was a wonderful celebration of music that brought the entire community together.

The Vibrant World of Nicholas Kontaxis

By 2016, at age 21, Nicholas became a bonafide artist with his first sold-out show at De Re Gallery on Melrose Avenue.

The Wallis Previews 22-23 Season

The May 31 announcement event at the Bram Goldsmith Theater included preview performances from contemporary dance company BODYTRAFFIC, as well as a musical number titled “We Live for Love” from “Invincible” performed by Benatar, Giraldo, and Bredeweg. 

49th Annual Beverly Hills Art Show Announces Winners

“We are thrilled to be able to showcase so many talented artists in Beverly Hills each year,” said Jenny Rogers, Director of City of Beverly Hills Community Services.

UTA Artist Space to Showcase the Art of Nicholas Kontaxis

On June 3, an exhibit of Nicholas’ work entitled “Catch Me” will be on display at the UTA Artist Space in Beverly Hills.

Dancers Who Fled Russia to Perform Locally

Having to abruptly flee their professional life in Russia, Womack and Mitchell were immediately booked by their alma mater to perform at the performance company’s May 7 “Petite Soirée” special event at the Broad Stage in Santa Monica.

Music in the Mansion Returns to Greystone on May 15

The event will utilize many of the glorious rooms in historic Greystone Mansion, including the historic Courtyard, Living Room and Greystone Theatre, which has only recently been restored and opened for the first time.

Celebrating “High Noon” on its 70th Anniversary

On April 22, Cooper’s only child, Maria Cooper Janis was a guest of honor at a dinner at the Wilshire Corridor home of Lyn Rothman, which became a commemoration of the film and the golden age of Hollywood that it represented.

Beverly Hills Art Show Returns in May

All participating artists will exhibit and sell their work, giving attendees a special opportunity to acquire one-of-a-kind originals, limited editions, and newly released pieces.

Holocaust Museum LA Expansion Project

On April 7, the Holocaust Museum LA announced that the S. Mark Taper Foundation awarded the museum $1.5 million to support its expansion, which will double its existing footprint in Pan Pacific Park.

Monthly Art Walks to Take Place in Beverly Hills

The City of Beverly Hills Community Services Department, in partnership with the Arts & Culture Commission, will offer monthly Art Walk Guided Tours led by experienced docents from April 3 through September 11.

Maynor Pleads Guilty to Avant Murder

Maynor made occasional social media posts from prison. In January 2017, he wrote on Facebook, “This my last year. I can’t wait to do big things.” A year later, in March, he marked his release with another post. “Just got out of prison Saturday,” he wrote.

From Beverly Hills to Bakersfield Museum of Art

On her patio under the dappled shade of a giant magnolia tree, Joan Agajanian Quinn sits before a spread of dainty egg salad tea sandwiches and ruby red grapefruit wedges that glisten like gemstones.

Frieze Draws 35,000 to Beverly Hills

“We thought, let’s don’t bring our wares — let’s make a big statement,” said McLeod. “This is one of the last great monumental sculptures in the Chris Burden estate.” 

Beverly Hills Art Walk Offers Free Guided Tours

From Feb. 17 to Feb. 20, the City of Beverly Hills in partnership with the Arts and Culture Commission will offer free guided tours of the city’s Art Walk led by expert docents.

Art Excursion

The immeasurable influence of Beverly Hills’ own Joan Agajanian Quinn and her late husband Jack on the artistic landscape of Southern California is the subject of a featured exhibition at the Bakersfield Museum of Art.

Gardening Classes Grow at Greystone

The Greystone Demonstration Garden will be offering classes in food preservation and seed propagation in February and March as part of its winter 2022 programming.

Gearing Up for Frieze

Businesses in and around Beverly Hills are gearing up to host tens of thousands of visitors from around the world this month with the highly anticipated Super Bowl LVI and Frieze Los Angeles just weeks away.

Frieze Sneak Peak

Frieze Los Angeles unveiled a selection of art expected to appear at its upcoming Beverly Hills exhibition during an exclusive preview event at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles on Feb 3.

FRIEZE Sculpture Beverly Hills Canceled

Supply chain disruptions have claimed a new victim: Frieze Sculpture Beverly Hills, the sculpture installations planned to accompany the February art fair in Beverly Gardens Park.

Mel Bochner Exhibit a Traffic-Stopper in Beverly Hills

For 10 days this month, a seemingly typical electronic traffic sign perplexed and confused westbound passersby on South Santa Monica Boulevard and Charleville Boulevard.

City Code Changed as Frieze Reveals Sculpture Line-Up

A temporary change in city regulations allow- ing some private structures to be displayed in Beverly Gardens Park was unanimously approved by the Beverly Hills City Council during its Jan. 4 Regular Meeting.

Beverly Hills High School Music Teacher to March at Rose Parade

“I’m good. I’m pretty happy about my training,” Bradbury said, adding that he has been completing the 5.5-mile trek while playing most of the time. “It’s been something worthwhile to be able to work for.” 

Tight Budgets, Short Timeline: Frieze Week Heating Up

Frieze Week in Beverly Hills is only two months away, and the city is gearing up to put its best foot forward for the event.

Visions of the Future Showcases Artist Kevin HEES

The once vacant storefront windows at 445 N. Canon Drive debuted a new art exhibit on Dec. 2 with seven paintings hanging by American contemporary artist Kevin HEES.

Priority Access at Frieze Art Fair for BH Residents

“Maybe we look at either free or heavily discounted admission for Beverly Hills residents,” said Mirisch at the October meeting.

Jacqueline Avant, Philanthropist and Long-Time Resident, Shot and Killed

Local Teen Turns Cubes into Art

When Beverly Hills teen artist, The Cubist, told her mom she needed 100 Rubik’s Cubes for an art project, her mom was skeptical.

Visions of the Future Finds Silver Lining in Art

The economic impacts of COVID-19 are still reflected in the many empty storefronts in Beverly Hills.

Iconic Avedon Prints on Display in Beverly Hills

McLeod said that the collection is currently for sale, though she would not disclose the price. Visitors must show proof of vaccination and are required to wear a mask.

City Council Asks Frieze LA for a Name Change

“I think if the ask is of Beverly Hills, then obviously, we should get more recognition for that,” said Councilmember Lester Friedman.

Beverly Hills Art Show is Back

“People were definitely eager to get back to this event,” Beesen told the Courier. “It’s a community favorite. It’s very popular. It draws people from all over Southern California and we have artists from all over the nation. So it does attract quite a big crowd.”

Frieze LA Coming To Beverly Hills

Frieze Los Angeles art fair is moving to Beverly Hills in February 2022 from its previous location at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles.

Sing for Hope Success

The Courier has noticed a steady stream of visitors and residents playing, interacting with and photographing the pianos. Now, the pianos move on to permanent residences in public schools across the greater Los Angeles area, where they will no doubt be enjoyed for years to come. 

Beverly Hills Art Show Returns Oct. 16-17

Now in its 48th year, the Beverly Hills Art Show was reinvented in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The show took on a hybrid format in an effort to stay connected to the community and continue to offer the much-anticipated annual event that community members have come to expect and enjoy.  

Piano Profile: Chaz Guest

Beverly Hills Commissioners Serve as City’s ‘Eyes and Ears’

With so much shuffling around, city residents may wonder who these commissioners are, what they do, and how to join their ranks. 

Sing for Hope Pianos Debut

The Sing for Hope Piano program began in New York City over 10 years ago. The program describes itself as the “country’s largest annual recurring public arts project” with the goal of democratizing music.

Piano Profiles: Yalda Sepahpour

“You see stuff on the news and it’s just not everything. Until you go and see it, until you live there [and] you see the beauty of the country, as well.”

LGBTQ Pioneer and Live Nation Executive Killed in Surfside Collapse

“She was also so proud of the multiple sponsorship deals she secured for Live Nation, which were massive, unique and extremely complex in structure,” Rosslyn said. 

Sing for Hope Artists Revealed

“The arts play a key role in uplifting and inspiring people of all ages,” Camille Zamora, Sing For Hope co-founder, said in a statement.

Outdoors For Now, The Wallis Plans A Full New Season In October

It’s been a long, hard road for The Wallis this past International Year of Unplanning. In March 2020, Al Pacino performed to a sold-out crowd at the indoor Goldsmith Stage.

Visions of the Future in Beverly Hills

On July 14, a dedication ceremony celebrated a new art pop-up featuring artist James Goldcrown at 455 N. Canon Drive.

Sing for Hope Preview

The Courier obtained an early preview, sitting down with artist Chaz Guest as he began painting a piano with his comic book character Buffalo Warrior, the first superhero “born in the cotton fields.

A Theater Without Walls at The Wallis

“I’ve always been drawn to projects that shake things up and look at physical spaces in a new way, which is where this idea began,” said Crewes.

Writers Bloc Discusses Jewish Female Freedom Fighters

Batalion offers her 576-page book as an answer to those questions—an answer that Grossman described as “one of the most inspiring and astonishing chronicles of collective courage I’ve ever read.”

Commission Plans Summer of Art in Beverly Hills

The city and The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts have each contributed $50,000 to fund the Sing for Hope project.

“Sing for Hope” Celebration Planned for Aug. 5 – Sept. 6 in Beverly Hills

The one-of-a-kind public arts project places artist-designed pianos in parks and public spaces for anyone and everyone to play.

June 21 is “Make Music Day” in Beverly Hills

The City of Beverly Hills will make its debut as a new member of “Make Music Day,” by hosting a number of activities:

City of Style: Beverly Hills Shows Off its Public Art

Beverly Hills certainly understands the power of art, its ability to stimulate, entertain, and enhance. Long known for its public and private support for the arts, Beverly Hills is committed to providing access to diverse public artworks.

THE BEVERLY HILLS “IDOL”

The Courier’s Lisa Bloch sat down with Lionel Richie to talk about his music, his passions and his life experiences.

Open Call for Artists to Design “Sing for Hope” Pianos

The Sing for Hope Pianos will be displayed throughout parks and public spaces in Beverly Hills.

LACMA Modern Art Returns

The galleries have been redesigned in collaboration with Frank O. Gehry and Associates, and the presentation includes new interpretive texts, six thematic audio tours, a 30-minute film drawn from LACMA’s exhibition archives, and a collection soundtrack. The new presentation is curated by Stephanie Barron, Senior Curator and Department Head of Modern Art, and Katia Zavistovski, Assistant Curator of Modern Art.

Beverly Hills Students Perform in Westside Ballet Workshop

Both Shim sisters will perform in newly choreographed numbers. Sixth-grader Elle will dance in “Les Petites Étoiles,” Mozart’s charming piano composition of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,” a new piece choreographed by Associate Artistic Director Caprice Walker and featuring the pre-professional performance company’s younger dancers, to be accompanied by live piano. 

Commission Discusses Beverly Hills Public Art Projects

“I’ve got some great news for Tom Friedman,” Patty Acuna, Interim Assistant Director of Community Services, said. Friedman’s piece, “Takeaway,” is a 12-foot-tall stainless-steel sculpture of a man with takeout food boxes balanced on his head in Beverly Gardens Park.

It’s Spring Art Show Time in Beverly Hills

“We are excited to showcase a few amazing Art Show artists in Master Class workshops,” said Brooke Putich, Art Show Coordinator and Arts & Culture Recreation Supervisor for the City of Beverly Hills.

Applications Open for Beverly Hills National Auditions

Auditions are open to professional musicians from age 16. Each candidate must be able to present a one-hour recital program without intermission.

Installation Underway for Alexandra Nechita Bronze

One of five towering figure sculptures produced by Nechita, “Love Anatomy” depicts a stylized female figure in the artist’s signature neo-modernist manner. 

Academy Museum of Motion Pictures To Debut Virtual Programming

Movies will come home to the new museum. And they will do so in an immersive, dynamic format befitting a medium that has captured the world’s imagination since the latter part of the 19th century.

The Wallis Announces Two First Time Endowments

“Philanthropic investments of this magnitude speak to the dedication of our Wallis Family members and the priority they give The Wallis as a cornerstone institution of our community and a bright hope for our future,” said Wallis Executive Director and CEO Rachel Fine in a statement.

First International African Contemporary Art Gallery Opens on Melrose

Since its inception, Rele has served as a critical interface between the art world in Africa and the international sphere. The original gallery in Lagos has become the leading space for contemporary art and artist development in Nigeria.

“Love Anatomy” on BH Commission Agenda

“I’m also super proud to be part of the Burton Way Median project. I think it parallels so much of the messaging of this piece. We kind of assign this idea of love to people and to humans, but really, that’s exactly a fraction of it. And that’s what the sculpture represents. Love for your space, love for your city and love for your community. It’s greater and bigger than just love shared between two people.”

Part 2 of 2: Rabbi Steve Leder on His New Bestseller

The other beautiful thing about memory is that it enables us to round the sharp edges and leave behind what we choose to forget. This is where the book title comes from.

Beverly Hills High Graduate Featured in Art Exhibit

Abrahams’ painting chosen by the AP Art and Design Board is titled “Adam and Eve,” inspired by the creation narrative in the Book of Genesis.

Justin Bieber NYE Concert Shoot in Beverly Hills

Singer Justin Bieber has been practicing for a New Year’s Eve performance in front of the Beverly Hilton Hotel. “T-Mobile Presents: NYE Live with Justin Bieber” will stream live this evening at 7:15 p.m. PST and re-air twice on New Year’s Day.

Beverly Hills Announces New Inter-Commission Collaborative

Arts & Culture Commissioner Deborah Frank pointed out the groundbreaking nature of the new collaboration.

Rodeo Drive Launches Historic Podcast