by Shelley Holcomb Estevan Oriol portrait by Devin Stinson Living in Los Angeles, you learn to see the city through a lens that captures both its beauty and its grit. Estevan Oriol is a master at this. His journey from a tour manager for some of the hottest hip-hop groups in the 90s to a celebrated photographer isn’t just a career path; it’s a testament to the raw, unfiltered reality of L.A. life. Oriol’s work and art practice isn’t polished for the sake of comfort — it’s real, intense, and deeply personal. Oriol’s photos are more than just images; they’re narratives that expose the ..read more

Robert Andy Coombs, “FagCrip Series”, Photograph courtesy of One Archives. Join us in celebrating these seven spaces of LGBTQ+ galleries and exhibitions to visit in Los Angeles for Pride Month: 1. Ceradon — 1933 W Kingston Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90026 Max Göran & Samuel Acevedo. ‘Taste & Discernment,’ 2021/2024. Installation shots. Courtesy of Ceradon. Founded by Andra Nadirshah and Stevie Soares, Ceradon is the first trans-established gallery in LA. The gallery specializes in cultivating the work of nexus artists and developing practice beyond mediums, economies, and  ..read more

Artists Cancel MFA Show at New Wight Gallery in Solidarity with Palestine and the Student Encampment at UCLA by Shelley Holcomb Installation view of Cielo Saucedo’s “Captioning system,” 2024 and “Rest is dissent if you lie low, under, horizontal, dipped below,” 2024 On April 25, 2024, UCLA’s students and community members joined in the global movement of students calling for universities to divest from Israel, forming a Gaza Solidarity Encampment in front of Royce Hall. On April 30, 2024, these students were besieged by far-right and pro-Israel aggressors who sprayed them with c ..read more

9 Must-See Galleries and Exhibitions to Visit in Los Angeles this Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Exterior view of Nonaka-Hillon Highland Ave with installation of Shinjiro Okamoto ‘TALKATIVE’ exhibition Join us in celebrating these seven spaces of AAPI-owned galleries and AAPI-led exhibitions to visit this month for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (and every month): 1. Commonwealth and Council — 3006 W 7th St #220 Los Angeles CA 90005 Detail of Jesse Chun: 밤, 낮, 달, 비, Speaking in Tongues Committed to providing community, platform, and l ..read more

By Lauren King ‘By Her Hand’ Installation View, 2024, Babst Gallery At Babst Gallery, sword and brush merge into one; painted eyes holding resolute stares while dismembered heads, or the anticipation thereof, adorn the walls of the space. In ‘By Her Hand,’ the works of seven contemporary artists are paired with paintings dated back to the seventeenth century to reconstruct narratives of feminine vengeance. The result is an expansion of such narratives beyond their form as definitive stories, and into a sphere of individualistic exploration of the nuances within. Upon entering th ..read more

By Shelley Holcomb Betye Saar with Drifting Toward Twilight, 2023 (installation view). © 2023 Betye Saar. Photo: Joshua White / JWPictures.com. The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. There are few names that inspire as much admiration and intellectual curiosity as Betye Saar. A true vanguard in the historic Los Angeles art scene, Saar’s distinguished career as an assemblage artist has consistently pushed boundaries, intertwining history, memory, and emotion to forge a profound connection between her viewers and past generations. In an era where themes of identity are o ..read more

by Shelley Holcomb Ry Rocklen “Shelf Life” installation view, Courtesy of Wilding Cran Gallery It’s a rarity to witness an artist presenting two concurrent solo exhibitions and an even rarer occurrence when they are at the same time in the same city just down the street from each other, but this is why we can say Ry Rocklen breaks the mold in more ways than one. The synchronicity of these exhibitions, “Shelf Life” at Wilding Cran Gallery and “Sand Box Living” at Night Gallery, are rooted in Rocklen’s personal journey — a narrative of parenthood, relocation, and artistic rebirth — the ..read more

For those seeking a break between fairs but don’t want to miss out on what’s going on, Curate LA has got you covered. Karla Ekatherine Canseco “Neobiota,” 2024 in ‘Grietas de Acero (Steel Fissures)’ at Murmurs LA (Image courtesy of Murmurs) We’ve divided the city into different neighborhoods, from the lively streets of Downtown’s Arts District to the peaceful coastline of Malibu. Our handpicked lists feature the galleries and local hotspots that have caught our eye, giving you an inside look at Los Angeles’s current cultural happenings during Art Week 2024. DOWNTOWN Night Galler ..read more

by Shelley Holcomb Installation view of Tatyana Fazlalizadeh: Speaking to Falling Seeds. Courtesy of California African American Museum (CAAM). Beyond the glittering facades and white walls of the more “conventional” galleries, a profound and authentic narrative is being woven by Black-owned galleries and institutions in Los Angeles. Fostering a vibrant and diverse environment that reflects the rich history and culture of our beloved city, they have all steadfastly carved out their place, forging a path of inclusivity and empowerment. As we enter the month of February, it is imperati ..read more

Interview by Shelley Holcomb Installation view of Jon Young ‘One Eye Closed’ at Rusha & Co. In his newest exhibition, One Eye Closed at Rusha & Co, artist Jon Young weaves through celestial cartographies, symbolism, and an intricate examination of choice and free will we all face as humans. Drawing parallels between his corrugations and historical figures like David Crockett, Young prompts viewers to reflect on the visibility of choices that have been made within the American mythos, contributing to a nuanced discourse on individual agency in the world we live in. The themati ..read more