LA galleries

LA galleries - a space to discuss experiences with Los Angeles-based galleries.

66 comments:

Anonymous said...

Culver City:
http://www.ccgalleryguide.com/

Anonymous said...

partial R.I.P. list for LA in the last 6 months: Anna Helwing Gallery, MC Projects, Lizabeth Oliveria Gallery, Mary Goldman Gallery, Black Dragon

Anonymous said...

RIP Bandini

Anonymous said...

fette's gallery will moving to Berlin soon based on their website information.

Anonymous said...

can we add some LA galleries to the general la listings... there are so many stories to tell!

Anonymous said...

YES PLEASE

Buck Naked said...

Use this space to discuss LA galleries. It could become huge. You are not using it.

Anonymous said...

No, it couldn't be huge. Not the way it's set up, because you can't really have discussions about individual galleries.

Now if you changed this to LA Death Watch or RIP list that might work, but to lump hundreds of galleries into one discussion is pointless.

Buck Naked said...

You are not using it. Do you work with a great gallery and would you like to tell us about it? Is there a gallery which you have had trouble with? Here is an opportunity for you to share.

What is YOUR point?

Anonymous said...

I guess my point is you need to ad sub catagories for individual galleries (like you did with the fair section). Otherwise an LA section won't work.

I would write about galleries but, with the way it's set up now, it is just going to be lost in a long thread without any way for anyone to directly respond to my post.

Here's a starting point (some galleries that should be listed)
Blum & Poe
Peres Projects
China Art Objects
Tilton Roberts
Marc Foxxx
ACME
Regan Projects
Susanne Vielmetter
Patrick Painter

Anonymous said...

....And how about :
SISTER
David Kordansky
Messler/Hug
.....

Anonymous said...

Here're links to three online gallery guides that feature South California/LA area galleries:

http://art-collecting.com/galleries_ca_losangeles.htm

http://art-collecting.com/galleries_ca_bergamot_station.htm

http://art-collecting.com/galleries_ca_culvercity.htm

Anonymous said...

as an LA artist who has lived in NY and shows in NY currently and likes to use this site for info it is discouraging to see the first post in this section say "fuck LA". it seems unnecessary to engage in that tired war in a forum that is supposed to be a shared resource for artists. don't make NY live up to it's stereotype!

Anonymous said...

High Energy Constructs RIP-- another solid and short lived gallery that is recently gone.
Machine Gallery and New Image Art and Hope Gallery should be listed as well

Anonymous said...

If there's a deathwatch list, I'm going to put my money on Kordansky and JAIL.

Anonymous said...

I'm wondering about Cherry and Martin too. They keep pushing back their Culver City moving date. I think originally it was supposed to be opened in January.

Anonymous said...

Carl Berg is no more

Anonymous said...

Rip forum gallery - will miss the odd nerdrum shows.

Anonymous said...

I'd add the Constant Gallery too. I doubt Jail is going out, is it?

Anonymous said...

Carl Berg has reopened in the Pacific Design Center. weho yo

Anonymous said...

i'd also add m+b and the constant gallery. ones new and ones old but theyre both pretty rad

Anonymous said...

Kinkead Contemporary takes their time paying.

cassandra said...

Hackett freeman in San francisco has closed Sold expensive secondary market, been around FOR YEARS, over-and-out

Anonymous said...

Chung King Project. Avoid.

Anonymous said...

why?

Anonymous said...

I can't believe you'd think Kordansky would be on a Deathwatch list. One of the strongest and best programs in the city.

Anonymous said...

kordanskys new space is awesome.

Anonymous said...

anyone know anything about acuna hansen? alive or dead???

Anonymous said...

acuna hansen closed, Thomas Solomon moved in their space

Anonymous said...

Let's talk about the ACE "museum"

Anonymous said...

beware of blacklisting galleries

Beware of Seyhoun Gallery. They blacklist artists. This LA "gallery", wanted money to show my work and when I refused to commit to the show they said I was "done" in LA and in the US. They sent me all kinds of poorly spelled email threats bordering on harassment. I never even made a formal commitment or sent them money to "secure my spot". We did not even talk once on the phone.

Anonymous said...

Alright, we know 'em all.
Let's line them up:

China Art Objects: Sweethearts, easy to deal with, weak sellers, owe a few artists a few bucks.

Chung King Project: Pay when they say they will, easy to deal with.

ACE: Never worked with them, but Doug Christmas has the worst reputation in LA, it's almost a rite of passage for a gallerina to get fired by him.

David Kordansky: He's totally crazy but an amazing salesman.

Parker Jones: Some artists love him, some hate him. He burned alot of people in the final days of Black Dragon. We think he's alright.

Mihai Nicodim: Amazing salesman, a little stuck on Romanian painters however. Easy to do a show with however, very cordial.

Cherry and Martin: If they can hang on to Amanda Ross-Ho they'll be alright, their best selling artists leave them, rumor is low-profile, weak on sales. They go to Suzanne Vielmetter or Kordansky. (Bedford and Lassry, the second one must have really hurt)

Tom Solomon: All his artists seem to love him, though he can take forever to get things done, smart as hell.

Just a short list to get a little discussion going, assembled by a handful of artists and bottle of whiskey.

CHEERS!

Anonymous said...

I worked for Parker Jones for a year when he was at Black Dragon. It was a nightmare. He's just a chauvinist frat boy that was in the right place at the right time. He was OK to his artists but I would recommend steering clear of him with regards to employment.

Anonymous said...

The only real galleries in LA are Kordansky, Foxx, Telles, Regen, Vielmetter, Peres, China Arts, Overduin and Kite, and Gagosain. No i'm not forgetting anyone. Patrick Painter has turned into a clown. Blum and Poe have a terrible program. 85% of what they show is fake art. Chinatown is a wasteland. It's all sad but true. It's no wonder so many great artists in LA do not bother showing in their hometown.

Anonymous said...

Solway Jones, Michael and Angela are incredibly knowledgeable, up front, honest, and good people to work with.

Anonymous said...

i'm inclined to agree w/ November 24, 2009 8:21 PM. There are a few others that should be included just to be fair (Cherry&Martin, Cottage Home, etc.) Not sure what is meant by BP showing "fake art"...i don't like their program, it's a massive sausage party, but "fake"? wtf does that even mean? There are some good shows at odd places like 533 Gallery, JMOCA, and 2nd Cannons.

As for Solway/Jones....the work they show is weak, the shows are messy and not in a redeeming way. Yeah, they're nice people. meh.

As for galleries to avoid, ACE is the obvious "stay the fuck away from", from an employee perspective. A lot of people laid off all over town, like everywhere else. Some galleries have done it with class, most not. Steve at China Art is easily one of the nicest guys around.

Anonymous said...

Marc Selwyn Fine Art is low key but is consistently one of the best galleries in LA.. he sells work and has a good rep as well.

Anonymous said...

Stay away from Shirley Morales's vanity project 'LTD' Its only about her (and her next drink) and not at all about the artists. Completely unprofessional

Anonymous said...

Anybody got information/advice on:

Cherry and Martin,
ACE,
Morono Kiang Gallery,
m+b ,
Christopher Grimes Gallery,
Steve Turner Contemporary?

Anonymous said...

What happened to Peres Projects?

Anonymous said...

peres projects: according to art newspaper article they are closing the LA gallery and opening an additional space in berlin.

Anonymous said...

Right...I read that, but what is the reason behind the closure/move? Peres was one of the best galleries in Culver City.

Anonymous said...

Chinatown is now a ghost town. China Art Objects has left in favor of the fledgling emerging local art town of Culver City.

Anonymous said...

Solway Jones RIP. Private dealing.

Anonymous said...

Cherry and Martin: very nice, weakish on sales, but seem to be kicking it up a notch recentyly

ACE:
the Worst. Period.

Morono Kiang Gallery:
very sweet, kind of a public service/vanity project, money comes from space rentals not sales


Steve Turner Contemporary:
Very excited, generally really nice, meets with a lot of artists, smart in his way but definitely not an intellectual, but he manages some sales.

Anonymous said...

RIP Kathryn Brennen/Sister in LA
Long live Brennen Griffin in New York.

Anonymous said...

Chinatown still got some spark in it, mostly youngsters, but wasn't that always the case: Actual Size, 2nd Cannons, WPA, Ghebaly, Redling (moving?), the Box, The Company, Charlie James kicks it out sometimes even if it lacks subtlety and I mostly just walk by and look int he windows, diminished but not defeated, and lest we forget all the ass clowns that have moved alongside the decent galleries in Culver City, shit I don't even really know their names....

Anonymous said...

Think what you want about Shirley Morales, but ltd has a pretty interesting program. And judging by the self-titled galleries around town, whose endeavor isn't about vanity?

Anonymous said...

Chung King Projects has closed. Will NOT be missed by artists who try to be professional. This gallery was NEVER professional.

Anonymous said...

The Torrance Art Museum is run by a total douchebag Max Presneill. I guess he is a frustrated, failed painter because he is so completely hostile and disrespectful towards the artists he shows that I wonder if his tenure is just part of some elaborate scheme to treat emerging and successful artists like garbage?

Anonymous said...

Christopher Grimes is a decent guy with an unfortunately overlooked gallery these days. He's not the most aggressive salesperson which might account for him being a bit off the map but he's shown some really great work and been around long enough so he knows what he's doing.

Anonymous said...

What I know about L.A. galleries...

ACE: Hands down THE WORST place to work for, and to show with. The horror stories are infinite. Also, Douglas is completely out of touch with contemporary art and only knows the minimalist/New Image Art aesthetic.

Cherry+Martin: On the surface Mary Leigh Cherry and Philip Martin are nice enough, but deep down, very insecure. They can be very, very fickle about their artists, which is why their stable is continually changing. Good dealers know what they like, whether it sells or not, and these two have no idea. It shows in their stable. It has a lack of cohesion.

Richard Telles: Has one of the best programs in the city. A bit of a cold fish, but has lots integrity and confidence and believes in his artists regardless of sales. A bit of a quiet presence in L.A., but formidable.

Kordansky: A master salesman. Neurotic and difficult. A real go-getter. Some artists will hate him. Most will tolerate him despite his 'issues' because he's ambitious
and moves units really well.

Parker Jones: A sleazy frat man, but a good salesman. Divides the room.

Roberts and Tilton: Fast talkers and friendly. Good at sales. A bit impersonal though.

LTD: Shirley Morales is a big personality and is pushy. Exercise caution. She's a collector who turned to dealing and is still learning the ropes. She's loud and narcisstic but is genuinely excited by what she does.

Anonymous said...

A few more notes:

Steve Turner: He's friendly, curious, does LOTS of studio visits and unlike many galleries in L.A., shows a lot of artists of color. Not too intellectual of a man, but smart enough. There's a lot of promise in this gallery, but he's still learning the ropes.

Overduin and Kite: Lisa Overduin is a former director of Regen Projects and Christina Kite is former MFA critical studies major at Art Center, Pasadena. They have an 'it gallery' mystique right now. A boutique kind of program, but it's one of the most interesting ones in L.A. Their marketing position is almost a bit contrived, (aloof, minimal website, 'off the grid' location, etc). They're whip smart and elegant, but a bit icy and aloof.

China Art Objects: Steve Hanson has a rep for being really nice and unpretentious. A bit slow to pay though. Known for their 'organic' approach to programming, which makes for an interesting array of work. Has a strong following for quite some time. A major Chinatown refugee to Culver City.

Redling Fine Art: Erika Redling is a former director of China Art Objects. She is VERY aloof and socially awkward and known for making people feel uncomfortable. Mostly likely a symptom of her own shyness. Because of this, her openings have a very stuffy, awkward feel to them. A quiet presence in L.A., but has a decent program.

Anonymous said...

To January 28:

You wrote "Steve Turner...unlike many galleries in L.A., shows a lot of artists of color."

How do you know this? You cannot tell a person's skin color from their artwork, unless it's the objective of the artwork. Plenty of dealers are showing artists of color, especially Asian and Hispanic artists.

I do not think you should lambast other LA dealers with blanket statements like the above. You simply CANNOT know who is and is not an artist of color.

Anonymous said...

I'm not deducing one's color from their artwork. That would be idiotic and that's quite a long leap for you to assume. I just know that to be the case, having shmoozed around the galleries and knowing many of the artists who have shown at Steve Turner personally.

And sure, there are other galleries who show people of color in Los Angeles of course, but Steve Turner does have a stronger focus on different cultural perspectives than MANY of his peers.

Take a chill pill.

Anonymous said...

Hey LA people, the last several comments are great and all, but how about we get off our asses and start our own art world ratings blog? Why piggy-back on this New York effort? Isn't it sad that all we have is this one lame column that starts off with "Fuck LA"? I mean come on, let's have some self respect!

Anonymous said...

Yeah, no kidding. The L.A. art world needs this because we're all gophers in our respective holes out here.

Anonymous said...

this won't work in la the same way. everything is so physically close in NY that the gossip spreads faster and people are up in each other's faces to the point of constant drama.

Anonymous said...

Kim Light shut her gallery LA and came to NYC apparently getting around town with a recent Park Avenue artist

Anonymous said...

What is a "recent Park Ave artist"?

Anonymous said...

I'm guessing "Recent Park Ave artist" is that dude that made the big flower sculptures.

Anonymous said...

Oh, Ryman Jr.

Anonymous said...

How about other galleries?

Acme
Michael Benevento
Marc Foxx
1301pe
Night gallery

Comments?

Steve Turner is the worst. Period.

Anonymous said...

What is the reputation of Mark Moore Gallery?

Anonymous said...

Can we have a forum for San Francisco galleries?

Paule Anglim
Catharine Clark
Rena Bransten Patricia Sweetow
Steven Wolf
Haines
Hosfelt, etc....

Anonymous said...

Yes. ACE sucks. Chrismas has DeWayne Valentine completely brainwashed, and now DeWayne is trying to get my husband to show with ACE; I'm very worried about it. Doug Chrismas (no "t") is verbally trashed by most of my husband's 1960s Ferus Gallery art buddies. He was an addict who just stole. Now he's in recovery but he's still very shady. Nasty on the phone, very slick about turning things around to his own advantage.