The city of Los Angeles is getting ready for one of its biggest years in art. Not only will 2020 mark the milestone 25th anniversary of the internationally renowned LA Art Show, but also it is being touted as the year of the city’s “largest lineup of art and cultural programming.” Kim Martindale, who founded the show with the Fine Art Dealers Association, has anticipated this moment and the wave of collectors who buy art in the West Coast city.
LA Art Show returns to the Los Angeles Convention Center for its 25th anniversary.“Twenty-five years ago when I began the LA Art Show, there weren’t any big art fairs here,” says Martindale. “This is one of the most creative cities on the planet, and I always hoped that we would become a major arts capital. I felt it was important for the city to have a show of its own, to help put us on the map in the larger art world. I created the LA Art Show to establish us as a marketplace.”
Since 2013 more than 50 galleries have opened in Los Angeles, three new museums have been established with others on the horizon—including the under-construction Lucas Museum of Narrative Art—and a number of other fairs have popped up. These institutions have attracted even more art connoisseurs to the city, beginning with the long-established LA Art Show, which kicks off the 2020 art season in Los Angeles when it happens February 6 to 9.
Jeffrey Chong Wang, Bird Man, oil on canvas, 48 x 36". Courtesy Arcadia Contemporary.
Collectors can get a sneak peek of this year’s fair on February 5 by attending the Opening Night Premiere, which attracts celebrities, industry leaders, artists and members of the media. Beginning at 6 p.m. doors will open for the Red Card & Patrons Preview, while at 8 p.m. other opening ticketholders are welcome to join the festivities. The event, which donates a portion of its ticket proceeds to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, runs through 11 p.m.
Exhibitors this year will include Arcadia Contemporary, Abend Gallery and its sister showroom Gallery 1261, Copro Gallery, Galerie Fledermaus, Thomas French Fine Art, Walter Wickiser Gallery, Tieken Studio & Gallery and many more. 
Kent Williams, Tracy with Rafia Crown, oil on linen, 24 x 18". Courtesy Galerie Fledermaus.
Arcadia Contemporary will bring to market its unique offerings of contemporary realism, with art by Alex Venezia, Jeffrey Ripple, Aron Wisenfeld, Annie Murphy-Robinson and Shaun Downey being just some of the highlights.
“Abend’s programming will be an eclectic list of artists showcasing the variety of work the gallery shows. Including our ongoing 5x5 Project, which includes 5-by-5-inch works by an additional 20-plus artists,” says Dave Ethridge of the gallery. “Participating artists include Nathan Durfee, Michelle Kohler, Adam Hall, David Lipson, Corina St. Martin, Nadezda, Annie Stegg, Matt Talbert, Josh Talbott, Michele Kortbawi Wilk, Drew Young, Marc Scheff and Marisa Aragón Ware.”
Ron Hicks, Fleur, oil on panel, 56½ x 37½". Courtesy Gallery 1261.
Nadezda, Wondervalut, oil, 30 x 40". Courtesy Abend Gallery.At the Denver-based gallery’s booth for its sister showroom Gallery 1261 there will be paintings on view by Mia Bergeron, Valerio D’Ospina, Ron Hicks, Daniel Sprick and Vincent Xeus.
Along with the exhibitors booths, attendees to LA Art Show are always treated to an eclectic mix of programing. This year brings the third edition of DIVERSEartLA, curated by Marisa Caichiolo, which celebrates LA’s cultural diversity through “exhibiting the institutions, artists and nonprofits from Southern California, around the Pacific Rim and beyond.” Premiering at the fair in 2020 is the European Pavilion, which is a section featuring European galleries that emphasizes artists from Spain, Italy and the UK.
General admission and preview tickets for LA Art Show, held at the Los Angeles Convention Center, are available through the show website.
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