Ready for Action

The LA Art Show returns July 31 to August 1 with a summertime edition featuring exhibitors from around the globe.

In 2020, LA Art Show was one of the final art fairs held in person before the pandemic shut down the country. Keeping with health and safety guidelines, this year LA Art Show opted to postpone its usual February event for the summer—still taking place at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The show will happen July 29 through August 1, with its usual slate of events schedules.LA Art Show will take place at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Fair producer and director Kassandra Voyagis is working diligently with the venue to ensure compliance with CDC and Los Angeles county guidelines so patrons and exhibitors are safe and comfortable during the show. “Now more than ever, we need a physical art fair in Los Angeles to bring the creative community back together,” says Voyagis. “Our exhibit hall has more than 200,000 square feet of space, making it ideal for social distancing as we adapt to the new normal. From what I have seen of other fairs since COVID, I am confident we can create a great program while keeping artists, exhibitors and patrons safe.”

This year’s 26th edition, will have the Opening Night Premiere—with the VIP preview followed by the Premiere Party—on July 29th beginning at 6 p.m. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital will return as the charity partner and all proceeds from the opening night will benefit the organization. As well, Miami-based artist Romero Britto has created the artwork One World as an homage to healthcare workers who have been instrumental during the COVID-19 crisis. St. Jude will receive five precent of the retail sales of the limited-edition print of the work.David Palumbo, Captain America (from Marvel Masters series), oil on panel, 24 x 18". Courtesy Rehs Contemporary.

Special VIP Red Card Show hours will happen from 10 a.m. to noon July 30 though August 1 before the show opens to general admission from noon to 8 p.m. each day. Exhibitors participating this year include Arcadia Contemporary, Rehs Contemporary, Gallery 1261, Abend Gallery, Simard Bilodeau Contemporary, Caldwell Snyder Gallery, Galerie Fledermaus, Jane Kahan Gallery, White Cross Gallery and many more.

“We are incredibly excited to be heading back to the West Coast for our first art fair in more than a year,” says Lance Rehs, director and vice president at Rehs Contemporary. “We have curated a wide range of offerings that will be displayed but two in particular are pretty special. Interlude, by Tony South, is his newest full-size painting from a set he has been working on for the past few years—the composition features a human-like primate seated at a piano…the work encompasses the humor and lightheartedness that is so typical of South’s work, while masterfully executed in the finest of details. The other piece is from a special series by David Palumbo that was created as the artwork for Marvel comics trading cards—the Marvel Masters series. Captain America, one of the most iconic and recognizable superheroes, is featured in this dramatic composition bursting up through flames toward the viewer. In addition to this piece, we will be featuring more than a dozen others from Palumbo’s Marvel Masters series, not to mention nearly 100 other works by various artists.”Robin Hextrum, Colorful Blossoms, oil on linen, 40 x 30". Courtesy Abend Gallery.

Denver-based sister galleries Gallery 1261 and Abend Gallery will both be returning to the fair. “It’s always one of our favorite art fairs to attend, and it will be our first since the pandemic began,” says gallery owner Chris Mileham. At the Abend booth there will be mainly small works from more than 30 of its gallery artists from across the world, as well as larger works mixed in. On view in the Gallery 1261 space will be art by some of its top artists including Mia Bergeron, Gregory Block, Robin Cole, Scott Fraser, Quang Ho, Daniel Sprick and Vincent Xeus.Quang Ho, Blue Kitchen, oil, 24 x 24". Courtesy Gallery 1261.

Another highlight of this year’s fair is the 2021 edition of DIVERSEartLA, curated by Marisa Caichiolo, that focuses on the contributions, research and documentation of women and nonbinary artists. The fair also will debut the Latin American pavilion with artists from Central and South America and the Caribbean. There will be continued digital programming, so anyone unable to attend the event can enjoy components virtually. —

LA Art Show
When: July 29-August 1, 2021; July 29, opening night, 6 p.m.
Where: Los Angeles Convention Center,
1201 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015
Information: www.laartshow.com