Steve Diamant, owner of the New York City gallery Arcadia Contemporary, has been exhibiting at the LA Art Showfor at least 20 years. He remembers when the show was held in the Barker Hangar at the Santa Monica Airport, where only 50 galleries were able to participate because of the limited floor space.
Michael Chapman, Wife of Kong, 2025, oil on canvas, 36 x 46 in.
Because of increasing gallery interest and growing attendance, the fair eventually moved to the Los Angeles Convention in 2009 where it expanded exponentially in size and scope. From January 7 through 11, the LA Art Show returns to the convention center with more than 100 exhibitors from around the world and a diverse variety of art, curated exhibitions and installations, artist talks and demos, and entertainment.
Daniel Sprick, White Roses and Peaches, 2025, oil on panel, 23 x 13 in.
Diamant is selective about the fairs he participates in because they are expensive and a tremendous amount of work, but the LA Art Show is one he feels is worth it. “There’s something genuinely wonderful about being able to ‘plant your gallery in another city’ for a few days and work with collectors who may not have the opportunity to visit us in New York,” he says. “And now with social media, the gallery and its artists are so well known that many people come to the fairs to see and buy the works that they’ve only even seen on their phone, and that’s really exciting because everything looks so much better in person.”
Richie Carter, Bern Switzerland, 2025, oil on canvas, 16 x 30 in.
This year Diamant plans to bring approximately 150 works by a wide variety of gallery artists. “I realize that we can’t be ‘everything to everyone,’” says Diamant, “[but] I do find it important to make sure that we have a great diversity of mediums, subject matter and genre.”
In Arcadia’s sprawling booth (artfully partitioned so surprises await around every corner), show-goers will find classic paintings by established artists like Alex Venezia and Jeremy Lipking; as well as works with a more contemporary flair by artists like Brian Haberlin and Arinze Stanley.
Fernando Cidoncha, Drifting Off, 2025, oil on panel, 35 x 23½ in.
“Because of the excitement generated by the fair, many of the artists we represent like to create new paintings and drawings for us to debut there,” adds Diamant. “It’s a very exciting environment.”
When I ask Diamant what attendees can expect to find at his booth, he jokes, “A very tired but enthusiastic gallery staff,” before adding, in all seriousness, “What I know people will see is a genuinely thought-out presentation of stellar works by some of the most talented representational artists working today. From the elegant, ethereal and haunting still life paintings by Daniel Sprick to the painterly, surreal and heroic battle scenes by Denis Sarazhin, we’ll have it there.”
Daniel Bilodeau, Flavum Rosea, 2025, oil on panel, 16 x 14 in.
The LA Art Show kicks off with the Opening Night Premiere on Wednesday, January 7 from 6 to 10 p.m., with general admission days Thursday, January 8 through Sunday, January 11. Visit the show website for ticket information and hours.
Visit www.arcadiacontemporary.com to see more artwork by these and other gallery artists. —
LA ART SHOW
January 7-11, 2026
Los Angeles Convention Center
1201 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015
www.laartshow.com
Powered by Froala Editor
