ART IN L.A.

Known for its sprawling landscape and diverse culture, Los Angeles has long proved to be a dynamic and enigmatic urban center. It is no surprise to find its contemporary art scene compelling. The city of angels hosts the powerful elite of popular culture and the wildest sects of the underground, here, art runs rife with contradiction, unexpected combinations, and abundant references to contemporary culture. The ways that Los Angeles’ art is presented and experienced reflects this; the city’s world-class museums are easily interchangeable with abandoned storefronts and transient gallery spaces. 

 

Artists in L.A. are afforded a rich cultural vocabulary with which to work. A strong Mexican immigrant population is responsible for a powerful history of Chicano art. In addition, subcultures that embrace graffiti, body art, and comix dovetail to produce the movement that is alternately classified as “Lowbrow” and “Pop surrealism.” Other artists have attempted to escape this cultural clutter entirely by embracing the isolation provided by their city, giving up on being hip, and embarking on more personal, emotional projects, prompting critics to coin the term “Post-cool.” Art in L.A. is largely shaped by the city itself; its boundaries vague and perpetually changing.