Spring in Los Angeles has always been a season of renewal and creativity, a time when the city’s art galleries burst forth with exhibitions that challenge, inspire, and captivate. This year is no exception, as these anticipated shows bring a diverse range of artistic expressions to the forefront. From thought-provoking installations to intimate personal narratives, the spring shows at Carpenters Workshop Gallery, M+B, David Kordansky, Pace, and Blum offer a compelling panorama of contemporary art. Here’s a closer look at the standout exhibitions shaping the season.
The Haas Brothers: Ceramics
Carpenters Workshop Gallery
The Haas Brothers, “The Hole Truth,” 2020, 26 x 20.3 x 20.3 cm, hand thrown and slip trailed porcelain, gold luster, brass plate; courtesy of the artist and Carpenters Workshop Gallery.
April 13–June 12, 2024
7070 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90038
The Haas Brothers, known for their fantastical and whimsical creations, bring a magic touch to the Carpenters Workshop Gallery this spring. Their new Los Angeles installation showcases their mastery of blending art, design, and craftsmanship, as the exhibition features an array of their latest ceramic objects that blur the lines between functionality and fantasy.
From their signature hexagonal tile patterns to their playful and surreal creatures, the Haas Brothers’ work is a celebration of creativity and imagination. Each piece is meticulously crafted, utilizing materials such as bronze, porcelain, and fur, to create tactile and visually stunning objects. The Haas Brothers continue to push the boundaries of design, inviting viewers into a world where art and utility coexist in perfect harmony.
What we loved: The presented Accretion handmade vases depict the Haas Brothers’ talent for home décor and design, as their pieces mimic the multitude of textures within nature.
Arghavan Khosravi: At Her Fingertips
M+B Gallery
Installation view of Arghavan Khosravi’s “At Her Fingertips,” courtesy of M+B Gallery.
April 27–June 15, 2024
612 North Almont Drive, Los Angeles, California 90069
Arghavan Khosravi‘s solo exhibition “At Her Fingertips” at M+B is a poignant exploration of identity, culture, and memory. Drawing on her Iranian heritage, Khosravi uses a mix of traditional Persian motifs and contemporary techniques to create deeply personal and evocative works. Her paintings often depict women in various states of flux, navigating the complexities of cultural duality.
Khosravi’s use of rich, vibrant colors and intricate patterns serves as both an homage to her roots and a commentary on the challenges faced by those straddling different worlds. Her work is imbued with a sense of longing and resilience, capturing the delicate balance between preservation and adaptation. This exhibition is a powerful reminder of the enduring strength of cultural identity in the face of change.
What we loved: This is Khosravi’s second solo show with M+B, and features all new works from 2023.
Lucy Bull: Ash Tree
David Kordansky Gallery
Installation view, Lucy Bull’s “Ash Tree,” May 11 – June 15, 2024, David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles; Photo by Jeff McLane, courtesy of David Kordansky Gallery.
May 11–June 15, 2024
5130 W Edgewood Pl., Los Angeles, CA 90019
Lucy Bull‘s latest exhibition at David Kordansky Gallery is a visceral and immersive experience. Known for her abstract, large-scale paintings, Bull’s work is characterized by its dynamic compositions and intense color palettes. Her paintings are a riot of movement and emotion, drawing viewers into a world of chaotic beauty.
This new body of work continues to explore themes of perception and sensation. Bull’s technique of layering paint to create depth and texture results in canvases that are almost sculptural in their presence. Each piece invites viewers to lose themselves in its complexity, to find meaning in its abstraction. Bull’s exhibition is a testament to the power of color and form to evoke deep, visceral responses.
What we loved: “Ash Tree” includes several of Bull’s largest canvases yet, including diptychs that span across the gallery walls.
Alicja Kwade and Agnes Martin: Space Between the Lines
Pace Gallery Los Angeles
Installation view of Alicja Kwade and Agnes Martin’s “Space Between the Lines,” 1201 South La Brea Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90019, May 18–June 29, 2024; photo by Jeff McLane, courtesy of Pace Gallery.
May 18–June 29, 2024
1201 South La Brea Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90019
This exhibition at Pace Gallery is a philosophical exploration of reality and perception. Known for her conceptual approach, Alicja Kwade’s work often challenges the viewer’s understanding of the physical world. Kwade’s installations play with the concepts of time, space, and matter, using mirrors, stones, and everyday objects to create thought-provoking scenarios. Beyond Kwade’s individual pieces, the two-artist exhibition also includes paintings and works on paper by American painter Agnes Martin, thus generating a dialogue on their shared artistic interest in temporality.
This show features several of Kwade’s signature pieces, including large-scale sculptural installations that alter the viewer’s sense of scale and proportion. Kwade’s meticulous attention to detail and her ability to imbue ordinary objects with extraordinary significance make her work both intellectually stimulating and visually captivating. The exhibition at Pace is a journey through the mind’s eye, questioning the nature of reality itself, as Kwade and Martin’s pieces both juxtapose and work in harmony with one another.
What we loved: The exhibit features Martin’s 2003 painting The Sea, the single entirely black painting in her collection of creations.
JB Blunk
BLUM Gallery
Installation view of JB Blunk with work by Gordon Onslow Ford, BLUM Los Angeles, © JB Blunk Estate and Estate of Gordon Onslow Ford; Photo by Ed Mumford, courtesy of the artists and BLUM Los Angeles, Tokyo, New York.
May 18–June 29, 2024
2727 South La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90034
BLUM Gallery’s retrospective of JB Blunk’s work is a celebration of the artist’s profound connection to nature. Blunk, a master woodworker and sculptor, is renowned for his organic, flowing forms that echo the natural landscape. This exhibition highlights his lifelong dedication to craftsmanship and his deep appreciation for the raw beauty of natural materials.
The show includes a range of Blunk’s works, from his iconic wooden furniture pieces to his less-known ceramic and bronze sculptures. The exhibition additionally features pieces by Gordon Onslow Ford, who, like Blunk, shares a fascination with organic creation and an appreciation for Japanese aesthetic principles. Each exhibited piece reflects their shared philosophy of working with the material, rather than against it, allowing its innate qualities to guide the creative process. BLUM’s latest exhibition is a testament to the enduring beauty of natural forms and the skill of the artist to reveal their hidden potential.
What we loved: This exhibition features more than 20 Blunk ceramic works alongside his old-growth redwood tables, all of which demonstrate the arc of his creations between the 1970s and 1990s.
