In Los Angeles, visionary Brooklyn-based artist Hadi Falapishi’s inaugural solo presentation with BLUM, keenly titled “Edge of the World,” is currently on view through March 22. New vivid paintings and ceramic sculptures immerse visitors in the creative’s clever and whimsical universe. Drawing tenderly from Surrealism, Spaghetti Western films, and most profoundly from his childhood in Tehran—alongside the influence of his parents who are both skillful photographers—Falapishi voyages through the shifting highlights and shadows of human psychology and society.
Reflecting on an unforgettable LA Art Week, the sincere and masterful artist shared with Whitewall why the experience was so uplifting that he extended his trip—not one but two times.
Best Show
“Hadi Falapishi: Edge of the World,” Installation view, 2025, BLUM Los Angeles, Photo: Evan Walsh; Courtesy of the artist and BLUM Los Angeles, Tokyo, New York.
I must admit, I might not be able to sleep at night if I don’t call my own show the best show. It’s a pretty shy exhibition, so it might be hard to see why it’s the best show in Los Angeles on the first or second viewing. I promise, by the third time seeing it, “Edge of the World” at BLUM reveals itself as the best show. I’m in the midst of booking another flight from New York to Los Angeles to make sure what I’m saying is true.
Best Discovery
Manual Arts new space on Wilshire Boulevard,
Photo: Hadi Falapishi; Courtesy of the artist and BLUM Los Angeles, Tokyo, New York.
The best discovery of the week was at the former ten-story Hustler HQ on Wilshire Boulevard. On the fourth floor in a blue carpeted suite, Manual Arts installed a fantastic exhibition showcasing sixteen of the photographs of Mike Kelley’s Extracurricular Activity Projective Reconstructions.
Best Moment
Phoebe Derlee and Marcel Aziz after Madeline Hollander’s “Day Flight,” Photo: Hadi Falapishi; Courtesy of the artist and BLUM Los Angeles, Tokyo, New York.
While down on the tarmac of the Santa Monica Airport watching my wife Phoebe Derlee ascend into the sky in a tiny two-seater airplane as part of Madeline Hollander’s Day Flight performance for Frieze, I learned that Phoebe would have the controls for part of the flight. I told my two-month-old son, Marcel, that, if we are lucky, we’ll see mom again soon. The best moment was seeing the plane land. The taxiing was a bit wobbly, but all-in-all safe and sound.
Best Vibe
BLUM reception after Frieze VIP for the Nara and Falapishi shows,
Photo: Hadi Falapishi; Courtesy of the artist and BLUM Los Angeles, Tokyo, New York.
The best vibe goes to the whole art community of Los Angeles. Knowing how devastating the fires were, it was amazing to see how everyone came together and supported each other with such open hearts. As big as Los Angeles is, I constantly ran into friends from close and far and truly every day had a very uplifting vibe so much so that I extended my trip two times.
Best Surprise
A rendering of Hadi Falapishi’s experience of David Hammons’ “Concerto in
Black and Blue,”
Photo: Hadi Falapishi; Courtesy of the artist and BLUM Los Angeles, Tokyo, New York.
After hearing that the legendary Concerto in Black and Blue by David Hammons would be on view after twenty years at Hauser and Wirth Los Angeles, I rushed to see it. I spent an hour in the dark searching with a blue flashlight and was surprised to realize that, in fact, the installation was all about me, and I was searching for myself.
