LA'S CONTEMPORARY ART SCENE
Flocks of Coachella go-ers are LA bound, either to fly out or kick on. In the interests of ensuring these revellers remain well entertained, and concurrently inspired by their western migration, I’ve uploaded contemporary artist Patrick Martinez‘s Comprehensive Guide to LA, originally penned for Pedestriantv.com
Drawing inspo from street culture, his diet of ’90s hip hop and the neon signage around East LA, contemporary artist Martinez uses both his teenage graffiti skills and traditional painting techniques to bring beauty to things that aren’t considered conventionally beautiful. From neon signs that say “Thinking of a Master Plan” and “Pawn Your Dream for a 9-5” to reworking the ZX Flux by Adidas, Patrick’s work speak to an audience that grew up with street culture in their veins.
WHICH NEIGHBOURHOOD HAS THE BEST ARTS SCENE?
In Los Angeles, you can check out great public art from East LA to Mid-City to Fairfax all the way to Venice. I would say the newer stuff is in the artist district in Downtown LA, but in my opinion the artist district is kinda getting goofy. There is public art scattered across the LA landscape… The good, the bad and the ugly.
WHICH GALLERIES ARE MUST-VISITS?
I like going to Blum & Poe, Honor Fraser, LACMA, MOCA (all locations) and Norton Simon Museum.
BLUM & POE, LA
Address: 2727 S La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, California
Email: info@blumandpoe.com
Phone: +1 310 836 2062
HONOR FRASER, LA
Address: 2622 South La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, California
Email: info@honorfraser.com
Phone: +1 310 837 0191
LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART (LACMA)
Address: 5905 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California
Email: publicinfo@lacma.org
Phone: +1 323 857 6000
MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART (MOCA), LA
Address: 250 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, California
Phone: +1 213 626 6222
NORTON SIMON MUSEUM, PASADENA
Address: 411 W. Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, California
Email: info@nortonsimon.org
Phone: +1 626 449 6840
WHERE’S YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE TO SHOW? New Image Art and MOCA at the Geffen Contemporary.
NEW IMAGE ART, WEST HOLLYWOOD
Address: 7920 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, California
Email: info@newimageartgallery.com
Phone: +1 323 654 2192
THE GEFFEN CONTEMPORARY AT MOCA, LA
Address: 152 North Central Avenue, Los Angeles, California
Phone: +1 213 626 6222
WHERE ARE THE BEST PLACES TO FIND INSPIRATION IN AND OUTSIDE OF LA? For me it’s Downtown LA, Whittier Blvd and San Gabriel Valley.
ANY UP AND COMERS WE SHOULD KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR?
Leo Eguiarte!
WHERE’S THE BEST PLACE TO REFUEL?
I find myself at Yang Chow in Chinatown, Chego, Tender Greens, any kind of Pho soup; Mariscos Jalisco taco truck in Boyle Heights and El Taquito taco truck in Pasadena.
YANG CHOW, LA
Address: 819 N Broadway, Los Angeles, California
Phone: +1 213 625 0811
Email: manager@yangchow.com
CHEGO, LA
Address: 727 North Broadway, #117 Los Angeles, California
Phone: +1 310 287 0337
Email: alice@eatchego.com
TENDER GREENS, PASADENA
Address: 621 East Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, California
Phone: +1 626 405 1511
MARISCOS JALISCO, LA
Address: 3040 E. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, California
Phone: +1 323 528 6701
Email: mariscosjalisco@att.net
EL TAQUITO, PASADENA
Address: 510 S Fair Oaks Ave Pasadena, California
Phone: +1 626 355 9411
ANY SMALLER, INDEPENDENT PLACES PEOPLE SHOULD CHECK OUT? Needles and Pens in Culver City, Known Gallery and New Image Art.
NEEDLES & PENS, CULVER CITY
Address: 8564 Washington Blvd, Culver City, California
Email: needlesandpens@hotmail.com
Phone: +1 415 255 1534
KNOWN GALLERY, LA
Address: 441 North Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, California
Email: info@knowngallery.com
Phone: +1 310 860 6263
WHERE SHOULD WE GRAB A DRINK? Eastside Luv in Boyle Heights.
Address: 1835 E 1st Street, Los Angeles, California
Email: info@eastsideluv.com
Phone: +1 323 262 7442
