Tag: los angeles

Lauren Halsey at David Kordansky Gallery

The architecture and people of South-Central Los Angeles inspire LA artist Lauren Halsey’s sculptures at David Kordansky Gallery’s new Chelsea location, from low relief carvings of barbershop advertising to this sprawling mixed media installation titled ‘My Hope.’  Featuring a version of Kindle’s Do-nuts colossal signage, a doll-sized version of a church service, mini-pyramids and much more, the assemblage speaks to the vibrancy of life in Halsey’s neighborhood.  A collector of images since youth, Halsey expands her archives in daily early morning walks through the streets of South-Central; here, her findings from all over combine to create an architecture of pride and promise.  (On view through June 11th).

Lauren Halsey, My Hope, mixed media, installation dimensions variable approximate installation dimensions: 152 x 214 x 125 inches, 2022.

Alex Prager at Lehmann Maupin Gallery

“Driving through Los Angeles, you see all kinds of things out your window, and they go by so quickly,” Alex Prager told the New Yorker as she explained the bizarre scenarios and eccentric characters in her latest photos and video at Lehmann Maupin Gallery.  This towering, nine-foot-tall sculpture dominates the gallery and appears in an even larger version in Prager’s short film ‘Play the Wind,’ an homage to the unexpected and strange on the streets of Prager’s hometown.  (On view in Chelsea through Oct 26th).

Alex Prager, Big West, foam, plastic, fabric and aluminum on metal base, 112 x 50 x 23 inches, 2019.

Diedrick Brackens in ‘Los Angeles Bound’ at Thomas Erben Gallery

Maybe it’s the descending pattern of dots or the black rainbow shape in Diedrick Brackens’ tapestry but the text, ‘everything is lovely now’ isn’t quite believable. Instead, this shaggy banner seems to announce a still transitory state. (At Thomas Erben Gallery in Chelsea through Feb 18th).

Diedrick Brackens, get in where you fit in, woven cotton and polyester yarn, 71 x 67 inches, 2016.
Diedrick Brackens, get in where you fit in, woven cotton and polyester yarn, 71 x 67 inches, 2016.

Bas Jan Ader at Metro Pictures Gallery

At the start of Dutch artist Bas Jan Ader’s 19 second video, Fall 1, the artist perches on a chair on a roof. As we watch with increasing unease, he leans over until he causes himself to tumble to the ground below. Absurd yet emotionally jolting, Ader’s video portrays the artist as dare devil willing to take risks and foretells his eventual disappearance at sea during the creation of another event-as-artwork. (At Metro Pictures in Chelsea through Aug 5th).

Bas Jan Ader, Fall 1, Los Angeles, 16mm black and white film, 1970.
Bas Jan Ader, Fall 1, Los Angeles, 16mm black and white film, 1970.

Ry Rocklen at Untitled Gallery

LA based artist Ry Rocklen takes self-branding into actual product marketing with a tongue-in-cheek installation of the clothing in his wardrobe, cast in porcelain or copper plated. A graffiti-covered door is also preserved for the ages with copper, silver and gold leaf infill turning the banal into the beautiful. (At Untitled Gallery on the Lower East Side through June 15th).

Ry Rocklen, installation view at Untitled, foreground: To be Titled (Tagged Door), wood door, hardware, copper leaf, silver leaf and gold leaf, 2014. Shoes: copper plating, 2013-14. Wall: Porcelain casts of clothing, 2008-14.