A cornucopia of fine art

Beyond your wildest imagination

The 2024 L.A. Show is gearing up

by Bondo Wyszpolski

When it comes to art-related events, I can think of no other that quite matches the annual L.A. Art Show, which runs from Feb. 14 through Feb. 18 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Once again there will be exhibitors (100+ galleries and exhibit booths have been lined up) from countries as far away as Peru, Italy, and South Korea. The Opening Night gala is being hosted by actress Lucy Hale in collaboration with the American Heart Association.

It’s not just a diverse and bountiful collection of paintings and sculptures, of course.

Among the highlights, there’s DIVERSEartLA, which is partnering with seven international art institutions, and they’ll be setting out to investigate, discuss, and consider where memory, humanity, and AI intersect. Today, for artists, few topics seem more relevant.

LP Gallery will be shining a spotlight on South Korean artist Dain Yoon, who paints on her skin to create visually deceptive self-portraits.

There are two gallerist talks scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 17, and presented by Citi: Daphne Alazraki of Daphne Alazraki Fine Arts takes center stage at 3 p.m., to be followed at 5 p.m. by Cynthia Corbett of Cynthia Corbett Fine Arts.

South Bay artists, as visitors or participants, always seem to be on hand, and this year Ryan Arts, out of Rancho Palos Verdes, will be found in Booth #516.

When I’ve covered the event, I often photograph various people in attendance, but for the most part my camera focuses on the women who’ve dressed up for the occasion. “…and presently their beauty would be nothing but a memory,” wrote W. Somerset Maugham in “On a Chinese Screen.” He was referring to decayed temples, but with photographs we can preserve, at least temporarily, the appearance of the elegant ladies who emanate style and grace. After all, it’s at the opera or at art openings that women tend to be at their most alluring.

All of this is simply a roundabout way of saying that the L.A. Art Show truly is about the finer things in life, from the works on display to the acumen and creativity of those who come out for an experience that will energize and inspire them.

The 2024 L.A. Art Show: Opening Night is from 6 to 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 14, and the cost is $250. Thursday and Friday, Feb. 15 and 16, the hours are 12 to 8 p.m. Tickets for those two days are $35. Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 17 and 18, the hours are also from 12 to 8 p.m., and again the cost is $35 (those who purchased Open Night tickets can return and enter at 11 a.m.). Please note that each ticket carries a service fee. The Los Angeles Convention Center is located at 1201 S. Figueroa St., L.A. To learn more, as well as to buy tickets in advance, visit LAArtShow.com. ER