Mason Lane West Coast + the LA Scene
Mason Lane West Coast has opened an office based in Los Angeles with a strategic focus on its rich history and diverse array of artists, galleries, and collectors living in the surrounding region. We’re lucky to have Cristin Wills leading our new office, and here, she’s sharing a window into three artists she loves and what she’s keeping tabs on this fall.
Candace Thatcher
The mesmerizing paintings of Candace Thatcher recently grabbed my attention at her recent show at L.A.’s Landing Gallery. Whether rendered in a palette of black and white, or a vivid kaleidoscope of colors, her topographical-lattice-like work embraces optical effects evocative of silk moiré patterns though rendered in complex layers of acrylics. Recalling the work of 1960s artists Bridget Riley or Victor Vasarely of the Op Art Movement as well as the manipulation of perception and depth by those associated with the California Light and Space Movement, Thatcher is part of a larger group of current artists whose work is both a marriage of digital technology and hands-on manipulation of the medium. Her work can be found here.
Laurie Nye
Although Los Angeles can be dominated by its sprawling neighborhoods and freeways, Nye’s contemporary landscapes (recently part of a solo show at the Philip Martin Gallery) celebrate the very So Cal way of connecting to nature. Working in a colorful palette that is as softly radiant as the coastal lighting of this region, Nye often focuses in her work on oases of nature such as L.A.’s historic MacArthur Park with its iconic fountain. Her paintings avoid the right angles of the urban grid by embracing curved forms and lines that recall the Austrian Wiener Werkstätte Movement, an offshoot of the Art Nouveau and Arts & Crafts Movements, the latter of which are so much a part of the history of the area’s historic districts in both fine and decorative arts and architecture. Here’s a link to more of Nye’s work.
Heather Rosenman
Rosenman finds inspiration for her ceramics in the pared-down shapes, lines, and organic materials from the ancient world, while also evoking Midcentury Modern aesthetics. Much of her work has a sculptural quality with each piece showcasing the artist’s interest in form, texture, and negative/positive space that captivate as stand-alone artworks or in groups that invite consideration as a collection. Rosenman also brings color and line into other series. I like how this is an artist who is continuing along the path of many great So Cal ceramic makers like Heath Ceramics, but with an eye toward moving beyond the functionality toward highly collectable art pieces that are even better displayed as a group. Rosenman’s pieces, and more on her practice, are here.
Plus, I’m excited about a variety of events around the area that showcase the Best of SoCal this fall:
Made in L.A. “Acts of Living” at the Hammer Museum (now through Dec. 31)
This biennial event is a huge showcase of local talent, returning for the sixth time. This year’s exhibition features 39 artists ranging in age from 26-83 and representing the diversity, particularly the diaspora, that has shaped today’s L.A. through a range of media and topics.
Brand Art Gallery (located in Glendale; now through Nov. 22)
If you’re a fan of Minimalism, “It’s About Time” is a show that gathers 17 L.A.-based artists who work in a variety of media, from the modern fabric wall hangings of Mary Little to the surreal colorful abstract prints of April Greiman. Figurative art plays a role here too in the portrait work of Shizu Saldamando, which explores identity through a mix of painting and collage.
SUR: biennial (now through December)
With 15 participating galleries, this showcase focuses on interconnection, globalization, borderlands, and the meaning of the larger “South” in general. It includes the culture and traditions of Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. Each gallery is independently curated by such people as acclaimed L.A.-based artist Yolanda Gonzalez, who recently had an extensive career retrospective at the Museum of Latin American Art. Shows extend as far south as San Diego and north as Santa Barbara.
For questions about these artists and events, or to join me for any viewings, email me at cw@masonlaneart.com.