LAST LOOK: PHOTO LA
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os Angeles, the 20th anniversary of anything is a milestone, and given the art world’s irrepressible love of a good party, the 20th annual photo LA (January 13-17) is retaining its well-deserved title as the most anticipated event of the new art (and artfair) season. As last year’s event Host, the renowned photographer and director David LaChapelle (who maintains a very active studio here), has often observed, “Los Angeles is the most exciting city for cutting edge photography and video-based art right now, by far. The galleries, museums, and collectors here are all impressively curious, enthusiastic, and supportive.” Whether as a result of the city’s intimacy with filmmaking, the prevalence of new media-friendly art schools, or the influence of progressive art collectors, LaChapelle is absolutely on the money when it comes to LA’s love affair with photography. All of which makes this milestone anniversary (at 20 years old, photo LA is the longest-running art fair outside of NYC) even sweeter. The organizers have added a massive tented outdoor area to accomodate their expanded installation, amenities, and events schedule, including sculpture, publication kiosks, a new video pavilion, panel discussions, collecting seminars, artist lectures, book-signings, and, of course, couture cupcakes for the expected 10,000 visitors to the fair’s traditional home at the Santa Monica Civic Center. An opening night gala benefits LACMA’s Photography Department. For more information visit photoLA.com. Story by Shana Nys Dambrot.
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