As the new year unfolds, Los Angeles hosts 10 noteworthy exhibitions that challenge historical perspectives and envision diverse aesthetic futures. Elias Hernández explores elements from cartoons, video games, and Salvadoran heritage within his imaginative universe. Carolyn Castaño, a Colombian-American artist, delves into themes of immigration and identity using her late father’s photo archive in her mixed-media pieces. Art + Practice presents a group exhibition of 20 artists celebrating the cultural and communal importance of Black motherhood. Meanwhile, Angels Gate Cultural Center’s Sustainers of Life features seven Indigenous women artists who reclaim their narratives, showcasing their struggles, strengths, and resilience.
At Lisson Gallery in Hollywood, a concise survey of nonagenarian Colombian artist Olga de Amaral’s work is on display until January 17. The exhibition spans from the early 1970s to 2018, highlighting the evolution of her career. Amaral’s work merges textiles, painting, and sculpture, drawing from various influences such as Mesoamerican traditions and minimalism. Her art, crafted with materials like wool, horsehair, and gold, ranges from the monumental “Eslabón familiar” (1973) to the intimate Soles series (2014).
The Getty Center’s Recent Acquisitions: Photography exhibit, running through January 19, showcases contemporary photography from around the world while examining the medium’s history. Featured works include Annie Hsiao-Ching Wang’s ongoing series on motherhood, Lebohang Kganye’s haunting images, and Omar Victor Diop’s Being There (2023), where the Senegalese artist integrates himself into historical photos to create revisionist narratives.
Elias Hernández’s Hidden Relics From The Forbidden Jungle, at Central Server Works until January 24, continues his imaginative exploration by incorporating elements of Salvadoran culture and magical realism. This exhibition, primarily featuring ceramics, builds on his previous paintings and drawings, merging art with craft as his fantastical characters transition from fantasy to functionality.
John Birtle’s More Is More at the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery until January 24 showcases his eclectic art practice. His first institutional solo show, it embodies a maximalist approach drawing from art movements like Pattern & Decoration and feminist art. Birtle’s work transforms everyday objects into hopeful visions of a radical future.
