Craft in America: L.A. Made & L.A. Scenes

These two exhibitions are installed at Los Angeles International Airport Terminal 1.5 (Southwest) and are co-produced by Los Angeles World Airports and City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs

L.A. Made

Los Angeles has been an epicenter for the handmade in contemporary art since the mid 20th century. This grouping of sculptural objects is filled with revelations about the evolving nature of contemporary craft in the region. Today, the boundaries between media, the utilitarian, and the conceptual, as well as around design, art, and craft have eroded and become an open field for artists. These selected objects are indicative of the breadth and range of materials that artists draw upon to create art in the 21st century including ceramic, glass, fiber, metal, and wood.

These exemplary five L.A. artists contribute to the broadening of the conversation of what art can be. They each manipulate materials to new ends. Some innovate through selection of material, while others expand the lexicon of techniques used to produce work. They employ abstraction to very different ends: figuration, reflections of nature, depictions of L.A. life, studies of form, and politically charged messages. All of these artists explore the metaphorical potential of their materials and draw upon historical precedent to imbue their work with meaning and beauty. Beyond the realm of design, these sculptural works help redefine how craft is viewed on the world stage.

L.A. Scenes

A destination for dreams, Los Angeles’ sprawling neighborhoods and iconic sites have served as inspiration for generations of artists. From the mountains to the beaches to the stars that adorn Hollywood Boulevard, these places live immortalized in multitudes of media. Los Angeles is as diverse as its geography. It is always at the forefront of culture, art, design, and technological innovation. As the backdrop and birthplace for films watched and beloved around the world, Los Angeles is both familiar and also too vast to know completely. 

Artists in the region have a long history of turning to a wide range of techniques and materials in their work. Through craft, artists are able to connect with material on a personal level. Artists find infinite inspiration in the cultures and communities that come together to define this region. These selected handmade artworks are a taste of the different perspectives that come together to define scenic Los Angeles.

This project is supported by a grant from the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs:  https://culturela.org/