The Agenda: The L.A. Art Show, Artists Talk With Ed Ruscha, and a DTLA Gala
Author:Lindsey ShookArt Fair
Gallerists, designers, curators, and collectors, listen up. L.A.’s premier art fair kicks off 2017 with 150,000 square feet of exhibition space featuring more than 90 galleries. Highlights include an opening night party—consider it a sneak peek of the painting, sculpture, and photography up for grabs—benefiting St. Jude’s, a talk with MOCA director Philippe Vergne about the making of Jeff Koons’ iconic balloon dog, and an intriguing survey of Cuban artist Angel Ricardo Rios’ body of work.
When: Wed. 1/11 – Sun. 1/15
Where: L.A. Convention Center, 1201 S. Figueroa St., West Hall
Exhibit
This exhibit of fine-art photography by Scott B. Davis spans three bodies of work—Black Sea, Tracings of Light, and Ocotillo—all of which explore the interplay of light and space in the Sonoran desert throughout California, Arizona, and Mexico. The ethereal images challenge human perception—from blinding light to immense darkness—and how 19th century photographic techniques, including platinum and palladium printing, can push the boundaries of how we see vast desert landscapes.
When: Through Sat. 2/25
Where: EQUINOM Projects, 1599 Tennessee St., San Francisco
Artists Talk
L.A. Legends: A Conversation with California Art Icons
The Broad Stage and Sotheby’s Institute of Art bring a panel of living legends together for a once-in-a-lifetime chat about their works, processes, and how the city of Los Angeles has shaped their oeuvres. Larry Bell, Billy Al Bengston, Robert Irwin, Ed Moses, and Ed Ruscha will talk about L.A.’s changing cultural landscape from the time of postwar trailblazers up to the city’s more recent downtown arts district revival. If you’re an art enthusiast, this is a must-add to your calendar.
When: 7:30 p.m., Wed. 1/18
Where: The Broad Stage, 1310 Eleventh St., Santa Monica

The Fall (Borox 2), 2013, by David Maisel
Exhibit
“Boundless: A California Invitational”
In its third triennial, MOPA surveys the broad range of work by contemporary California photographers. This year’s show features 11 artists and their works over the past five years, all emphasizing how the photographic medium can be pushed and re-imagined. Look for pieces by John Chiara, whose camera obscura images have him hauling heavy equipment out to his desired locations and waiting up to an hour for the perfectly captured image, to David Maisel, who creates both beautiful and disarming photos of landscapes radically reshaped by human interference.
When: Through Sun. 1/29
Where: Museum of Photographic Arts, 1649 El Prado, San Diego
Gala
Toast the Architecture and Design Museum’s move to L.A.’s downtown arts district with fellow design leaders and creative thinkers at this year’s annual fundraising gala. The party will highlight each of the distinct neighborhoods that make up DTLA’s culture enclave, and a silent auction will have you bidding on items that explore DTLA’s past, present, and future. Paddles up.
When: 7 – 11 p.m., Tues. 1/14
Where: Architecture and Design Museum, 900 E. Fourth St., Los Angeles