Art Talk

Ars Longa, Vita Brevis Aug 06, 2019

Edward Goldman talks about fond art memories from hosting KCRW’s Art Talk for 31 years.

The Provocative and Explicit Art of Sarah Lucas Jul 30, 2019

Edward Goldman talks about plenty of sex and drama at the exhibition of British artist Sarah Lucas at the Hammer Museum.

Art and Empire in San Diego Jul 26, 2019

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the Golden Age of Spanish painting.

Two Exhibitions Mixing Art, Music, and Politics Jul 23, 2019

Edward Goldman talks about photographs by Gordon Parks at the Getty Museum, and multi-media works by artist, musician, and playwright Terry Allen at LA Louver.

Summer Reading in the Art World Jul 19, 2019

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about Lit Lit festival and Tosh Berman’s memoir

These Dance Performances Were Music To My Eyes and Ears Jul 16, 2019

Edward Goldman talks about a week full of extraordinary dance performances on stage and on screen.

Disappearing—California c. 1970 Jul 12, 2019

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the extreme art of Chris Burden, Jack Goldstein and Bas Jan Ader at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth

LACMA Exhibition of Contemporary Chinese Art is A Winner Jul 09, 2019

Edward Goldman talks about the LACMA exhibition covering the last four decades of contemporary Chinese art.

Getty Villa Welcomes Its Ancient Ancestors Jul 02, 2019

Edward Goldman talks about the treasures of Villa dei Papiri at Getty Villa for the exhibition Buried by Vesuvius.

Terry Allen at L.A. Louver Jun 28, 2019

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says the survey of work from 60s until now shows the connections between his art, his music and his life.

These People and Animals Compete For Our Attention Jun 25, 2019

Edward Goldman talks about the solo exhibitions by John Baldessari and Gwynn Murrill at Laguna Art Museum, and Eric Fischl at Sprüth Magers.

All about Dilexi Gallery, 1958-1969 Jun 21, 2019

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks the lively exchange among artists and dealers between L.A. and San Francisco

Celebrating the Anniversaries of Bauhaus and Rembrandt Jun 18, 2019

Edward Goldman talks about The Getty Research Institute’s exhibition marking the 100^th anniversary of the Bauhaus school and a virtual exhibition of Rembrandt paintings in Southern California museums.

Sarah Lucas at the Hammer Jun 14, 2019

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp praises the artist’s power grab.

My Fantasies About Film, Literature, and Architecture Jun 11, 2019

Edward Goldman talks about American cultural experiences that inspired him as a young boy in Russia.

Agnes Pelton at the Phoenix Art Museum Jun 07, 2019

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the artist’s transcendental modernism

Galia Linn and Alexandra Grant: Stories in Clay and Paint Jun 04, 2019

Edward Goldman talks about mid-career solo exhibitions by two Los Angeles artists.

Kirsten Everberg at 1301 PE May 31, 2019

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about her Life Still paintings

Skirball and Vielmetter Los Angeles: Art, Fashion, Politics May 28, 2019

Edward Goldman talks about exhibitions full of challenges and surprises at Skirball Cultural Center and Vielmetter Los Angeles.

A Tale of Two Museums: MOCA and LACMA May 24, 2019

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about their history and L.A.

MOCA: 40 Years Old and Free for All May 22, 2019

Edward Goldman talks about the happy 40^th anniversary of the Museum of Contemporary Art, which has become free for all.

Fred Wilson’s Afro Kismet at Maccarone gallery May 17, 2019

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says it’s tough to imagine a more timely and enthralling show

Smart, Courageous and, Yes, Totally Naked May 15, 2019

Edward Goldman talks about the Eleanor Antin exhibition at LACMA and an exhibition by June Edmonds at Luis de Jesus gallery.

Roy Dowell at As-Is May 10, 2019

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the recent work of the respected L.A. artist

Broken Back, Unbroken Spirit May 08, 2019

Edward Goldman talks about dramatic and painful experiences that inspire artists to do their best work.

Parergon at Blum and Poe May 03, 2019

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about a show of Japanese art from the ‘80s and ‘90s.

Cool Art and Hot Fashion South of LA May 01, 2019

Edward Goldman talks about art treasures in Orange County.

George Condo at Spruth Magers Apr 26, 2019

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the pleasure of his visual voraciousness

LA museums challenge our views about art, sex and politics Apr 24, 2019

Edward Goldman talks about a variety of cultural and political programs at Los Angeles Museums challenging our perspectives concerning art, sex and politics.

Bachardy and Shiokava Digging Deep Into Their Souls Apr 17, 2019

Edward Goldman talks about soul-searching exhibitions by two Los Angeles artists, Don Bachardy and Kenzi Shiokava.

Coachella Valley as crucible of creativity? Apr 12, 2019

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp muses on the many art festivals—not fairs— blossoming in the desert

Gods of Architecture Smile Upon LA Apr 10, 2019

Edward Goldman talks about the architectural glory of Los Angeles, with iconic buildings by Pritzker Prize winners within walking distance.

Tschabalala Self at the Hammer Apr 05, 2019

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about artist’s Bodega Run

This Spring Has Turned Our Gods and Angels Into Artists Apr 03, 2019

Edward Goldman talks about the blossom explosion across SoCal as a sign that our Gods and Angels are becoming inspiring artists…

Piero Manzoni at Hauser & Wirth Mar 29, 2019

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the whitish art of the late Italian Conceptualist

Powerful Art Holding Our Attention Over Centuries Mar 27, 2019

Edward Goldman talks about the power and magic of great artworks of the past, and wonders which contemporary artworks will stand the test of time.

Soul of a Nation at The Broad Mar 22, 2019

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about art in the age of Black Power.

500 Years Later Pontormo Speaks Loud and Clear Mar 20, 2019

Edward Goldman talks about the great 16^th century Italian painter Pontormo, on display at The Getty Museum as a rare example of centuries-old art that continues to visually and emotionally engage contemporary audiences.

Marnie Weber at Pasadena City College Mar 15, 2019

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about Twisted Refrain: The Work of Marnie Weber

In Many Ways These Movie Stars are Bigger Than Life Mar 13, 2019

Edward Goldman talks about two exhibitions that break the rules.

Murakami at Gagosian Mar 08, 2019

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the neo-spiritual dimensions of the artist’s Neo-Pop

Retrospectives of White and Ruppersberg at LACMA and Hammer Mar 06, 2019

Edward Goldman talks about two great American artists, Charles White and Alan Ruppersberg, and their retrospectives at LACMA and Hammer Museum.

Allen Ruppersberg at the Hammer Feb 28, 2019

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp parses the brilliant archival art of Allen Ruppersberg.

Hooray for Hollywood Feb 27, 2019

Edward Goldman talks about art adventures during Oscars weekend.

Lisa Anne Auerbach Feb 22, 2019

Knitted Libraries at Gavlak Gallery

Fool Me Once, Fool Me Twice: The Pleasure Is Mine Feb 20, 2019

Edward Goldman talks about recuperating from all the crowded art fairs in LA with quiet visits to exhibitions across town.

Art Fair Valentine Feb 15, 2019

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp encourages a group hug for this week’s art fairs

Los Angeles Basking in Art Feb 13, 2019

Edward Goldman talks about the friendly invasion of our city by various art fairs.

Jeffrey Vallance and Blinky, The Friendly Hen Feb 08, 2019

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp visits a survey at CSUN and at Edward Cella’s Gallery.

A Lady In White: An Affair to Remember Feb 06, 2019

Edward Goldman talks about the great portrait by Titian on loan to Norton Simon from Dresden.

Lazaros, or L., and A.S.T.R.A.L.O.R.A.C.L.E.S. Feb 01, 2019

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp on the witchcraft at Five Car Garage.

Sally Mann: The Naked Truth Jan 30, 2019

Edward Goldman talks about the fascinating and challenging photo exhibition by Sally Mann at Getty Museum, and a studio visit with LA photographer Jenny Okun.

Tomás Saraceno at Bonakdar Gallery Jan 25, 2019

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp hates spiders but likes the artist’s webs

Visiting Notorious RBG and Skid Row Museum Jan 23, 2019

Edward Goldman talks about the Ruth Bader Ginsburg exhibition at Skirball Center, and an inspiring exhibition at the Skid Row Museum.

Richard Diebenkorn at Weisman Museum at Pepperdine Jan 18, 2019

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp welcomes a show of previously unseen paintings.

Broken Family Reunited on Museum Walls Jan 16, 2019

Edward Goldman talks about the passing of the legendary Sister Wendy, and the moral responsibility of museums to reunite divided artworks.

Evan Holloway and Fred Eversley at Kordansky Gallery Jan 11, 2019

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about two artists with different approaches to sculpture.

Artists Whose Art Bursts with Complex Stories Jan 09, 2019

Edward Goldman talks about three current exhibitions by artists whose life and art is bursting with stories.

Outliers at LACMA Jan 04, 2019

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says the show captures a fundamental shift in thinking about modern art

The Best Art Memories of 2018 Dec 26, 2018

Edward Goldman reminisces on his favorite moments in art from 2018.

The Renaissance Nude at the Getty Dec 21, 2018

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp suggests a holiday tour of Renaissance Europe

Must See Before Christmas Dec 19, 2018

Edward Goldman talks about two exhibitions full of surprises and bursting with energy.

Jesse Mockrin at Night Gallery and Taylor Mac at UCLA Dec 14, 2018

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp praises realist paintings based on Greek mythology

Art as a Headache, Art as Medicine Dec 12, 2018

Edward Goldman talks about closed-minded versus open-minded interpretations of art.

Bridget Riley and Lee Mullican and the ‘60s Dec 07, 2018

A catchy name gives traction to an art movement: Abstraction Expressionism (AbX), Pop Art, or Op Art, short for “optical art One of the artists most associated with the latter was the English painter Bridget Riley, born in 1931, who was catapulted to success in the early 1960s.

The Best Holiday Gifts for Your Smart Friends Dec 05, 2018

Edward Goldman gives suggestions for holiday gift shopping.

Laura Owens at MOCA Nov 30, 2018

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp calls the show a triumph of joy over fear.

Thanksgiving Art Recipe Nov 28, 2018

Edward Goldman talks about his Thanksgiving day filled with art.

Art Exchange Between Los Angeles and New York Nov 21, 2018

Edward Goldman talks about the recent cultural developments at the intersection of the Los Angeles / New York art scenes.

Rauschenberg at LACMA Nov 17, 2018

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp recommends walking his quarter mile of art

Thanks Gods for Art Nov 14, 2018

Edward Goldman talks about three solo shows by artists from Oklahoma, Italy, and Denmark.

A Quarter-Mile Trip Around the World Oct 31, 2018

Edward Goldman talks about the 1000-foot long masterpiece by Robert Rauschenberg at LACMA, and The Renaissance Nude at The Getty Museum.

The problem with Manny Farber Oct 26, 2018

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about a minor artist and the Termite aesthetic

Literally & Figuratively Speaking, They Nailed It Oct 24, 2018

Edward Goldman talks about the Tony Berlant exhibition at Kohn Gallery, and paintings by John Sonsini at Long Beach Museum of Art.

Victor Hugo Drawings at the Hammer Oct 19, 2018

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp discusses the 19th-century author’s visual talents.

Artists as Cultural and Political Provocateurs Oct 17, 2018

Edward Goldman talks about the shredded “masterpiece” by Banksy – is it a scandal or smart performance?

Sharon Ellis at Christopher Grimes Oct 12, 2018

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the Blue Hour and closing galleries.

Striking Stage Design Worthy of a Museum Show Oct 10, 2018

Edward Goldman talks about art exhibitions and set designs from Pasadena to Palm Springs.

B. Wurtz and Nina Chanel Abney Oct 05, 2018

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about a pair of unexpectedly sympathetic shows at the ICA in downtown L.A.

Ai Weiwei All Over Town Oct 03, 2018

Edward Goldman talks about multiple surprises delivered by Ai Weiwei and Victor Hugo.

Lari Pittman at Regen Projects Sep 28, 2018

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says the renowned artist has transformed his work, again.

Challenging Exhibitions at USC Fisher Museum of Art Sep 26, 2018

Edward Goldman talks about two new appealing and challenging exhibitions at USC Fisher Museum of Art.

Buckminster Fuller at Edward Cella Art & Architecture Sep 21, 2018

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the visionary’s relevance in the 21st Century

Sacred Texts, Metaphysical Images Sep 19, 2018

Edward Goldman talks about the parallels between centuries-old sacred manuscripts at The Getty Center and metaphysical paintings by Sharon Ellis at Christopher Grimes Gallery.

Ai Weiwei, Adrian Piper and Karon Davis Sep 14, 2018

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about political awareness in early fall shows.

Poetic Perfection by Penn, Inspiring Madness from Kusama Sep 12, 2018

Edward Goldman talks about an exhibition of photographs by Irving Penn at Fahey/Klein Gallery, and a new documentary about Yayoi Kusama.

Richard Deacon with Sui Jianguo and Incognito Sep 07, 2018

British and Chinese sculptors at L.A. Louver plus ICA benefit event.

Never Too Much Van Gogh Sep 05, 2018

Edward Goldman talks about our never-ending fascination with Van Gogh’s art and his life.

King of the Pirates at Maccarone Aug 31, 2018

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about this ode to the late Kathy Acker.

A Sentimental Art Journey Aug 29, 2018

Edward Goldman talks about a few of his favorite European masterpieces at LACMA, and Sidney B. Felsen’s photographs on display at Gemini G.E.L..

Vincent Fecteau at Matthew Marks Aug 24, 2018

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp likes the soft power of the Bay Area artist.

Cultural Embrace, Politics Aside Aug 22, 2018

Edward Goldman talks about the continued cultural connection between the United States and Russia.

Jess at Kohn Gallery Aug 17, 2018

Secret Compartments show adds insight to the late artist’s career

Choice of New Director Proves Insecurity of MOCA Trustees Aug 15, 2018

Edward Goldman talks about the appointment of yet another outsider to the position of MOCA Director.

Art of the Aparicio family at The Mistake Room Aug 10, 2018

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the Salvadoran artists.

Dance and Poetry On the Stage and the Gallery Floor Aug 08, 2018

Edward Goldman talks about the world premiere of the dance performance “Isadora” at Segerstrom Center and metal sculptures by Wendell Dayton “dancing” at Blum & Poe gallery.

As You Like It at Praz-Delavallade Aug 03, 2018

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about a group show organized for sultry summers

Three Museums at the Top of Their Game Aug 01, 2018

Edward Goldman talks about three Los Angeles museums he visited on Sunday.

Icons of Style at the Getty Museum Jul 27, 2018

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp praises a century of fashion photography

Closing and Openings of Museums in SoCal Jul 25, 2018

Edward Goldman talks about art museum turnover in Southern California.

Charles Long at Tanya Bonakdar and at the Hammer Jul 20, 2018

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the shows and a new L.A. gallery.

In Prison with Art: Caesar Must Die Jul 18, 2018

Edward Goldman talks about art programs in prisons as the best expressions of freedom.

Larry Bell at Hauser & Wirth and in Aspen Art Museum Jul 13, 2018

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the light and space artist’s work in downtown L.A. and his Aspen Blues

Surviving Hot Days with Cool Art Jul 11, 2018

Edward Goldman talks about fighting the crazy-hot weather with very cool art around LA.

A Journey That Wasn't at the Broad Jul 06, 2018

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp looks at the show and the collector’s legacy.

The Best Attractions, Distractions, and Inspiration For This Holiday Week Jul 04, 2018

Edward Goldman talks about the best of art, theater, and movies in Los Angeles this week.

Mary Heilmann at Hauser & Wirth Jun 29, 2018

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp offers unwavering admiration for the influential painter.

Head Over Heels With Photography And Fashion Jun 27, 2018

Edward Goldman falls head over heels with the Getty’s photography exhibition“Icons Of Style."

Shinique Smith at CAAM Jun 22, 2018

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about Refuge.

When Artistic Inspiration Becomes Obsession Jun 20, 2018

Goldman talks about artists’ fascinations that turn into obsession.

Kimiyo Mishima and Shomei Tomatsu at Nonaka-Hill Jun 15, 2018

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about post-war Japanese art at a new gallery.

Proof Ellsworth Kelly is Alive and Well Jun 13, 2018

Edward Goldman talks about three different projects celebrating Ellsworth Kelly as artist, architect, and curator.

Made in L.A. 2018 Jun 08, 2018

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp offers her take on the Hammer Biennial.

Must See at The Hammer and Skirball Jun 06, 2018

Edward Goldman talks about the Hammer biennial Made in LA and The Skirball’s celebration of Leonard Bernstein.

Beyond The Nile at the Getty Jun 01, 2018

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp learns about surprising connections between the art of Egypt, Greece and Rome

Art News to Keep Our Spirits High May 30, 2018

Edward Goldman talk about great art news coming in and out of Los Angeles.

Hannah Wilke at Selwyn Fine Art May 25, 2018

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the late artists’ drawings and sculpture

Art Explosion at MOCA May 23, 2018

Edward Goldman talk about seeing a most adventurous series of temporary exhibitions at MOCA Grand Ave.

Stephen Prina at Spruth Magers Gallery May 18, 2018

The artist revisits his home town of Galesburg, Ill.

Francesca Gabbiani at Gavlak May 11, 2018

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp discusses Vague Terrains.

Street Art: Love It or Hate It May 09, 2018

Edward Goldman talks about the sprawling new show Beyond the Streets, which opened in a warehouse in downtown Los Angeles.

Peter Shire and Rashid Johnson May 04, 2018

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about wildly different artists with one thing in common: clay.

American & Russian museums explore painful national histories May 02, 2018

Edward Goldman talks about the painful national histories explored by museums in Montgomery and Moscow.

Tony DeLap at Laguna Art Museum Apr 27, 2018

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about magic and perception in the artist’s retrospective

Make Art, Not Walls Apr 25, 2018

Edward Goldman talks about painful history as a source for art.

Beauty and The Brain Apr 18, 2018

Edward Goldman talks about Katherine Sherwood, who, in spite of her brain hemorrhage, thrives as an artist.

Self-Portraits by Artists Apr 13, 2018

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the show at Art Center Gallery.

At The Brewery: Brewing Art, Not Beer Apr 11, 2018

Edward Goldman talks about getting drunk on art at the Brewery.

Meleko Mokgosi at the Fowler Museum Apr 06, 2018

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about Bread, Butter and Power.

Goodbye to Sharks, Hello to Brushstrokes: Damien Hirst Apr 04, 2018

Edward Goldman talks about an exhibition at Gagosian by one of the most successful contemporary artists, Damien Hirst.

Teotihuacan at LACMA Mar 30, 2018

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says that City and Cosmos offers a sense of both at the ancient pyramids of Mexico.

An Ancient Love Affair to Remember Mar 28, 2018

Edward Goldman talks about the dangerously attractive Getty exhibition, “Beyond the Nile: Egypt and the Classical World."

Andy Warhol, J.B.Blunk and Alma Allen Mar 23, 2018

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp goes to Palm Springs to see shows in two museums.

Listening to Artists Mar 21, 2018

Edward Goldman talks about his full day art marathon last Saturday.

Taylor Mac Sings A Different Tune Mar 16, 2018

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp is revved for his 24 decades of popular song in 24 hours

Exotic and mysterious, both on paper and on stage Mar 14, 2018

Edward Goldman talks about museum exhibitions and theatre productions that are exotic, mysterious, and damn sexy.

Jasper Johns at The Broad Mar 09, 2018

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the poetics of painting.

These Artists Would Be Better Choice to Design Oscars’ Stage Mar 07, 2018

Edward talks about imaginative video works by contemporary artists at Marciano Art Foundation and Hammer Museum.

Matthew Rolston at Fahey/Klein Gallery Mar 02, 2018

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says Oscar week is an ideal time to appreciate celebrity portraiture of Rolston’s Hollywood Royale

Artists and Flying Lovers Land in LA Feb 28, 2018

Edward talks about cutting edge projects coming to Los Angeles from Lisbon and London.

Charlemagne Palestine’s Incomprehensible Glory Feb 23, 2018

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp loves the artist’s temple of cuddly tragedy.

Digging Inside: Artists as Archeologists Feb 21, 2018

Edward talks about artists who are literally and figuratively digging inside.

Robert Irwin, Twice Feb 16, 2018

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the importance of being Irwin.

Wow! Obama’s and art as front page news Feb 14, 2018

Edward talks about the front-page-news-worthy unveiling of Barack and Michelle Obamas’ portraits at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.

Alexis Smith at Weisman Museum at Pepperdine Feb 09, 2018

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp discusses the L.A.-based artist’s show and collaboration with poet Amy Gerstler

Art, War, and Religion Feb 07, 2018

Edward talks about two soldiers who use their PTSD as an engine for art.

Bari Ziperstein at Mier Gallery Feb 02, 2018

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about ceramic sculpture and Soviet propaganda

Great Art Made by Imperfect, Flawed Men Jan 31, 2018

Edward talks about the strange sense of humor of Gods and Muses, who give great artistic inspiration to imperfect, flawed men.

Catherine Opie and Judy Fiskin Jan 26, 2018

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about shows at Regen Projects and Richard Telles that address modernism and change

Statue of Liberty Won, Vermeer Lost Jan 24, 2018

Edward talks about the political and cultural importance of keeping the Statue of Liberty open during a government shutdown.

Ken Gonzales-Day and Anita Brenner Jan 19, 2018

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp checks out PST:LALA shows at the Skirball Center

The Art of Crime Jan 17, 2018

Edward talks headline news and a current exhibition examining crime and art.

Live Art: LA/LA Jan 12, 2018

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about some wild performance art happening this week

Wende Museum Brings the Cold War and Russians to Culver City Jan 10, 2018

Edward talks about The Wende Museum relocating its unique collection of the history and culture of Cold War to the Armory Building.

Launch yourself into 2018 Jan 05, 2018

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about upcoming shows in LA: Jasper Johns, Harald Szeemann, Olafur Eliasson and Taylor Mac

Happy Memories of Art Adventures in 2017 Jan 03, 2018

Edward remembers the best exhibitions in LA from 2017.

What a year for art in L.A. Dec 29, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about PST:LALA, Marciano, ICA, CAAM and Desert X: a year of unprecedented revitalization in diversity and art institutions around Southern California

Hearing the voices of gods through art Dec 27, 2017

Edward talks about the diversity of current exhibitions in Los Angeles galleries.

Pinxit Mexici at LACMA Dec 22, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the unprecedented show of Mexican painting.

Artsy holiday gifts according to yours truly Dec 20, 2017

Edward’s suggestions for holiday shopping.

Channing Hansen knits anew Dec 15, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the knitted art of a math wonk.

Norton Simon Museum celebrates centennial of Degas' death Dec 13, 2017

Edward Goldman talks about celebrating the holidays with three museum exhibitions across town.

Walton Ford and Chris Burden Dec 08, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp looks at local and galactic space at Gagosian.

Let's say hello to Rembrandt Dec 06, 2017

Edward Goldman talks about art happening all across town.

Kinesthesia at Palm Springs Art Museum Dec 01, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp is moved by the Latin American modern art movement .

Thank God for art Nov 29, 2017

Edward Goldman talks about Thanksgiving filled with sacred spaces and inspiring art.

Caravaggio and Bellini at the Getty Nov 24, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says the small but tasty exhibitions provide more reasons for gratitude.

Caravaggio: A genius, a murderer, a fugitive Nov 22, 2017

Edward Goldman talks about the extremely rare loan of three Caravaggio paintings from Galleria Borghese in Rome to The Getty.

John Baldessari at Jumex Museum and Sprüth Magers Nov 17, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp visits the artist's survey in Mexico City and a show in LA.

Artists delivering punch after punch Nov 15, 2017

Edward Goldman highlights new exhibitions of three artists delivering major punches.

Portrait of President Obama as prince, royalty or…? Nov 08, 2017

Edward Goldman discusses official portraits of American presidents.

Adrián Villar Rojas at Geffen Contemporary Nov 03, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp takes the deep dive.

Beauty and the Beast: All about art Nov 01, 2017

Edward Goldman talks about various current exhibitions in Los Angeles, where Beauty and the Beast embrace each other.

Yayoi Kusama and Lucha Vavoom Oct 27, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about Infinity Rooms at The Broad and the Halloween madness of Mexican wrestling with burlesque dancers.

Sizzling weather, cool art Oct 25, 2017

Edward Goldman suggests the best way to survive this crazy hot weather is to deal with crazy cool art.

Mike Kelley's Kandors Oct 20, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp praises a new survey at Hauser and Wirth Gallery.

From LA to Oaxaca, with a touch of Paris Oct 18, 2017

Edward Goldman talks about one of the highlights of PST: LA/LA, an exhibition of James hd Brown at the USC Fisher Museum of Art.

David Lamelas in three shows Oct 13, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the Argentinian's shows at Cal State Long Beach, Sprüth Magers and Maccarone.

From Van Gogh to Michelangelo, with a few stops in between Oct 11, 2017

Edward Goldman's talk today stretches from an animated movie about Van Gogh to several Renaissance masterpieces at the Getty Museum.

Pablo Rasgado and 'Las Chingaderas' Oct 06, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about walls and communities.

Is she censored for her pregnancy or her nakedness? Oct 04, 2017

Edward Goldman talks about unwise and unwelcome artistic censorship here and abroad.

Julian Stanczak and Brian Wills Sep 29, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp discusses optics in art shows at Diane Rosenstein and Praz-Delavallade galleries.

Visionary people hidden behind museum masterpieces Sep 27, 2017

Edward Goldman talks about important and often fascinating information hidden behind museum masterpieces.

Radical women at the Hammer Sep 22, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about Latin American Art from 1960 to 1985.

Is it clay? No, glass! Is it woman? No, man! Sep 13, 2017

Edward Goldman talks about two ambitious exhibitions as part of the Getty’s PST LA/LA.

PST at the Getty Museum Sep 08, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about Pacific Standard Time and what shows are going on view at the Getty.

A labor of love during Labor Day weekend Sep 06, 2017

Edward Goldman talks about his favorite way to celebrate Labor Day – by, what else? -- going to museums to see art.

A Universal History of Infamy at LACMA Sep 01, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp visits the exhibition based on Borges' 1935 book.

Art in a former church and underground museum Aug 30, 2017

Edward Goldman talks about art "hidden" in plain sight.

Theatrical moments Aug 25, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp finds three shows that stop action.

Monuments to czars and communists 100 years after revolution Aug 23, 2017

Edward Goldman talks about what happened to monuments to Russian czars and communist leaders, 100 years after the Russian Revolution.

Sarah Charlesworth at LACMA Aug 18, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp recalls the late artist's impact on photography in art.

Artists, scholars and politicians on the museum stage Aug 16, 2017

Edward Goldman talks about what's happens on museum stages after the galleries are closed.

Carlos Almaraz and Alejandro Iñárritu Aug 11, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about exploding cars and dangerous border crossings.

Carlos Almaraz: Playing with Fire Aug 09, 2017

Edward Goldman talks about the long overdue retrospective of Chicano artist Carlos Almaraz at LACMA.

'How to Make the Universe Right' and Fran Siegel Aug 04, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about Daoist and contemporary art at the Fowler.

Three exhibitions, three sides of a coin Aug 02, 2017

Edward Goldman talks about three exhibitions that explore three sides of the coin.

John Mason and Morris Louis Jul 28, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about two major figures of the mid-20th century.

In LA, Marc Chagall and old masters rule the day Jul 26, 2017

Edward Goldman talks about cool museum news during these hot summer days.

At Home at LACMA Jul 21, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp is impressed by the show of art by Latino and Latin American artists.

Happy birthday, Mr. Hockney, happy birthday to you… Jul 19, 2017

Edward Goldman talks about a playful double exhibition, Happy Birthday, Mr. Hockney, organized by The Getty.

Dennis Hopper and Ed Kienholz Jul 14, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says a show at Kohn Gallery sheds new light on the actor-photographer and his friends.

Fascinating documentaries about life and art of three women Jul 12, 2017

Edward Goldman talks about three amazing women, three photographers who are the subject of unique, feature-length documentaries.

Analia Saban at Sprueth Magers Jul 07, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the savvy interplay between art and ideas.

Chris Finley, Benjamin Weissman and Cindy Bernard Jun 30, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp suggests shows by three mid-career artists.

Hurry up before it closes Jun 28, 2017

Edward Goldman encourages listeners to see two major exhibitions at MoCA before they close.

Diego and Frida Jun 23, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp goes to Phoenix for the Kahlo and Rivera show but the opera is in LA.

Parmigianino Moves to the Getty, Jasper Johns Visits the Broad Jun 21, 2017

Edward Goldman talks about a magnificent Italian Renaissance painting acquired by the Getty, and a major retrospective of Jasper Johns that is coming to the Broad.

Andrea Zittel at Regen Projects and beyond Jun 16, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the artist’s timely interest in the mesh of art and life.

Los Angeles hills are alive with the sounds of… art Jun 14, 2017

Edward Goldman talks about the generosity and vision of patrons who enrich the Los Angeles cultural landscape.

Marisa Merz at Hammer Jun 09, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says the arte povera artist’s show is a wonder.

Betye Saar in LA, Mark Bradford in Venice Jun 07, 2017

Edward talks about a new exhibition of Betye Saar at Craft & Folk Art Museum in LA, and a Venice adventure, thanks to Mark Bradford and the Getty.

Edgar Arcenaux performs at Vielmetter Projects Jun 02, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp suggests the artist's award-winning play Until, Until, Until…along with the art of Samuel Levi Jones.

These photographs remind us who we are, and where we came from May 31, 2017

Edward Goldman talks about two photographic exhibitions, with philosophical and deeply poetic comments on our past.

Jim Shaw's Wig Museum at Marciano Art Foundation May 26, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp unpacks the meaning of a new art space in a masonic temple.

Dancing, killing and praying for art May 24, 2017

Edward Goldman talks about the high points of last week's LA art scene, with a ballet performance, an art documentary, and the transformation of a Temple into a Museum.

László Moholy-Nagy at LACMA May 19, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the Hungarian modernist’s impact, especially on art in LA.

Hurrah to our French friends (and Julian Schnabel) May 10, 2017

Edward Goldman rejoices at the choice made by our French friends and gives a hats off to Julian Schnabel.

Kerry James Marshall at MOCA May 05, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp welcomes the retrospective of the black artist who got his start in LA.

Art news to keep our spirits high May 03, 2017

Edward Goldman shares some welcome art news and developments in our City of Angeles.

Lari Pittman and Silke Otto-Knapp Apr 28, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about an unlikely double date.

Fashion and food to die for Apr 26, 2017

Edward Goldman talks about the exhibition African-Print Fashion Now! at the Fowler Museum and about the mouth-watering documentary on chef Jeremiah Tower.

Mary Weatherford and new digs for Christies Apr 21, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp basks in paintings at Kordansky Gallery and visits new home of auction house.

Holocaust Remembrance Day with Elie Wiesel's 'Night' Apr 19, 2017

Edward Goldman talks about a special artistic event at the Wilshire Blvd. Temple –– a public reading of Elie Wiesel's memoir Night –– which will take place this Sunday, April 23 to commemorate Holocaust Remembrance Day. Edward also reviews the current exhibition of Israeli artist Zadok Ben-David at Shoshana Wayne Gallery.

Carl Andre at MOCA Apr 14, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says the show offers an important in-depth look at the maximum Minimalist.

German émigré and impresario Galka Scheyer in LA Apr 12, 2017

Edward Goldman talks about the exhibition at Norton Simon Museum about Galka Scheyer, a trailblazing impresario who helped shape California's reputation as a burgeoning center for modern art.

Visionary African Art at LACMA Apr 07, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp suggests this refreshing show at this contemplative and spiritually oriented time. And last chance for John McLaughlin.

Getty, Gehry and Carl Andre Apr 05, 2017

Edward Goldman talks about the exchange of ideas and energy between the Getty, Frank Gehry and Carl Andre.

Power and African American Women Mar 31, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp praises the timely show at Spruth Magers Gallery.

Transforming a derelict Lincoln Heights warehouse into an art haven Mar 29, 2017

Edward Goldman talks about the 14th Factory –– a multi-media art experience conceived by Hong Kong-based British artist Simon Birch in collaboration with 20 artists from around the world.

Uta Barth at 1301 PE Mar 24, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp praises the photographer’s skill with light and shadow.

The feisty marriage of art and politics Mar 22, 2017

Edward Goldman talks about challenging art that grabs your eye and makes you think twice.

Virginia Dwan at LACMA Mar 17, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says this exhibition draws attention to the role of an important art dealer.

Dancing, painting, and protesting in downtown LA Mar 15, 2017

Edward Goldman talks about surprising encounters –– all within a few hours –– with dance, art, and politics.

Women of Abstract Expressionism Mar 10, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp praises this survey of painting at the Palm Springs Art Museum.

Commemorating centennial of 1917 Russian Revolution Mar 08, 2017

Edward Goldman talks about the new documentary Revolution: New Art for a New World, dedicated to the Russian Avant-Garde.

Joe Zucker and Jim Isermann Mar 03, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp visits shows of two generations of Pattern and Decoration-influenced artists.

The perfectly unruly art of Jason Rhoades & Llyn Foulkes Mar 01, 2017

Edward Goldman talks about the two current gallery exhibitions in Los Angeles.

Desert X Feb 24, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp heads to Palm Springs for the site-specific art show in the Coachella Valley.

Must-see documentaries about great artists Feb 22, 2017

Edward Goldman talks about a surprising crop of recently released, compelling documentaries about great artists.

Andy Moses at Santa Monica College Feb 17, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp is fascinated by the survey of 30 years of painting at the Barrett Art Gallery.

Valentine's Day: Falling in love again Feb 15, 2017

Edward Goldman talks about the fascinating new dance documentary Mr. Gaga and the Frank Romero retrospective Dreamland at the Museum of Latin American Art.

John Armleder at Kordansky Feb 10, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says the 1980s art star has great relevance for today.

Beverly Pepper and Charles Garabedian at their best Feb 08, 2017

Edward Goldman discusses the exuberant exhibitions of two ageless artists, Beverly Pepper and Charles Garabedian.

Dubuffet drawings Feb 03, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp praises the show of 100 works at the Hammer.

Art with diverse perspectives of life in Iran Feb 01, 2017

Edward Goldman talks about museum exhibitions that –– hopefully –– open our minds.

Larry Bell at the Weisman Museum Jan 27, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says bravo to the show Pacific Red at Pepperdine University.

Red vs. black & white Jan 25, 2017

Edward Goldman talks about exhibitions bursting with colors.

Theaster Gates at Regen Projects Jan 20, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says the black artist's first exhibition in LA couldn't open at a better time.

Life is short, art is forever Jan 18, 2017

Edward Goldman talks about a variety of current exhibitions and events as much needed distractions and inspirations in days like these.

Gisela Colón at Diane Rosenstein Jan 13, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says the artist recharges Finish Fetish Minimalism.

France and the US: Art and politics two centuries apart Jan 11, 2017

Edward Goldman talks about two artists –– one French, one American –– separated by two centuries and united by the highest level of artistic craftsmanship.

Terry Riley now, Minimalism and Maximalism in 2017 Jan 06, 2017

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says the composer's radical music within Doug Aitken's installation is just the first of good things to come.

The minimalist luxury of McLaughlin at LACMA Jan 04, 2017

Edward Goldman talks about the exceptional retrospective exhibition of geometric abstract paintings by John McLaughlin at LACMA.

Happy times with art in 2016 Dec 28, 2016

Edward Goldman talks about some highlights of the LA art scene from 2016.

Wrapping up 2016 with art Dec 23, 2016

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says there is still time to see shows by Jennifer Steinkamp, Luchita Hurtado as well as Picasso and Rivera.

Dancing and driving with art Dec 21, 2016

Edward Goldman talks about the new exhibition of Keith Haring's painted cars at the Petersen and dance performances incorporating great works of art.

Paul Sietsema at Matthew Marks Dec 16, 2016

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp ponders art, money and passing time in the artist's paintings and films.

At LACMA, Picasso vs. Rivera Dec 14, 2016

Edward Goldman talks about LACMA’s blockbuster exhibition, Conversations across Time, packed with great works by Pablo Picasso and Diego Rivera.

Questionable Leonardo. Bad Koons. Great Isabelle. Dec 07, 2016

WEB BONUS: Edward Goldman shares some intriguing art news from the past week.

R.H. Quaytman at MOCA and Michael Heizer at Gagosian Dec 02, 2016

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp likes the younger artist’s take on the land artist.

Diamond ring or David Hockney book? Nov 30, 2016

Edward Goldman talks about three amazing new books to consider as holiday gifts for your special friends.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice… Nov 23, 2016

Edward Goldman talks about a major exhibition of German Renaissance art at LACMA and about some contemporary art shows at LA galleries that fool you to much delight.

Art Brexit LA Nov 16, 2016

Edward Goldman talks about visiting the Getty exhibition London Calling on the last day before its return back to England.

Rat Bastard Protective Association and Jay Defeo Nov 11, 2016

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says a pair of shows illuminate the lively Bay Area scene of the 1950s.

Becoming America at the Huntington Nov 04, 2016

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp stopped worrying about the election by spending time with early American art.

Scandalous politics –– the source of great but shocking art Nov 02, 2016

Edward Goldman talks about great art of the past inspired by scandalous politics. The question is, who among contemporary artists could deliver an equally powerful artistic statement?

Marnie Weber at Gavlak Oct 28, 2016

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says the artist's show offers tricks and treats.

Number of art museums in LA keeps growing Oct 26, 2016

Edward Goldman talks about the welcome phenomenon of new museums opening up in LA.

Schwitters, Arp, Miró and Isa Genzken Oct 21, 2016

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp checks out modern and contemporary shows at Hauser Wirth and Schimmel and their new restaurant.

Nobel Prize in Literature goes to…musician Bob Dylan! Oct 19, 2016

Edward suggests that the Nobel Committee should now consider giving a prize to great visual artists.

Doug Aitken at MOCA Oct 14, 2016

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says his show captures the essence of our time.

Pop for the people: Roy Lichtenstein in LA Oct 12, 2016

Edward Goldman talks about the crowd-pleasing exhibition of artworks by Roy Lichtenstein at the Skirball Cultural Center.

Helen Frankenthaler Oct 07, 2016

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about why the work of the late color field painter still speaks to younger artists.

LA artists abroad: Bill Viola in London, Betye Saar in Milan Oct 05, 2016

Edward Goldman talks about the European presentation of works by two major Los Angeles artists –– Bill Viola and Betye Saar.

Gaetano Pesce and Jun Kaneko Sep 30, 2016

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about breaking the conventions of design, craft and fine art.

'Tripping' on art with Helen Frankenthaler and Doug Aitken Sep 28, 2016

Edward Goldman talks about two dramatically different, challenging, and exquisite exhibitions: Helen Frankenthaler's paintings at the Gagosian Gallery and Doug Aitken's videos and sculptures at MOCA.

Gemini G.E.L. Sep 23, 2016

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the renowned LA print publisher's show at LACMA and Tacita Dean at the Gemini gallery.

USC and UCLA receive generous art donations Sep 14, 2016

Edward Goldman talks about how the LA art scene continues to rapidly expand through donations of art and money. The USC Fisher Museum of Art just opened an exhibition celebrating the donation of Dr. Eugene Rogolsky's collection of several hundred artworks. This past May, UCLA received a donation of $20 million from Margo Leavin, a famous gallerist and university alumna.

Fabulous Fall Sep 09, 2016

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about some of the highlights of September and beyond.

Art. Passion. Politics. Sep 07, 2016

Edward Goldman talks about cultural news and politics reverberating between Paris, Moscow, St. Petersburg, and LA.

Peter Krasnow at the Laguna Art Museum Sep 02, 2016

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about a lost LA modernist.

Art Adventures in Long Beach Aug 31, 2016

Edward Goldman talks about two engaging museum shows in Long Beach.

Alex Da Corte at Art and Shana Lutker Aug 26, 2016

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about two artists looking back.

Exhibitions with artistic (and political) punch Aug 24, 2016

Edward talks about current exhibitions at Bergamot Station with welcome artistic and even political surprises.

Three Women at the Landing Aug 19, 2016

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp likes the trio: Tanya Aguiñiga, Loie Hollowell and Lenore Tawney.

In LA: exhibitions not to be missed Aug 17, 2016

Edward Goldman talks about a few particularly appealing art exhibitions that are scheduled to close in coming weeks.

Going on the road for Ed Ruscha Aug 12, 2016

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp goes to San Francisco to see the LA artist's great survey at the De Young Museum

Moscow: From the Kremlin to the Garage Aug 10, 2016

Edward Goldman talks about three summer days full of art in Moscow.

Summer group shows and Mark Gash Aug 05, 2016

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp goes over some highlights.

From Russia with…Art Aug 03, 2016

Edward Goldman talks about his trip to St. Petersburg with faithful and adventurous supporters of KCRW.

'London Calling' at the Getty Jul 29, 2016

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the show of modern figurative British painting.

Bob Law, 1959-2001 Jul 22, 2016

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says the show at Marc Selwyn Fine Art introduces the English minimalist to a wider audience.

Daniel Richter at Regen Projects Jul 15, 2016

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about some challenging paintings.

Photographers as Magicians and Tricksters Jul 13, 2016

Edward talks about a number of artists who look at the world around them and instead of simply documenting it as it is, do magic tricks.

Federico Solmi at Luis De Jesus Gallery Jul 08, 2016

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp is excited by this artists hand-drawn animations.

The Soap Opera of the Rich and Famous (In Great Britain, Two Centuries Ago) Jul 06, 2016

Edward Goldman tells the amazing story of sex, art, and money behind the famous Elgin Marbles at the British Museum.

Cindy Sherman at the Broad Jul 01, 2016

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the artist challenging the role of photography in the early 1980s.

Three Books, Three Ladies on my Nightstand Jun 29, 2016

Edward Goldman discusses three books illuminating three periods of time that he’s recently enjoyed.

Elaine Reichek at Shoshana Wayne Gallery Jun 24, 2016

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp studies Greek mythology to better comprehend a show of contemporary embroidery.

Hip Hop & Vivaldi? Oh Yes! Jun 22, 2016

Edward Goldman shares two pleasantly unexpected discoveries from this past weekend about dance and art.

Made in LA at the Hammer Jun 17, 2016

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about some high points of the biennial exhibition.

Compassion and Empathy through Art Jun 15, 2016

Edward Goldman discusses how art gives viewers invaluable glimpses into the worlds of others — the first step in understanding the complexity and diversity of human beings.

Claire Falkenstein and Alex Israel Jun 09, 2016

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp goes to Pasadena with high hopes.

Art v. Politics Jun 07, 2016

Edward Goldman talks about several artworks that deliver serious political punches.

Carl Cheng and Eleanor Antin Jun 03, 2016

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about focused shows of art from the 60's and 70's.

A Weekend with Gronk, DeLoss and Viola Jun 01, 2016

Edward Goldman recounts his Memorial Day weekend — spent in the good artistic company of Gronk, DeLoss McGraw, and Bill Viola.

Cave Temples of Dunhuang May 27, 2016

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp tours the Chinese Buddhist art at the Getty.

Empty and Disgusting? Doubly Wrong… May 25, 2016

Edward Goldman admits former follies in artistic judgment that have dramatically changed since.

Wallace Berman: American Aleph May 20, 2016

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp visits the mini-survey at Kohn Gallery.

Ed Moses at 90, Still Kicking Ass May 18, 2016

Edward Goldman shares quirky excerpts from an Ed Moses essay in celebration of Moses' 90th birthday and current exhibition at Bergamot Station.

Marilyn Minter at Orange County Museum of Art May 13, 2016

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp is seduced by the retrospective Pretty Dirty.

Great Artists: Troubled Personalities May 04, 2016

Edward Goldman talks about great artistic personalities whose miserable life - directly and indirectly - fed their creativity.

Helen Lundeberg at Laguna Art Museum Apr 29, 2016

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the Los Angeles artist's retrospective.

Agnes Martin at LACMA Apr 22, 2016

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says her minimalist grids provide a radiant retrospective.

A Beautiful Monster, Indeed Apr 19, 2016

Edward Goldman gives his take on the latest issue of the New Yorker's profile of French-American sculptor, Niki de Saint Phalle.

Jesse Mockrin at Night Gallery Apr 15, 2016

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp swoons over the artist's ode to the Rococo.

Betye Saar Retrospective Apr 08, 2016

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says this smart and sparky show deserves an appearance in LA.

For Whom the Bell Tolls, It Tolls for Thee… SMMoA Apr 05, 2016

Edward Goldman laments the closing of Santa Monica Museum of Art while praising the particularly interesting pop up exhibition currently being held in SMMoA’s old gallery space.

Still Life with Fish and Robert Frank Apr 01, 2016

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about conceptual photography at the Hammer and a pop-up show of books and films by the man who gave us The Americans.

Lilacs & Birds, Bernie & Rusty Nails Mar 30, 2016

Edward Goldman recounts his refreshing visit to the beautiful Descanso Gardens this past Easter Sunday.

Channing Hansen at Marc Selwyn Mar 25, 2016

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says the artist's knitted paintings are rich with complex meanings.

Louis XIV to Donald Trump: "You are fired!" Mar 23, 2016

Edward Goldman gives his two cents on Trump's larger than life sensibilities.

Keith Sonnier, Brice Marden, Cy Twombly Mar 18, 2016

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp basks in the accomplishments of these accomplished artists.

Game Changers Mar 15, 2016

WEB EXCLUSIVE: Edward Goldman applauds game changers of the art world, both past and present.

A Revolution in the Making Mar 11, 2016

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says a survey of sculpture made by women is a brilliant launch of new Hauser Wirth & Schimmel Gallery.

Church. Museum. Art & Spirit. Mar 09, 2016

Edward Goldman talks about intriguing exhibitions with unique focuses at First Congregational Church of Los Angeles and Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Leap Before You Look Mar 04, 2016

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp applauds the Hammer Museum’s show about the legacy of Black Mountain College.

Buying Art v. Collecting Art Mar 01, 2016

WEB BONUS: Edward Goldman speaks his mind about the difference between the cash value of art and the soulful value of art, and how being able to afford a piece does not translate to being able to feel its poignancy.

Fiona Banner's Heart of Darkness Feb 26, 2016

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp is impressed by the British artist's take on the classic novella.

Minimalism, Maximalism, and a Severed Head Feb 24, 2016

Edward Goldman praises the sophisticated and daring minimalism of Korean artists on display at Blum & Poe as well as the vividly ornate external transformation of The Petersen Automotive Museum.

James Goldstein, John Lautner and Kota Ezawa Feb 19, 2016

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the donation of a house to LACMA and one artist's method of documenting art theft.

Ladies Who Dare Feb 17, 2016

Edward Goldman celebrates the smart, eloquent, and courageous female artists that he had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with over the last few weeks.

Reading Art Feb 11, 2016

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about language and art and the LA book fair.

Funny Things Happen on the Way to the… Art Feb 09, 2016

WEB BONUS: Edward Goldman talks about the many exciting cultural surprises he encountered last week.

Michael McMillen at LA Louver Feb 05, 2016

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the sculptor and his history in LA.

Gods, Nudes, Politics Feb 03, 2016

Edward Goldman talks about questionable attitudes and political responses to nudity in classical masterpieces.

Amy Bessone at Gavlak Gallery Jan 29, 2016

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the artist's Century of Women.

Chairman Mao and His Hundred Porcelain Flowers Jan 27, 2016

Edward Goldman talks porcelain and politics in this commentary on Craft & Folk Art Museum's excellent current exhibitions.

Black Art Reigns Jan 22, 2016

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp observes that there is unprecedented support for black art in LA.

50 Shades of Black, 50 Shades of White Jan 20, 2016

Edward Goldman lauds artist Edmund de Waal's multifaceted talents and charmingly humble eloquence.

Lewis Klahr at REDCAT Jan 15, 2016

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp marvels at the filmmaker's Sixty Six.

Painful as Hell and Irresistible Still Jan 12, 2016

Edward Goldman applauds the ability of artists to respond to and reflect on devastation.

Video Evolution at Young Projects Jan 08, 2016

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp observes a welcome diversity of video art by Stas Orlovsky, Egill Sæbjörnsson and Julie Weitz.

From Palm Springs to Montecito, with a Stop in West Hollywood Jan 06, 2016

Edward Goldman takes art as his guide on a surprising journey to current, coming, and recently closed exhibitions around Southern California.

Coming Attractions Jan 01, 2016

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp reports that 2016 promises to be another great year for contemporary art in Southern California.

Happy Art Memories of 2015 Dec 30, 2015

Edward Goldman recaps some of the most memorable art moments of 2015.

Woven Gold at the Getty Dec 25, 2015

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says the holidays could be happier with a visit to the tapestries of Louis XIV.

Israel Goes to The Huntington Dec 23, 2015

Edward Goldman praises The Huntington for its bold and adventurous new exhibition this winter season featuring up-and-coming contemporary artist, Alex Israel.

J.B. Blunk and Aaron Curry Dec 18, 2015

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about sculptures and paintings both old and new.

Art Adventures Worthy of the Holiday Season Dec 16, 2015

Edward Goldman recommends three uniquely inspirational cultural adventures worth seeing this holiday season.

Magdalena Fernández and James Turrell Dec 11, 2015

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the Venezuelan’s installation at MOCA PDC and the veteran light and space artist at Kayne Griffin Corcoran.

Our Best and Our Worst Dec 09, 2015

Edward Goldman talks about the power of art to uplift humanity even in the face of terrible tragedy.

Red and Blue: From Precious to Common Dec 02, 2015

Edward Goldman recommends a special adventure at two museums –– an artistic journey stretching from Red to Blue.

Art and Food Nov 27, 2015

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about actor Vincent Price as art collector and cook, and food as art at the Getty.

Art of War and Peace Nov 25, 2015

Edward Goldman shares a few intriguing and delightful art discoveries off the beaten path in LA.

The Avant Garde Won't Give Up Nov 20, 2015

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the plucky CoBrA artists at Blum & Poe.

An Artist Has No Home in Europe except in Paris – Friedrich Nietzsche Nov 18, 2015

Edward Goldman talks about the indomitable spirit and enduring culture of Paris.

Jim Shaw and 'The End is Here' Nov 12, 2015

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp praises a survey of work by LA's Jim Shaw at New York's New Museum

An Exhibition that Happily Shreds Its Prime Material Nov 11, 2015

Edward Goldman enthusiastically shares two must-see art happenings –– the Paperworks exhibition at CAFAM, and the Peggy Guggenheim documentary at the Nuart Theater.

Frank Stella: A Retrospective Nov 06, 2015

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp is star-struck by the veteran abstract artist's show at New York's Whitney Museum

Ansel Adams, World War II, Manzanar Nov 04, 2015

Edward Goldman talks about an important exhibition at Skirball Cultural Center that illustrates a shameful chapter in American history.

Njideka Akunyili Crosby at the Hammer Oct 30, 2015

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp admires the way the artist bridges Nigerian and American cultures in her multi-media paintings.

From Athens to Havana in One Day Oct 28, 2015

Edward Goldman guides his listeners on a resonating, art-filled trip from Greece to Cuba and back to LA.

Lee Mullican and Ralph Bacerra Oct 23, 2015

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the ceramics of the two late artists.

Naked and Ugly and Irresistible Oct 21, 2015

Edward Goldman delves into the unnerving but irresistible attraction of the human figure as depicted through different art forms.

New Objectivity at LACMA Oct 16, 2015

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the very strange art made in Weimar Germany.

Exhibition Imagined as Studio, Storage, and Artists' Kitchens Oct 07, 2015

In a new show opening October 11 at the El Segundo Museum of Art. curator Edward Goldman pairs original artworks with photographic portraits of LA artists in their studios captured by Jim McHugh.

Crotty, Manglano-Ovalle and Our Fragile World Oct 02, 2015

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says both artists make compelling statements about our endangered ecosystem.

A Weekend to Remember: All Art, All the Time Sep 30, 2015

Edward Goldman busied himself this past weekend attending great performances all around LA.

The Broad Effect Sep 25, 2015

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp checks out the Broad and downtown galleries.

The Broad Surprises Sep 23, 2015

Edward Goldman takes visitors through The Broad, newly opened and full of promise.

Matthew Barney at MOCA Sep 18, 2015

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says that the artist’s reach may exceed his grasp but why not? And MOCA hosts a new film on Land Art.

Gehry's Magic at LACMA / Barney's Fantasy at MOCA Sep 16, 2015

Edward Goldman lauds the magical ability of Frank Gehry to make complex architecture feel effortlessly light.

Yunhee Min and Dan Levenson Sep 11, 2015

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says that the two different shows, paintings of flowing color or of neutral geometry, are complementary.

September LA, a Bursting Art Scene Sep 09, 2015

Edward Goldman excitedly walks his listeners through the many promising gallery exhibitions that September has in stock for LA art lovers.

Coming Attractions Sep 04, 2015

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp highlights some really big shows along with the lesser-known possibilities.

Image Not Available — **Museum Exhibitions in Orange County and Laguna Beach** Sep 02, 2015
Edward Goldman wanders over to Laguna and the OC for challenging art exhibitions.

Simon Goodman and 'The Orpheus Clock' Aug 28, 2015

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says this new book about a grandson's search for his family's Nazi-stolen art reveals much about the post-war art market.

Looking for Art: From Downtown to the Ocean Aug 26, 2015

Edward Goldman explores diverse parts of LA following artists at their studios and a museum off the beaten path.

Signs and Alarms at Temporary Space LA Aug 21, 2015

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp likes a new space showing the art of Scott Grieger and Margaret Nielsen.

Station to Station, Ocean to Ocean: Catch the Doug Aitken Train Aug 19, 2015

Edward talks about an exciting new film from artist and filmmaker Doug Aitken.

Floris Neususs and Perfect Likeness Aug 14, 2015

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp enjoys work by the German master of the photogram, a contrast to a group show at the Hammer.

Trump President…? No. Trump Performance Artist…? Oh Yes. Aug 12, 2015

Edward Goldman talks about how the Republican primary debates reminded him of performance art.

Jeffrey Vallance: The Medium is the Message Aug 07, 2015

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp likes a series of work inspired by seances channeling dead artists.

Art & Politics Aug 05, 2015

Edward Goldman reviews two different shows that combine art and politics.

Diana Thater's Science, Fiction Jul 31, 2015

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp admires the artist's videos at the San Jose Museum of Art.

Golden Age of Bronze Jul 29, 2015

Edward Goldman talks about a unique and expansive Hellenistic bronze sculpture exhibit at the Getty Center.

Joe Sola at TIF SIGFRIDS Jul 24, 2015

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp trots to Hollywood to see the painted horse.

One Can't Have Too Many Picassos, but Many Jeff Koons Is a Problem Jul 22, 2015

Edward Goldman’s impression of the Picasso Museum in Paris, and the Jeff Koons retrospective at the Pompidou Center.

László Moholy-Nagy at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art Jul 17, 2015

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp applauds this show of the artist’s Constructivist paintings.

Bergamot Station: The Night to Remember Jul 15, 2015

Edward Goldman shares his thoughts on the uniquely captivating art event that took place at Bergamot Station this past Saturday.

Eben Goff: Inclusions Jul 10, 2015

The artist’s second show at Diane Rosenstein Gallery demonstrates ambition and skill.

World Isn't Worth Saving if the Price Is a Tear of an Innocent Child Jul 08, 2015

Edward Goldman talks about the powerful photographs by Richard Ross addressing the issue of juvenile incarceration in America.

T. Kelly Mason at Cherry and Martin Gallery Jul 03, 2015

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says the artist's lightboxes are signs of the times.

Art that A) Amuses, B) Challenges, C) Leaves Us in Disbelief Jul 01, 2015

Edward Goldman talks about the huge difference between looking at art and actually seeing it.

Mark Bradford at the Hammer and Miriam Schapiro's Legacy Jun 26, 2015

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says the show combines politics and poetics and connects to the late Feminist.

Mark Bradford Digs into the Hammer's Walls and into Our Minds Jun 24, 2015

Edward Goldman raves about the new exhibition of Los Angeles artist Mark Bradford at the Hammer Museum.

William Monk, Sam Windett and Mark Grotjahn Jun 19, 2015

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp is impressed by these contemporary painters advancing modernist ideas.

She Was an Artist, She Was a Nun, She Is Sister Corita Kent Jun 17, 2015

Edward Goldman shares his newly discovered love of the life and work of a uniquely interesting woman, artist, and nun.

Ed Moses and Noah Purifoy at LACMA Jun 12, 2015

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says that these shows offer new perspectives on the area's art history.

Importance of Cultural Exchange with Russia during Political Frost Jun 10, 2015

Edward Goldman promotes the importance of cultural exchange in light of political hardships.

Allen Ruppersberg, Bill Graham and Robert Landau at the Skirball Jun 04, 2015

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says the Conceptual artist and the rock and roll promoter are not so strange bedfellows

Daring & Inspirational Architecture Around the World Jun 03, 2015

Edward Goldman lauds past and present projects of prominent architects around the world.

Marnie Weber: Twenty Years and Forevermore May 29, 2015

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp looks forward to seeing this survey of the artist’s films at the Velaslavasay Panorama.

Cities and Art that Bring Us to Tears May 27, 2015

Edward Goldman writes about certain cities and art that have the extraordinary power to move people deeply.

Reading Raymond Pettibon May 22, 2015

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp finds the artists’s process close to that of a writer.

Paris: A Holiday that Is Always with You May 20, 2015

Edward Goldman shares his recent adventures in the Paris Region of France.

On Rachel Rosenthal and Chris Burden May 15, 2015

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp mourns the loss of two artists who contributed so much.

Chris Burden: May His Light Continue to Shine May 13, 2015

Edward Goldman mourns the loss of great artist Chris Burden by revisiting Burden's seminal works and reflecting on what made them special.

Getty's Experimental Photographs and Paris Photo May 01, 2015

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp believes Light, Paper, Process: Reinventing Photography offers a pertinent overview just in time for the photography fair.

Devouring the Art and History of Glorious Poitou-Charentes Apr 29, 2015

Edward Goldman explores the cultural offerings of the Poitou-Charentes region of France.

Pattern and Decoration Revisited at the East Side Galleries Apr 24, 2015

Galleries downtown present Kim MacConnel and Merion Estes; Robert Kushner in Pasadena.

James Jarvaise at Louis Stern Fine Arts Apr 17, 2015

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp is impressed by this nonagenarian's new work.

Hidden in Plain Sight: Great Art in Downtown LA Apr 15, 2015

Edward Goldman recommends public art gems hidden in plain sight in the heart of Downtown LA.

William Pope. L at MOCA Apr 10, 2015

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp thrills to the power of the big flag on view in Trinket.

Trippin' with Enrique Martínez Celaya Apr 08, 2015

Edward Goldman recommends delving into the raw, organic, and dense works that will be on display in the upcoming Enrique Martínez Celaya exhibition at LA Louver gallery.

Fred Tomaselli at Orange County Museum of Art Apr 03, 2015

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp has followed the artist's work since the early 80's but finds the show a fantastic take on the daily news.

Art, War, Gold Apr 01, 2015

Edward Goldman talks about priceless art as the subject of new feature and documentary films.

Women at Work Mar 27, 2015

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp likes the quilt-based paintings of Erin Morrison at Samuel Freeman Gallery and a show of sculpture by women at François Ghebaly Gallery.

Oaxaca Mexico, Colors Galore Mar 25, 2015

Edward Goldman praises the varied and sophisticated art scene in Oaxaca, Mexico.

Kenny Scharf at Honor Fraser and Dani Tull at LAM Mar 20, 2015

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp enjoys the alternative realities offered by these artists.

Brenna Youngblood at Pomona College Museum of Art Mar 13, 2015

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp enjoys the collaged paintings of Youngblood after seeing the assemblages at Noah Purifoy's Art Site.

The Beauty, the Rite, the Shimmering Trash Mar 11, 2015

Edward Goldman recounts his experience attending contemporary performances of beloved classical ballets, and raves about Nigerian artist El Anatsui's beautifully monumental metal tapestries.

John Currin at Gagosian Mar 06, 2015

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp succumbs to the master seducer.

Mr. Turner aka Mr. Storm Mar 04, 2015

The new exhibition of works by British painter Turner at The Getty Museum proves this great artist is still sending waves into the 21st century art scene.

Charles Gaines Feb 27, 2015

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the evolution of the artist as seen at the Hammer Museum and at the new gallery of Art + Practice in Leimert Park.

Three Stops on Our Way to the Oscars Feb 25, 2015

Edward makes three exciting and artsy stops to warm up for the Oscars.

Robert Overby at Marc Selwyn Fine Art Feb 20, 2015

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp welcomes a small survey of the late artist’s thought provoking work.

Fifty Shades of White, and More… Feb 18, 2015

Edward Goldman shares his recommended dose of exhibitions and performances to take in this February.

Man Made Quilts and Jonas Becker Feb 13, 2015

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp goes to the Craft and Folk Art Museum to see women's work made by men.

Art… I Love You, I Love You Not Feb 11, 2015

Edward Goldman suggests spending this Valentine’s weekend hitting the town and falling in love – –or not –– with some interesting art.

Betty Woodman at David Kordansky Gallery Feb 06, 2015

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp is happy to see the 84-year old artist demonstrating new challenges in ceramics and painting.

Good, Bad and Ugly Feb 04, 2015

Edward Goldman unabashedly talks about the Good, Bad, and Ugly that he encountered recently in various Los Angeles Art Fairs.

Paramount Ranch and REDCAT Jan 30, 2015

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about events and art at the alternative fair Paramount Ranch and REDCAT.

Fine Art of Art Documentary Jan 28, 2015

Edward Goldman lauds exciting new art documentaries, focusing in particular on Margy Kimmonth's Hermitage Revealed.

Sanya Kantarovsky and Anna Sew Hoy Jan 23, 2015

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp responds to serio-comic work at Marc Foxx and poignant sculptures at VSF.

20th Century Best, Courtesy Albright-Knox Art Gallery Jan 21, 2015

Edward Goldman travels down to San Diego and is once again blown away by the quality of the San Diego Museum of Art's exhibitions.

Sadie Benning and Kim McCarty Jan 16, 2015

Paintings at Susanne Vielmetter and Michael Maloney galleries are more than they seem.

Winning over Disaster Jan 14, 2015

Edward Goldman shares the impressive story of an artist and museum's creative response to a potentially disastrous situation.

Dan McCleary Past and Present Jan 09, 2015

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp welcomes overdue attention to one of LA's most consistent talents.

Hollywood of Exiles and Émigrés Jan 07, 2015

Edward delves into the remarkable histories of classic Hollywood Gods and Goddesses.

Highlights of 2015 Jan 02, 2015

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says Happy New Year with much to expect in the LA art scene.

Hudson River School at LACMA Dec 26, 2014

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp loves the uplifting spirit of these 19th century painters.

Artsy Gifts According to Edward Goldman Dec 24, 2014

Edward Goldman tries to help eliminate the pressure from your Holiday shopping with artsy suggestions.

Regen Projects Turns 25 Dec 19, 2014

The gallery celebrates its longevity but also its role in giving some LA artists international presence.

A Holiday List of the Best Art around Town Dec 17, 2014

Edward Goldman gives his list of must-see exhibitions around LA for artsy fun this holiday season.

Ed Moses and Andy Moses Dec 12, 2014

Father and son painters on view at UC Irvine, Ernie Wolfe and William Turner Gallery.

Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, a Night to Remember Dec 10, 2014

Edward Goldman happily shares his Sunday exploits at the Music Center’s fiftieth anniversary celebration.

Florian Maier-Aichen at Blum & Poe and collage at Honor Fraser Dec 05, 2014

Photographs altered and staged by the German artist, photographs cut and pasted by a range of contemporary artists. questioned and used.

Turkey Was Good, But Art Was Even Better Dec 03, 2014

Edward Goldman prescribes three shots of Art to recuperate from Post-Turkey Depression.

Lita Albuquerque and Bruce Connor at Kohn Gallery Nov 28, 2014

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp finds gratitude in the embrace of the sublime and the terror by two artists.

Museums and Cathedrals: In Art, We Trust Nov 26, 2014

Edward discusses Frederick Wiseman's documentary film, "National Gallery," as well as Simon Toparovsky's art currently on display at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.

Pierre Huyghe at LACMA Nov 21, 2014

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp tumbles down the rabbit hole of this Duchampian artist.

Art that Stares, Spits and Screams at You Nov 19, 2014

Edward Goldman marvels at the the urban landmark of Watts Towers, the sculptural works of LA artist Alison Saar, and the recent Robert Wilson production featuring Mikhail Baryshnikov and Willem Dafoe.

Larry Sultan Nov 14, 2014

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the late photographer’s retrospective at LACMA.

Terrifying, Unsettling, Beautiful... Nov 12, 2014

Edward Goldman urges listeners to visit the current Josef Koudelka exhibition at the Getty to see Koudelka's enchantingly, hauntingly melancholic black and white images.

Great Fall Season in New York Nov 07, 2014

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp trolls countless shows and has a report.

Chaos, under Beautiful Control Nov 05, 2014

Edward Goldman speaks about the beautifully eloquent chaos of cultural events currently in LA, including a performance by Batsheva Dance Company and exhibitions at LA Louver Gallery.

Robert Heinecken at the Hammer and Burning Down the House at PMCA Oct 31, 2014

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says that the experimental photographer and three female peers influenced contemporary photography.

Doris Duke & Norton Simon: Kindred Spirits a World Apart Oct 29, 2014

Edward Goldman discusses the legacy of fervent art collectors, Doris Duke and Norton Simon.

Jess and Cameron: Beats Go On Oct 24, 2014

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says that two exhibitions offer rewarding views of work by two outliers from the Beat generation.

Samurai and Jazz Invasion of LACMA Oct 22, 2014

Edward Goldman is swept away by an invasion of Samurai and Jazz at LACMA.

Peter Shelton: littleBIG Oct 17, 2014

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says the sculptor’s small survey is worth the hike to Mount St. Mary’s gallery.

Gorgeous, Voluptuous and Only Four Hundred Years Old Oct 15, 2014

Edward is enraptured by the gorgeous works of the “Spectacular Rubens,” as well as by the gorgeous performance of The Australian Ballet’s Swan Lake.

Valley Vista at Cal State University Northridge Oct 10, 2014

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp applauds this show on the unexamined history of an influential art department.

INTO THE WOODS… with Giuseppe Penone Oct 08, 2014

Edward Goldman gleefully wanders into the woods, celebrating Giuseppe Pepone’s magical work with trees.

Cayetano Ferrer, Jonathan Horowitz and More Downtown Oct 03, 2014

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp visits the new Chateau Shatto, paints dots and horses around at Longines LA Masters.

Andy at the Top of His Game Oct 01, 2014

Edward raves about the current Warhol exhibition at MOCA, Shadows.

Giuseppe Penone at Gagosian Sep 26, 2014

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the first West Coast exhibition of the respected Italian artist.

Abstract vs. Figurative Sep 17, 2014

Edward Goldman discusses current Los Angeles happenings that feature figurative artists Kehinde Wiley and John Currin, as well as abstract artists such as Pia Fries.

Doug Aitken: Still Life Sep 12, 2014

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says the moving image artist finds power in the pause at Regen Projects.

Tearful Goodbye to Ensor, Happy Hello To… Sep 10, 2014

Edward keeps his sanity during the sweltering weekend by seeing some cool art exhibitions.

Coming Soon! Sep 05, 2014

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp offers a preview of some unexpected offerings this fall.

MOLAA: Double Your Pleasure, Double Your Fun Sep 03, 2014

Edward Goldman spends his Labor Day weekend gallivanting off to Long Beach to enjoy the cultural offerings of MOLAA.

Minor White and James Ensor at the Getty Aug 29, 2014

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp catches up with exhibitions of two idiosyncratic artists.

To Rome With Audrey, With Turrell to the Sky Aug 27, 2014

Edward Goldman shares his love of classic films, modern abstract art, and Los Angeles' persistently dynamic art culture.

Variations at LACMA Aug 22, 2014

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp finds much to admire in new show of contemporary abstract painting.

Lisbon Art Galore Aug 20, 2014

Edward continues the stories of his Portuguese adventures.

Joe Goode’s Flat Screen Nature Aug 15, 2014

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says the artist’s approach to painting the skies changes with the times.

Sorolla in America, Hartley in Germany Aug 13, 2014

Edward Goldman comments on the internationally successful career of Joaquín Sorolla.

Marsden Hartley: The German Paintings 1913-1915 Aug 08, 2014

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the relevance of the Berlin paintings at LACMA, along with an installation by Sam Durant.

Pia Camil at Blum and Poe Aug 01, 2014

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says don’t miss this and other shows of abstract geometric art in Culver City.

Ambitious But Problematic Cultural Projects Jul 30, 2014

Edward Goldman comments on the ups and downs of current cultural affairs in Los Angeles.

My Little Boat of Sorrows Jul 25, 2014

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says the show at Rosamund Felsen turned out to be a memorial for the jazz great Charlie Haden.

My Art Affair With Portugal Jul 23, 2014

Edward Goldman shares his recent Portuguese art adventures.

New American Art at the Huntington Jul 18, 2014

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp visits the venerable Pasadena museum to see their expanded galleries and collections.

David Hockney’s iPad Paintings and Small Works by Mark di Suvero Jul 11, 2014

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says Happy Birthday to David. These artists are mature but not mellow.

Made in L.A. Jul 04, 2014

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the Biennial exhibition at the Hammer Museum.

Great Recipe for Fourth of July: Art and BBQ Jul 02, 2014

Edward Goldman provides a recipe for great art this Fourth of July weekend.

Matthew Rolston at Diane Rosenstein Fine Art Jun 27, 2014

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says that the well-known photographer has found some fantastic new celebrities.

From Van Gogh to Kandinsky Jun 25, 2014

Edward Goldman praises the dangerous beauties on view at the current Expressionist exhibition at LACMA.

John Altoon at LACMA Jun 20, 2014

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp praises an overdue retrospective.

Cat's Meow about Great Art Jun 18, 2014

Edward Goldman shares the playful, feline-centric work of Russian artist Svetlana Petrova.

From Surface to Air to Marcel Duchamp Jun 13, 2014

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp has more to say about LA artists in the '60s and the unknown Marcel Duchamp photos of Julian Wasser.

The Getty Welcomes the Scandalous Art of James Ensor Jun 11, 2014

Edward Goldman discusses the Scandalous Art of James Ensor at the Getty.

Gabriel Kuri at Regen Projects Jun 06, 2014

Art reviews from art critics Edward Goldman and Hunter Drohojowska-Philp.

Edward Is Right, Edward Is Wrong?!? Jun 04, 2014

Edward responds to comments for hot button issues discussed in recent Art Talks.

Yvonne Rainer at the Getty Research Institute May 30, 2014

Art reviews from art critics Edward Goldman and Hunter Drohojowska-Philp.

Erotic Art vs. Pornography, Graffiti Art vs. Graffiti Vandalism May 28, 2014

Art reviews from art critics Edward Goldman and Hunter Drohojowska-Philp.

Paul Winstanley and Tim Ebner May 23, 2014

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the minimalism and maximalism of two artists.

Easy to Dismiss, Not Easy to Forget May 21, 2014

Who knows....

Jim Isermann at Telles and Renee Petropoulos' Public Art May 16, 2014

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about geometric painting and public art.

A Weekend of Music, Movies and Plenty of Art May 14, 2014

Edward Goldman shares his weekend full of culture and art at various LA museums.

Roger Herman Revisited at Acme May 09, 2014

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp explains why the well-regarded artist shows new paintings for the first time in many years.

To San Diego for Art May 07, 2014

Edward Goldman makes a day trip down to San Diego to explore its art scene.

Mary Weatherford at David Kordansky Gallery May 02, 2014

An ambitious painter ups the ante with neon...

Separated and United by Art Apr 30, 2014

Edward Goldman delves into the interesting works of twin artists Jerome and Joel-Peter Witkin.

Thomas Ruff at Gagosian Apr 25, 2014

Photography reigns this week in galleries, at Paris Photo and at Santa Monica Auctions

Lights, Camera, Action: Take Two Apr 23, 2014

Edward Goldman plans out an exciting few days of unique and thrilling exhibitions.

Helen Pashgian: Invisible Light Apr 18, 2014

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp bathes in the cool atmosphere of the artist's installation at LACMA.

'Heaven and Earth' in Our City of Angels Apr 16, 2014

Edward Goldman reminisces on Russia's religious roots after visiting the Getty Villa's current exhibition, "Heaven & Earth: Art of Byzantium."

Allen Ruppersberg: Drawing and Writing, 1972-1991 Apr 11, 2014

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says this survey of drawings at Marc Selwyn Fine Art offers an intimate view of an enigmatic artist.

W. Reveals Himself as 'a Decent Amateur' Artist Apr 09, 2014

Edward Goldman invites George W. on a museum trip around LA.

Sharon Ellis at Christopher Grimes Gallery Apr 04, 2014

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp calls the mid-career artist's paintings transcendent

Mike Kelley: The Sacred and the Profane Apr 02, 2014

Edward Goldman discusses Mike Kelley and his haunted but revelatory life and career.

Mike Kelley at MOCA Mar 28, 2014

The late great artist’s retrospective signals a new era for the museum and gives the new director a running start.

Rembrandt is in. Putin is out. Mar 26, 2014

Edward Goldman questions American politics’ view on both national and foreign culture.

Kienholz: Berlin-Hope at LA Louver Gallery Mar 21, 2014

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp finds a new appreciation of the artist in these rarely seen sculptures.

Wayne Thiebaud, Frida Kahlo: Art Calories Galore Mar 19, 2014

Not-to-be-missed exhibitions of Wayne Thiebaud and Frida Kahlo in three Southern California museums.

Alfredo Ramos Martinez at the Pasadena Museum of California Art Mar 14, 2014

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp is seduced by the Mexican modern artist, Flora Kao's Homestead and the early history of LA.

An Uneasy Coexistence of Art and Film Mar 12, 2014

Edward Goldman talks about the highs and lows of the marriage of art and film.

Bill Viola Mar 07, 2014

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp travels to Paris to see the Long Beach-based artist's survey at the Grand Palais.

Up Close and Personal Mar 05, 2014

Edward Goldman talks about the newly restored Jackson Pollock mural opening at the Getty, as well as two major LA artists exhibiting at LA Municipal Gallery.

Take It or Leave It at the Hammer Feb 28, 2014

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp visits the exhibition that explores appropriation and institutional critique.

Driving, Dancing, and Flying In and Around LA Feb 26, 2014

Edward Goldman gets swept away on an inspiring journey through LA.

Ah Voyagers! Scott Reeder and Joel Kyack Feb 21, 2014

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp wonders about the art of these space and sea adventurers.

Olympics in Sochi, Diebenkorn in Leningrad Feb 19, 2014

Edward Goldman touts Russian and American cultural connections.

An Actor Who Makes Me Hear Stradivarius and See Mark Rothko Feb 05, 2014

Edward Goldman pays tribute to great American actor, Philip Seymour Hoffman.

New Art Downtown and at Barker Hanger Jan 31, 2014

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp flips out over Samara Golden and Oscar Murillo's installations downtown and Dave Hickey's new book.

Geometric Abstraction in Many Forms Jan 24, 2014

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp muses on paintings by three generations: Leon Polk Smith, Morgan Fisher and Patrick Wilson.

To Kill or Not to Kill, That Is the Question Jan 22, 2014

Edward Goldman on the execution of a small architectural gem.

Robert Graham: Early Works at Kayne Griffin Corcoran Jan 17, 2014

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the 1960's work of the sculptor known for his bronze female torsos.

Diane von Furstenberg: Bright Past Revisited Jan 15, 2014

Edward Goldman praises the glamorously theatrical von Furstenberg exhibition.

Tacita Dean at the Hammer Jan 10, 2014

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp takes time out with the artist's film "JG," a meditation on Robert Smithson and JG Ballard.

Hurray to Pope Francis and MOCA Trustees Jan 08, 2014

Edward Goldman celebrates good news for culture and art.

Coming Attractions of 2014 Jan 03, 2014

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp notes the abundance of promising shows for the coming year.

Us, from a Great Distance Dec 27, 2013

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp is thinking about heaven and earth as she looks at photographs by Karen Apollonia Müller.

Looking Back Dec 20, 2013

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp review high and low points of 2013.

'Hot' and 'Cool' Reasons to Go to Oxnard and Laguna Dec 18, 2013

Edward Goldman shares his experiences with cool cars and fiery ceramics.

The Gift of Art, Really Dec 13, 2013

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp suggests shopping for real art at reasonable prices available around LA.

Public Art: Here, There, Everywhere Dec 11, 2013

Surprising discoveries and rediscoveries Edward Goldman made during his recent LA travels.

See the Light: Photography, Perception, Cognition Dec 06, 2013

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp contemplates the Vernon collection of photography at LACMA.

Singing, Dancing and a Little Bit of Forest Hopping Dec 04, 2013

Edward Goldman enjoys a little singing, a little dancing, and a little frolicking in beautiful portraits and landscapes.

Rob Reynolds at the Natural History Museum Nov 29, 2013

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp checks out the artist's account of the LA Aqueduct saga.

Dancing Partners: Art and Architecture Nov 27, 2013

Edward Goldman celebrates the dance-like quality of the work of Alexander Calder.

Alexander Calder at LACMA Nov 22, 2013

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp raves about "Calder and Abstraction" and its Frank Gehry installation.

Hidden in Plain Sight: Great Art in Downtown LA Nov 20, 2013

Edward Goldman rediscovers public art gems in the heart of Downtown.

Lari Pittman: From a Late Western Impaerium at Regen Projects Nov 15, 2013

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says that Pittman has flown to new heights on his flying carpet paintings.

Jim Shaw at Blum and Poe Nov 08, 2013

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp marvels at the artist's high-minded grasp of arcane and popular culture.

The Legacy of British Pop Here and There Nov 01, 2013

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp's visit to the British Pop Art show at Christie's London has her thinking about David Hockney and R.B. Kitaj.

Mysterious, Unsettling and, Well, Quite Disturbing Oct 30, 2013

Edward Goldman provides unsettling insight into the art of Forrest Bess.

Kazimir Malevich and the Russian Avant-Garde Oct 25, 2013

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp checks out the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam and the last shows under director Ann Goldstein.

The Amazing Ride with Artists at the Wheel Oct 23, 2013

Edward Goldman was abducted and taken on two fantastic artistic journeys last weekend.

LA in London Oct 18, 2013

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp visits the Frieze art fairs in London and finds L.A.’s artists in the galleries.

Free at Last Oct 16, 2013

Edward Goldman rejoices over free museum admission and other local happenings.

Abelardo Morell at the Getty Oct 11, 2013

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says that the Cuban photographer’s use of a camera obscura is enchanting.

September: Chicago at Its Best Oct 09, 2013

Edward Goldman discusses his time in Chicago and their current art scene.

James Welling: Monograph Oct 04, 2013

Influential photographer gets a mid-career survey at the Hammer.

The Price to Pay for Messing with Gods and Muses Oct 02, 2013

Edward Goldman discusses art in the face of political tides.

George Herms Sep 27, 2013

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp is wowed by Herms' work at OHWOW and at Louis Stern Fine Arts.

Talking about Art Is like Dancing about Architecture Sep 18, 2013

Edward Goldman recounts his exciting experiences with famous artwork.

Roy Dowell and Ivan Morley Sep 13, 2013

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp visits two small galleries to declare that bigger is not always better.

Columbus, Here I Come..! Sep 12, 2013

Edward Goldman recounts his surprising and inspiring adventure to Ohio.

Preview of a Few Fall Shows Sep 06, 2013

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says that photography dominates the promising fall exhibitions.

With Passion and Gusto: The Listeners Speak Sep 04, 2013

Edward Goldman shares the varied and interesting perspectives of his listeners.

Richard Diebenkorn: The Berkeley Years, 1953-1966 Aug 30, 2013

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp goes to San Francisco to see the artist's early paintings

One Can Never Be Too Rich, Too Thin, or Have Too Many Museums Aug 28, 2013

Edward Goldman talks about new LA museums and the psychology of art.

Sam Falls in Group Show at Hoffman Gallery Aug 23, 2013

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp tours a group show at the Hannah Hoffman Gallery

Staring and Punching in the Name of Art Aug 21, 2013

Edward Goldman critiques exciting and provocative new art films.

Labour and Wait Aug 16, 2013

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp takes in a show at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art.

Pereira the Maverick, Pereira the Fool? Aug 14, 2013

Edward Goldman discusses Pereira's architecture and the cultural value of LACMA's campus.

Sam Francis: Five Decades of Abstract Expressionism Aug 09, 2013

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp gets a preview of the great Abstract Expressionist's work.

At the Getty: Tripping into the Fourth Dimension Aug 07, 2013

Edward Goldman takes you with him on an artistic and musical trip to the fourth dimension.

Grapevine: Magdalena Suarez Frimkess, Michael Frimkess, John Mason, Ron Nagle, Peter Shire Aug 02, 2013

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp offers kudos to Ricky Swallow for organizing this tasty show of ceramic sculpture

In Champagne and Burgundy: Drunk On Art Jul 31, 2013

By stroke of luck, I’ve travelled to France several times over the last few years –every time discovering yet another part of the country rich in culture and history.

Werner Herzog’s Hearsay of the Soul Jul 26, 2013

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp goes with the flow of 17th century Dutch art in a video installation at the Getty Museum.

Out with the Old, In with the News Jul 24, 2013

Edward Goldman addresses rumors, news and high profile exits in the museum circuit.

Jessica Stockholder's 'Lift' at 1301PE Jul 19, 2013

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says this show offers a substantial lift both literal and figurative.

Crazy and Fabulous: Art Adventures in Downtown LA Jul 17, 2013

Edward Goldman beats the heat with wild and fabulous art adventures in downtown LA.

Jeremy Kidd at Leslie Sacks Contemporary Jul 12, 2013

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp is energized by these whirling wild photographs.

The City of Angels in All Its Imperfect Glory Jul 10, 2013

Edward Goldman responds to previous Art Talk comments and discusses the restoration of the Wilshire Boulevard Temple.

Charles Fine's 30-Year Survey at Ace Gallery Jul 05, 2013

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp is taken by the artist’s wide ranging talents in sculpture and painting.

Could LA Museums Be More Generous to the Public? Jul 03, 2013

Edward Goldman compares LA museum hours and prices to more progressive museums in the US and abroad.

The California-Pacific Triennial at OCMA Jun 28, 2013

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp previews a survey of contemporary art from countries along the Pacific Rim.

Exhibitions that Engage instead of Lecture Jun 26, 2013

Edward Goldman gives praise to some excellent exhibition design at the Hammer.

Richard Artschwager! Jun 21, 2013

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the hybrid sculpture and painting of the late great artist at the Hammer.

Should LACMA's Imperfection Be Erased or Embraced? Jun 19, 2013

Edward Goldman reflects on LACMA's new exhibits and ambitious architectural plan by Peter Zumthor.

Painting in Place Jun 14, 2013

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp checks out the latest offering from LAND at the Farmers and Merchants bank downtown.

Traveling Abroad with LA in Your Backpack Jun 12, 2013

Edward Goldman recaps his experience abroad as an American in Paris, Amsterdam and Dijon.

Hans Richter: Encounters at LACMA Jun 07, 2013

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp checks out an artist significant for his own work and his friendships with the key figures of the Modern era including Man Ray, Kazimir Malevich and Alexander Calder.

William Wegman at Marc Selwyn Fine Art May 31, 2013

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the recent discovery of Wegman's lost photographs from the 1970s.

James Turrell at LACMA May 24, 2013

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp visits the retrospective of an artist concerned with the nature of perception and his new skyspace on La Brea.

Art Adventures This Side of the 405 May 22, 2013

Edward Goldman makes a voyage to Otis and the El Segundo Museum of Art.

Architecture and Art in 1970's LA and Now May 17, 2013

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp finds an important connections in "Everything Loose Will Land" at MAK and "Larry Bell" at Frank Lloyd Gallery.

Happy Days, and Hours, Are Here Again May 15, 2013

Edward Goldman rounds up the good news this month for American museums on both coasts.

Boogie with Ryan Heffington in KTCHN May 10, 2013

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp is dancing to a different drummer after watching the art inspired dance installation.

It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World…of Museums May 08, 2013

Edward Goldman reflects on architectural issues for LACMA and MOCA, while visiting two Los Angeles exhibitions.

Alexis Smith's 'Second Nature' at Craig Krull Gallery May 03, 2013

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp is happy to see Alexis Smith take on the subject of landscape painting with a twist.

The Adorable, Weird and Somewhat Scary World of Gary Baseman May 01, 2013

Edward Goldman is a guest of Gary Baseman at the Skirball Center and visits the Francois Ghebaly Gallery.

Paris Photo Comes to LA Apr 26, 2013

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp applauds the mix of galleries showing photography and contemporary art together.

Paris Photo-LA: Lights, Camera, Action Apr 24, 2013

Edward Goldman haunts the Paris Photo art fair at Paramount Studios and visits Urs Fischer at MOCA.

Urs Fischer at MOCA Apr 19, 2013

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp finds the Swiss artist to be rowdy and refreshing, for the most part.

In the Art Ring: Newcomer Artist vs. Heavyweight Champion Apr 17, 2013

Edward Goldman visits two prized artistic contenders at the LA Louver and Blum & Poe galleries.

Overdrive at the Getty and Stephen Prina at LACMA Apr 12, 2013

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp likes the Getty's focus on architecture especially the show on R.M. Schindler by artist Stephen Prina.

Los Angeles, a Giraffe of a City Apr 10, 2013

Edward Goldman reflects on the strange beast that is Los Angeles at the Getty Center's "Overdrive" exhibition.

Kim McCarty Paints! Apr 05, 2013

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp recommends an opportunity to meet, even paint with, the artist and buy her work to benefit the museum.

The Dangerous and Seductive Beauty of Descanso Gardens Apr 03, 2013

Edward Goldman takes in the blossoms at Descanso Gardens and visits its Sturt Haaga Gallery.

The Night Gallery and Laura Owens Mar 29, 2013

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says that Laura Owens has guts, in her own show downtown and the show she helped organized at Night Gallery.

The MOCA Trustees Woke Up and Smelled the Coffee, at Last Mar 27, 2013

Edward Goldman reports some happy news from MOCA's trustees and visits Blum & Poe's current exhibition.

Ain't Painting a Pain Mar 22, 2013

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp thinks Richard Jackson's work is more pleasure than pain.

South of LA: Crazy, Messy and Endlessly Delightful Mar 20, 2013

Edward Goldman heads south of LA, visiting the Orange County Museum of Art and the Laguna Art Museum.

Peter Paul Rubens and 'Man in a Korean Costume' at the Getty Mar 15, 2013

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the many questions raised by Rubens' 1617 drawing and the small exhibition about it.

Escape to Santa Barbara, Malibu and Oxnard Mar 13, 2013

Edward Goldman makes the trip to several museum exhibitions north of Los Angeles.

One Luxury Billionaire Collectors Cannot Afford Mar 06, 2013

Edward Goldman offers his advice to today's billionaire art collectors.

Opie, Opie Everywhere Mar 01, 2013

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about three shows of Catherine Opie's photographs that underscore her diverse accomplishments.

The Hammer's Perfect Trifecta Feb 27, 2013

Edward Goldman looks at the Hammer's current track record of excellent exhibitions.

Llyn Foulkes Retrospective at the Hammer Feb 22, 2013

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about one of LA's most original artists and his performance on The Machine on Tuesday night.

From the Sublime to the Hauntingly Ridiculous Feb 20, 2013

This week, Edward Goldman highlights a famous Vermeer in town and a retrospective of artist Llyn Foulkes.

Valentine's Day in Chinatown Feb 15, 2013

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp finds Lust Letters and Annie Sprinkle at the Chung King Road Galleries while the Vogels' art is at MOCA.

When Art Critics Get It Wrong Feb 14, 2013

WEB EXCLUSIVE: Edward reflects on times when he's changed his mind about an artwork, and whether, maybe, that's a good thing.

Once Wild, Now Beloved: The Rite of Spring Is Back Jan 30, 2013

Edward Goldman reflects on the hundredth anniversary of The Rite of Spring and its upcoming performance in Los Angeles.

It's the End of the World for Jack Pierson Jan 25, 2013

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the impact of words writ large at Regen Projects.

Frank Gehry’s Fish Lamps Make a Splash at Gagosian Gallery Jan 18, 2013

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp recalls Rebecca’s restaurant in Venice, Gehry’s first fish lamps and her own octopus chandelier.

The Artist as Magician and Trickster Jan 16, 2013

Over the last weekend, I saw and admired the work of three artists, whom I would describe as magicians and tricksters.

Lesley Vance and Ricky Swallow at the Huntington Jan 11, 2013

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp is impressed by the contemporary art on display in the 19th century mansion of the Huntingtons

An Art Remedy For Your Cold Jan 09, 2013

Edward visits works on loan to the Getty and Norton Simon in search of a remedy to his New Year’s cold.

Jordan Wolfson's Raspberry Poser at Redcat Jan 04, 2013

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp and Lisa Napoli drop by Redcat gallery for full immersion into a multi-media installation.

Back to the Future: 2013 Dec 28, 2012

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp offers a glimpse of highlights in the first half of the coming year.

Highlights of 2012 Dec 21, 2012

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says it has been an exceptional year at LACMA but don't miss the paintings by Giotto at the Getty.

Falling for Dr. Strangelove... Dec 19, 2012

Edward Goldman reconsiders his feelings about film exhibitions after visiting LACMA's "Stanley Kubrick."

The French are Coming: Lost (in LA) Dec 14, 2012

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the France/Los Angeles dialogue at the Municipal Art Gallery.

The United States: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow Dec 12, 2012

Edward Goldman takes a bird's-eye view of the American museum scene.

MOCA and USC? Paul Schimmel and Mike Kelley. Dec 07, 2012

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp muses on the good and bad news concerning MOCA in 2012.

This Anna Karenina Is Unhappy in Her Own Spectacular Way Nov 28, 2012

Edward Goldman discusses Joe Wright's "Anna Karenina" from the perspective of an art critic.

'No Strangers' at the Annenberg Space for Photography Nov 23, 2012

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp gives thanks for the ancient wisdom of the cultures photographed for this exhibition.

One Way to Save the Santa Monica Nativity Scenes Nov 22, 2012

Edward Goldman proposes an artful solution to the battle over Santa Monica's Nativity scenes.

Marco Brambilla and Ben Jones Nov 16, 2012

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the video art of Marco Brambilla and Ben Jones.

Invasion of Saints and Angels Nov 14, 2012

Edward Goldman recommends visiting the exceptional Caravaggio and Giotto exhibitions currently at LACMA and the Getty.

Blues for Smoke at MOCA Nov 09, 2012

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp finds the blues uplifting in MOCA curator Bennett Simpson's sprawling exhibition at the Geffen Contemporary.

A Vortex of Images: Mysterious, Challenging, and Very Noisy Nov 06, 2012

WEB EXCLUSIVE: Edward Goldman visits several promising exhibitions and considers artistic determination.

Drawing Surrealism at LACMA Nov 02, 2012

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says that drawing was an essential tool in revealing the unconscious to Surrealists.

Smoking Art in Downtown LA Oct 31, 2012

Edward Goldman reassures us that reports of the demise of the Downtown art scene have been greatly exaggerated.

Michael Asher: July 15, 1943 - October 15, 2012 Oct 26, 2012

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp recalls the art and legacy of one of LA's great Conceptual artists

Looking Straight at the President, the War and Ourselves Oct 24, 2012

With presidential debates dominating the national conversation, Edward looks for someplace to give him a sense of peace and beauty.

Chris Burden's Quasi-Legal Skyscraper Oct 19, 2012

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the artist's small skyscraper in Pasadena.

Artists Who Know How to Tell a Good Story Oct 16, 2012

Edward Goldman discusses good artists who are also engaging and provocative speakers.

The Photographs of Ray Metzker and the Institute of Design Oct 12, 2012

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp discusses the influence of the Institute of Design's Harry Callahan, Aaron Siskind and Ray Metzker. (Special time: 5:50pm)

Art and Presidential Debates, Never the Twain Shall Meet Oct 10, 2012

Edward Goldman wonders why art is a forbidden subject in the presidential debates.

Painting the Void Oct 05, 2012

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says that Schimmel's departure leaves a real void at MoCA.

The Paris-Los Angeles Art Affair Oct 03, 2012

Edward Goldman talks about a love affair between Paris and LA.

Art Fairs Here, There, Everywhere! Sep 28, 2012

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp previews Art Platform in Santa Monica, Frieze in London and FIAC in Paris, all opening in the next three weeks.

Good Art, like Precious Stones, Needs a Great Setting Sep 26, 2012

Stealing from Gertrude Stein, Edward claims that wherever and whenever we see it, "good art is good art is good art," but still, the presentation is important.

Ken Price: Sculptor at LACMA Sep 14, 2012

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the completely original art of an artist of the 1960's Ferus gallery.

LA Art Scene on Fire: Opening of the New Season Sep 12, 2012

Edward Goldman runs all over town, getting drunk on art.

Steve Roden and John Cage Sep 07, 2012

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp and Lisa Napoli talk about John Cage and his lasting influence on artists such as Steve Roden.

18th C. Artist Captures Cultural Embarrassments of Our Day Sep 05, 2012

Edward Goldman talks about the 18th Century portraits that echo his feelings about the cultural and political events of today.

Motoi Yamamoto's Saltworks Aug 31, 2012

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp discusses Motoi Yamamoto's Saltworks at Loyola Marymount University's Laband Art Gallery.

The Painful Beauty of Alison Saar's Stories Aug 29, 2012

Edward Goldman admits that the enigmatic works of Los Angeles-based artist Alison Saar startle, disturb and attract him in equal measure.

Cool Art in the Scorching Heat Aug 15, 2012

Edward Goldman talks about cool art exhibitions to visit to escape the scorching heat.

Xavier Veilhan's Architectones at Neutra's VDL House Aug 10, 2012

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the French artist Xavier Veilhan's sculptures in Neutra's own house in Silverlake

Ars Longa, Vita Brevis Aug 08, 2012

Edward pays tribute to art critic Robert Hughes and collector William Randolph Hearst.

Amanda Ross-Ho: Teeny Tiny Woman Aug 03, 2012

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about a complex yet engaging installation at MoCA Pacific Design Center.

Should Art Schools Ignore the Art Market? Aug 01, 2012

Edward talks about the exhibition of MFA graduates from the leading Southern California art schools, where most of the works come across as seriously undercooked.

Katy Grannan, Charlie White and Zoe Crosher at LACMA Jul 27, 2012

There has been much chat about celebrity culture and the museums of late but a different, more critical, take on that equation is on view at LACMA in The Sun and Other Stars: Katy Grannan and Charlie White.

Inspired Madness Jul 25, 2012

Edward Goldman talks about the insane spectacle of the Venice Beach Biennial and thirty-one Kamikaze Exhibits in Downtown LA.

Claire Falkenstein's Expanding Universe Jul 20, 2012

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp speaks about the work of an under appreciated modern sculptor..

Paul Schimmel vs. Goliath Jul 18, 2012

Edward Goldman reflects on recent crises at MOCA and wonders what it takes to be a truly wise museum trustee.

Biennial Goes to the Boardwalk Jul 13, 2012

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp chats about the upcoming Venice Beach Biennial.

What Would Catherine the Great Say? Jul 11, 2012

The Rock has arrived! Edward finally experiences Michael Heizer's long-awaited Levitated Mass.

Gustav Klimt: The Magic of Line at Getty Museum Jul 06, 2012

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about Gustav Klimt's Beethoven Frieze drawings at the Getty and the Ninth Symphony at the Hollywood Bowl.

Pilgrimage for Art and Food in the Midi-Pyrenees Jul 04, 2012

In the Mid-Pyrénées Edward goes on a pilgrimage to experience French art, history and gastronomy.

Jack Goldstein x 10,000 at the Orange County Museum of Art Jun 29, 2012

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the brilliant and tragic career of Jack Goldstein.

Paul McCarthy and Son at The Box Jun 22, 2012

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp dissects the rebel, dabble, babble of Paul and Damon McCarthy and James Franco as patron.

You Like It, You Like It Not Jun 20, 2012

Edward shares some of the comments--thumbs up and thumbs down—that you sent in response to a few of the latest shows.

Karl Haendel's Informal Family Blackmail Jun 15, 2012

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp goes to Susanne Vielmetter Projects to see a show about fathers, sons and much more

Methinks the Lady Doth Protest Too Much Jun 13, 2012

LA has given NY a run for its money as the art capital of the world. But when the Hammer Biennial echoes the same sentiment it feels as if the lady doth protest too much.

Sharon Lockhart-Noa Eshkol at the LA County Museum of Art Jun 08, 2012

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about Lockhart's filmic collaboration with the late Israeli choreographer.

White House Reduced: Invasion of Bad Art Jun 06, 2012

Edward Goldman rants about bad art invading the White House.

Art of Violence, Violence of Art May 30, 2012

Edward Goldman discusses the exhibitions of two Los Angeles artists whose favorite subject is extreme violence.

Land Art at MOCA May 25, 2012

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp says the earth moves in new show of international land art.

Bizarre and Delightful May 23, 2012

Economy be damned, the Los Angeles art scene is sizzling.

Baldessari's Double Bill May 18, 2012

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp recommends John Baldessari's new art made from art.

Art Treasures, Yours for the Asking May 16, 2012

Parents know the importance of hanging colorful toys over their baby's crib to stimulate the child's growing brain. What is the perfect toy to stimulate the adult brain?

You Don't Know Jack, at Katherine Cone Gallery May 11, 2012

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the contributions of Jack Brogan who fabricated much of the plastic sculpture of the 1960's.

For Whom the Munch Screams? It Screams for Thee May 09, 2012

Two stories that made the front-page news last week: one about art and an obscene amount of money, the other about the shameful treatment of a political dissident in China.

Alexander Calder at L&M Arts May 04, 2012

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp discusses the work of Alexander Calder with his grandson Sandy Rower.

Medicine for Your Eyes May 02, 2012

Edward Goldman talks about the importance of having really good art displayed in hospitals, as much needed medicine for the eyes and for the soul.

The Painting Factory: Abstraction after Warhol Apr 27, 2012

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp reviews Jeffrey Deitch's new show at the Museum of Contemporary Art.

The Vagina Dialogues Apr 25, 2012

Edward Goldman muses about the new show at the Santa Monica Museum of Art and how much chutzpah it takes to go head to head with the past.

Nature Painting at the Municipal Art Gallery Apr 20, 2012

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp honors Earth Day with a look at three different kinds of realist painting.

When Theater Stage Embraces Cutting Edge Art Apr 18, 2012

Edward Goldman dreams about a major museum show dedicated to the visual magic of stage design at its best.

Daido Moriyama at LACMA Apr 13, 2012

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp discusses the erotics of Moriyama's photographs.

Beauty and the Beast Apr 11, 2012

Over the weekend, Edward Goldman drove a few hundred miles in search of beauty and the beast. He stumbled upon them both. The experience was sublime as well as riveting.

Pedro E. Guerrero: Photographs of Modern Life Apr 06, 2012

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the remarkable Mexican-American photographer and his relationship with Frank Lloyd Wright and Alexander Calder.

Lecturing, Instead of Making Love to Aphrodite Apr 04, 2012

Edward Goldman visits the Getty exhibition celebrating the goddess Aphrodite, and compares it to the LACMA exhibition of ancient Mexican art.

From Pasadena to Santa Barbara Mar 30, 2012

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp wraps up Pacific Standard Time with an exhibition at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art.

Mel Bochner's Theory of Sculpture: Fontana's Light Mar 30, 2012

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp is taken by the use of Murano glass in these works of Conceptual art.

Plunging into Amsterdam's Art World Mar 28, 2012

Edward Goldman plunges headfirst into the Amsterdam art scene; exploring, tasting and inhaling it 24/7.

LACPS and the Politics of Community Mar 23, 2012

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp recalls the impact of a scrappy organization supporting photography in the 70's and 80's.

Great Art for Deep Pockets Mar 21, 2012

Edward Goldman is just back from Holland, jet-lagged and still drunk on all the art he saw at the TEFAF Maastricht Art and Antiques Fair.

Peace Tower Resurrected Mar 16, 2012

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about the history of the Mark di Suvero's Peace Tower on Sunset Boulevard.

Blowing Things Up at MOCA Mar 09, 2012

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks to Lisa Napoli about Cai Guo-Qiang's show at Mathaf in Doha, Qatar and at MOCA, Los Angeles.

Art: Good, Bad and Ugly... Mar 07, 2012

(Special 4:44 broadcast) Edward Goldman on a great new show in Orange County, two good exhibitions closer to home and an embarrassing new likeness of our former governor.

Richard Diebenkorn Mar 02, 2012

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp admires the Richard Diebenkorn's Ocean Park paintings at the Orange County Museum of Art.

Gernreich Had Everything Oscar Needs: Creativity, Energy, Fun Feb 28, 2012

WEB EXCLUSIVE: Edward Goldman wishes someone would bring back genius designer Rudi Gernreich, featured in a new MOCA show. Then Oscars fashion would be less of a bore.

Mono-Ha Revisited Feb 24, 2012

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp is thrilled by the work of Lee Ufan and other Mono-Ha artists at Blum & Poe.

Knicks Player's Ball Crosses Over into Arts? Feb 22, 2012

Edward Goldman wonders if "Linsanity" has invaded the arts, and congratulates the Huntington Library on its exciting recent acquisitions.

Kienholz before LACMA at L.A. Louver Feb 17, 2012

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp is excited about Kienholz before LACMA, a show of assemblage from 1957-1964 at L.A. Louver Gallery.

Die for Art; Art to Die For Feb 15, 2012

Edward Goldman talks about the tragic life and complicated art of the obscure Polish artist, Alina Szapocznikow.

Artistic Execution of 'Dear Leaders' Feb 08, 2012

Edward Goldman talks about an exhibition he saw over the weekend that made him, at least for a moment, forget about all the imperfections of the world.

Surrealism at LACMA, Gingrich to the Moon Jan 31, 2012

WEB EXCLUSIVE: Edward Goldman talks about Frida Kahlo beating the boys, Ed Kienholz's raw, still-relevant early work and whether Newt will take him along to the moon.

He Sold Us Sharks, Diamonds and Spots. Brooklyn Bridge Next? Jan 24, 2012

WEB EXCLUSIVE: Edward Goldman recounts his weekend adventures, which included dry ice pyramids, a snake of jumpsuit-clad bodies in Baldwin Hills, and Damien Hirst's notorious spots.

Ellsworth Kelly in Los Angeles Jan 20, 2012

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp on Ellsworth Kelly: Prints and Paintings, up at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art through April 22, 2012.

Sunday on the Riviera with Jean Jan 18, 2012

Edward Goldman recalls a breathtaking visit to the French Riviera that convinced him of artist, writer and filmmaker Jean Cocteau's true brilliance.

The Real McCoy Jan 13, 2012

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp reviews on Sympathetic Seeing: Esther McCoy and the Heart of American Modernist Architecture and Design, at the Mak Center for Art + Architecture.

Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall, Which Is the Prettiest Fair of All? Jan 10, 2012

WEB EXCLUSIVE: Edward Goldman talks about Chris Burden's breathtaking, soon-to-debut sculpture at LACMA and the mad world of art fairs descending on the city.

It Happened at Pomona, Part 2 Jan 06, 2012

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp talks about William Wegman, Allen Ruppersberg, William Leavitt and others shown by Helene Winer at Pomona College Museum in the early 70s.

Big, Steely, Shiny and, Thank God, It’s Not Jeff Koons Jan 03, 2012

WEB EXCLUSIVE: Edward Goldman talks about a new sculpture on La Brea, imposing, steely and, hopefully, a sign of things to come.

Ceramic Art Surveyed at AMOCA in Pomona Dec 30, 2011

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp discusses Millard Sheets, Peter Voulkos and ceramics in Southern California.

The Most Memorable Art of This Year Dec 28, 2011

Edward Goldman revisits the year's seven best L.A. exhibitions, rubbing shoulders with Picasso and Miro and diving into the Aegean sea with L.A. icon Charles Garabedian.

MEX/LA: Mexican Modernism(s) in Los Angeles 1930-1985 Dec 23, 2011

Mex/LA: “Mexican” Modernism(s) in Los Angeles, 1930-1985 at the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach through Feb. 5, 2012.

Is It Eiffel Tower In My Window, or Too Much Vodka Last Night? Dec 21, 2011

Edward Goldman travels through Paris, taking you to must-see art exhibitions, a fantastically renovated museum space and one not-so-fantastic new museum

Video Art in Long Beach Dec 16, 2011

A retrospective of video art from around the world highlights the role of the Long Beach Museum of Art.

Manhattan on My Mind Dec 14, 2011

Edward Goldman discusses his recent trip to New York and the show-stopping exhibitions he saw, including surprising, tour de force gallery shows by two L.A. artists.

Proof: The Rise of Printmaking in Southern California Dec 09, 2011

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp discusses an exhibit chronicling the history of printmaking in LA, showcasing work produced at Tamarind, Gemini and Cirrus in the 1960s and 70s.

The Passion of Kenneth Anger Dec 02, 2011

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp, a big fan of Kenneth Anger, marvels at his personal archives and films at MOCA.

They're Big, They're Heavy and, Boy, They're Gorgeous!!! Nov 30, 2011

Edward Goldman shares his annual gift list, which includes a few deliciously heavy biographies and a smart selection of art books bound to impress friends and relatives.

A Picture Worth 1000 Words Nov 23, 2011

Edward Goldman shares listeners' responses to his recent commentary on Marina Abramovic and the MOCA Gala...

Glenn Ligon at LACMA Nov 18, 2011

Art critic Hunter Drohojowska-Philp looks at Glenn Ligon: America, currently on view at LACMA.

When Art and Sex Stare Back at You Nov 16, 2011

Edward Goldman reports from the annual MOCA Gala, an extravagant one-night circus-like event spiced with a lot of art, sex and nudity..

PST: 'Doin' It' at Otis Nov 11, 2011

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp shares her thoughts on "Doin' it in Public: Feminism and Art at the Women's Building," the Pacific Standard Time exhibit now at the Otis Gallery.

The Black Monks of Mississippi Nov 10, 2011

Special to Art Talk: KCRW's Lisa Napoli interviews artist Theaster Gates about The Black Monks of Mississippi.

In These Gods We Trust Nov 09, 2011

Edward Goldman reviews a new exhibition at the Getty Villa that explores the deep connection between Ancient and Modern art.

PST: Wallace Berman and Robert Heinecken at the Armory Nov 04, 2011

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp explores the experimental photography of Robert Heinecken and Wallace Berman, now on view at the Armory Center for the Arts in Pasadena.

Culture Clash, Spirit Unbroken and Attitude Galore Nov 02, 2011

Edward Goldman reviews the latest exhibition by Gajin Fujita at LA Louver Gallery and Chuck Close at Blum & Poe Gallery...

PST: Now Dig This! Oct 28, 2011

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp takes us to UCLA's Hammer Museum for Now Dig This! Art and Black Los Angeles, 1960-1980.

Happy Memories Are Here Again Oct 26, 2011

A few weeks ago, in my Art Talk, I shared with you the story of an unusual collaboration between Ed Ruscha and Joe Goode that took place in the late 1980's. The project...

LA Art from Nixon to Reagan: PST's 'Under the Big Black Sun' Oct 21, 2011

For weeks, I've been talking about Los Angeles art of the 1960's, art made of light and colored plastic, even Pop art, art produced during period of prosperity in Southern California...

Art, Sex, and Rock 'N' Roll Oct 19, 2011

Have you ever seen a first-rate theater performance, sitting front and center, close to the stage? That's how I felt walking through the smart, captivating, and elegantly installed...

PST's 'Artistic Evolution:' Art among the Dinosaurs Oct 14, 2011

Before the Museum of Contemporary Art, even before the L.A. County Museum of Art, large art exhibitions in this city were held at what was then called the Museum of Natural Science...

Is It a Bird, Is It a Plane? No, It's Ed Ruscha! Oct 12, 2011

Okay, make fun of me. With hundreds of Pacific Standard Time exhibitions — or is it thousands? — non-stop, 24/7, all over town, I desperately needed an escape....

PST's 'Phenomenal: Light and Space in San Diego' Oct 11, 2011

In the 1960's, artists everywhere were experimenting with ways to move beyond the traditional disciplines of painting and sculpture. In Southern California, many of them...

Portrait of LA by City's Better Angels Oct 05, 2011

Just in time for an explosion of exhibitions in museums and galleries all over Southern California, two new art fairs were launched in LA last week...

PST at the Getty Sep 30, 2011

With all the discussion of Pacific Standard Time, the contributions of the Getty Museum have not really come into focus. As of October 1, the focus will be clear....

Dressed to Kill For Sep 28, 2011

For us, Angelinos, intrigued by the city’s ever-changing art scene, this week will test our endurance... There are major exhibitions opening at four different museums plus...

Art at the Edge: Pomona Sep 23, 2011

Pacific Standard Time is far flung affair and last week I drove to east to check out the show at Pomona College Museum of Art...

Dark, Sexy, Provocative. The Choice Is Yours Sep 21, 2011

You probably heard the joke that one cannot be too thin or too rich. To which I usually like to add, with a wink, that one cannot have too much good art either....

PST: Beatrice Wood and Craig Kauffman Sep 16, 2011

Art Critic Hunter Drohojowska-Phil reviews Beatrice Wood and Craig Kauffman, both in Santa Monica.

Young Men and a Lot of Chocolate Sep 14, 2011

In the art world, the beginning of September is a time when bells start ringing, announcing the opening of the autumn season...

Three Pacific Standard Time Exhibits at LACMA Sep 09, 2011

Hunter Drohojowska-Philp reviews three exhibits currently on view at LACMA as part of Pacific Standard Time.

Be Warned: This Art Makes You Want to Throw Up Sep 07, 2011

Powerful works of art inevitably inspire and surprise. They stir up emotions and, on occasion, even make you indignant and uncomfortable. But to make you want to throw up...?

Do Museums Love Themselves More Than They Love Art? Aug 31, 2011

One of the most despicable things that can happen to a great work art, beyond destruction caused by some terrible calamity, is to be willfully cut in pieces for the greedy purpose...

Twelve Angry Heads Aug 24, 2011

In the last decade, the name of Chinese sculptor Ai Weiwei has become known not only to the art connoisseurs but to a wide public as well...

When Showing Off Is the Name of the [Art] Game Aug 10, 2011

For the last couple of months, friends and colleagues returning from New York kept raving about one particular exhibition, the one at the Metropolitan Museum...

The Road to Art Hell Is Paved with Good Intentions Aug 03, 2011

You've probably seen photos of aspiring actors standing on streets in endless lines, waiting for a chance to audition for a role, no matter how small...

The Majesty of Lucian Freud Jul 27, 2011

Art Around the Clock, Carmageddon Be Damned Jul 20, 2011

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Art has unique power to inspire, to heal and, sometimes, even to triumph over such daunting obstacles as Carmageddon...

Music to Your Eyes Jul 13, 2011

Okay, ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce you to a young lady I've been in love with for as long as I remember myself. Not only is she charming and pretty, but...

With Art, There's No Rest for the Wicked Jul 06, 2011

When Russians try to talk sense into an impatient, restless person, they say, "For heaven's sakes, slow down! It seems like you are sitting on a nail!"...

It Takes Chutzpah to Compete with Great Artists of the Past Jun 29, 2011

Compared to the US, everything in Europe seems so close. It took me less than an hour to get from Antwerp to Amsterdam by speed train...

Traveling for Art and Eating Well Jun 22, 2011

Summer is upon us, and many of you are probably traveling. Like everyone else, planning a trip, I ask my smart, artsy friends for advice: what to see and what to eat....

Visiting the Belgium Trifecta of Bruges, Ghent and Mechelen Jun 15, 2011

Trust me, it's not Lady Godiva chocolate or the amazing variety of beers that made me go to Belgium twice in the last five months. In January, I was invited to Brussels...

In a Dark Room. Intoxicated. Jun 08, 2011

My recent trip to Europe ended up in Barcelona... About fifty art dealers from around the world gathered there for Loop, an annual video art fair....

Deathly Fascinating Jun 01, 2011

When I went to the Whitney Museum in December, I had no idea who Paul Thek was...

In Belgium. High on Art. May 25, 2011

It's 6 o'clock. I am waiting for a plane and staring in disbelief at the bold, colorful posters of Kandinsky, Sam Francis and Howard Hodgkin — of all places — on the walls of MacDonald's...

The Best and the Worst: The Choice Is Yours May 11, 2011

My last program with a reference to the art of super-famous Jeff Koons as "Shiny, Bubbly and Boring..." hit a nerve with listeners. I got quite a lot of responses to this program and you might want to read them on KCRW's website. Here are a few of my favorites...

Shiny, Bubbly and Boring…It Must Be Jeff Koons May 04, 2011

Being the student of contemporary art, it’s not difficult to notice the relatively short time in which the rich and famous buy and then put these toys back on the market…

Luxury vs. Squalor: The Choice Is Yours Apr 27, 2011

The story starts in the beautifully appointed room, where a lady of leisure is rolling up her stockings and tying them, just above the knees, with a pink ribbon...

Art! Behaving!! Badly!!! Apr 20, 2011

Last week, in the industrial heart of Downtown L.A., thousands of people were confronted with art and artists behaving badly. Big time. Graffiti and litter...

The Art of Twisting and Turning Reality as We Know It Apr 13, 2011

Strolling through the gardens of the Huntington Library makes me feel as if I am walking through the elaborate set design of a Shakespeare play..

Brutal and Delicate: Artists Throw Punches Apr 06, 2011

Looking at the schedule of art exhibitions here and abroad, one is tempted to say that all roads today lead not to Rome but to David Smith (1906-1965)...

It Sure Isn't Pretty, but Boy Is It Beautiful Mar 30, 2011

If you had a chance to see paintings by Henry Taylor a couple of years ago at the Santa Monica Museum of Art...you definitely would remember the overwhelming impact of the gritty street scenes with their downtown denizens, captured by him so colorfully, so mercilessly but, ultimately, so lovingly on his large canvases...

These Saints and Rascals Look Familiar Mar 23, 2011

The forecast for last weekend was rather grim, so I was crossing my fingers and praying that the group of art aficionados I was scheduled to lead on an art tour in downtown L.A. would not be caught in a storm. Somehow, my prayers were heard...

Impossible, Implausible Story of 'The Desert of Forbidden Art' Mar 16, 2011

This is a story that is almost too good to be true. The story of a young artist who dedicated and virtually sacrificed his life to save the art of hundreds of other artists he admired...

Getty's Turner Is Another Jewel in LA's Crown Mar 09, 2011

Last summer, when the Getty placed the highest bid — $45 million — at London auction, for the rare and beautiful landscape by J.M.W. Turner, many skeptics, including myself, were understandably pessimistic about the chance that this great painting would ever be allowed to leave the shores of England...

Hollywood: Art and Oscars Mar 02, 2011

I wonder if the less than stellar results of the last Oscars, with its low voltage and sagging viewership, will make the Hollywood weasels — clearly in need of help and inspiration — turn to the world of Art...

Great Art Inspired by Homer and Cartoons Feb 23, 2011

However strange it might sound, there is something in common between visiting a particularly good art exhibition and going to that special restaurant for a great dinner with friends. In both cases, the moment you enter the premises, you are charmed and slightly seduced.

Be Warned: You Can't Operate a Vehicle After Watching This Video Feb 16, 2011

Generally speaking, I do not have an addictive personality. Anyway, I’m not a smoker or heavy drinker. But when I feel like getting high, I head to the nearest museum or gallery, or at least grab an art book off of a coffee table.

Welcome to a Big, Small, Strange World of Art Feb 09, 2011

It's not that often that one can find art related news on the front page of American newspapers, except when a big time scandal rattles the status quo. In 1990, the director of the Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati was put on so-called "obscenity" trial for exhibiting provocative photographs by Robert Mapplethorpe. Now, Mapplethorpe's name is once again front-page news, but this time it marks a happy occasion...

Fairs, Fairs on the Wall, Which Is Prettiest of Them All? Jan 12, 2011

So, ladies and gentlemen, this is the time of the year when all of you, art lovers, must put on running shoes and make a mad dash around town. Once again, the month of January is crowded in L.A. with art fairs that bring here hundreds of art dealers from the United States and abroad, all of them eager to spread before you thousands of paintings, sculptures, photographs, videos — you name it...

William Eggleston: Prince of Melancholy Jan 05, 2011

Nothing, absolutely nothing happens in the world captured in the photos by William Eggleston. But if you take a deep breath and allow yourself the luxury of slowing down, then his photos will start to whisper and maybe even sing to you their irresistible songs...

Trying to Undo the Whitewashing Dec 22, 2010

Last week's program, American Museums: All Talk, No Walk, addressed the issue of the latest artistic censorship, when two leading American museums were intimidated by controversy caused by art they put on display. I didn't expect to do a follow up to this program, but so many of you placed comments on the Art Talk page of the KCRW website...that I decided, with your help, to try to undo the whitewashing done by MOCA and the Smithsonian.

From New York, Crazy with Art Dec 08, 2010

In a short program like this, there is no way to do justice to the New York art scene that I plunged head first into last week. The week after Thanksgiving is my favorite time to go there: museums and galleries are putting their best foot forward, and theaters and concert halls follow the same trend. So if you are thinking of visiting the Big Apple, here is a haiku review of the best that I saw and experienced there...

Great Art Books to Give This Holiday Season Dec 01, 2010

To make your life a little bit easier during the Christmas frenzy, here is a wonderful array of art books to give as holiday gifts. Trust me, your friends and family will be amused and entertained...

A Delicious Art Spread for Your Thanksgiving Weekend Nov 24, 2010

Have you ever heard the expression, "An exhibition a day keeps the devil away?" Ok, I made it up, but in a nutshell, that sums up my religious philosophy. And that's why, for the upcoming Thanksgiving weekend, I want to present you with a whole spread of delicious art exhibitions that should keep the devil away for the entire week...

All's Well that Ends Well...with a Gala at MOCA Nov 17, 2010

Probably many of you would agree that we are living in a rather cynical age, and that's why it's so inspiring to witness the miracle of resurrection. And no, I'm not talking about the story of Jesus. I'm talking about MOCA, our Museum of Contemporary Art, which last year swiftly rose from the ashes thanks to the tremendous support of Los Angeles artists, collectors, and especially the generosity of LA philanthropists Eli and Edythe Broad...

Ars Longa, Vita Brevis Nov 10, 2010

Keep us, Lord, from losing close friends...those are the words of a Russian poet lamenting the loss of dear friends. In Russian, it goes like this: "Teryat druzei gospod ne prevedi." But somehow, when departed friends happen to be good artists, their spirit continues to live on in their art, and for those of us left behind, it's welcome consolation...

MOCA Celebrates the Creative Spirit of LA Nov 02, 2010

I am very tempted today to honor L.A.'s 30-year-old Museum of Contemporary Art, which thinks of itself as the ‘Artist's Museum,' by simply reading -- with much respect and admiration -- the names of all 140 artists whose works are presented in the ambitious new exhibition occupying both of its downtown venues, MOCA Grand Avenue and the Geffen Contemporary. But going through this roster would take all the time and space allotted for Art Talk. Instead, I want to extend my sincere congratulations to the museum, whose triumphs and tribulations we, Angelenos, have witnessed over the past three decades...

Demise or Rebirth for KCET? Oct 27, 2010

The recent announcement that KCET, L.A.’s flagship public television station, cut its ties to PBS as a result of a protracted financial dispute with the network, was met with disbelief. You could hear the outcry: What would happen to the innocent children -- all those little angels in our city -- deprived of their beloved Sesame Street? And how will aging Baby Boomers manage without their Antiques Roadshow and News Hour? But come now, dry your tears and rest assured: KOCE, the Orange County-based public TV station, announced that it will fill the void and start to broadcast these beloved programs in Southern California...

The Diminishing Role of Museums in Today's Art World Oct 20, 2010

After the five long, tortuous years that it took Italian authorities to make their dubious case against former Getty Museum antiquities curator Marion True, the trial is over -- at last. It didn't prove either the curator's innocence or the validity of the prosecutors' claim that True knowingly acquired for the Getty numerous ancient artifacts which had been illegally excavated and then smuggled out of Italy. In an all-too-familiar example of excruciating Italian bureaucracy, the criminal charges simply exceeded the statute of limitations, and the trial, as the LA Times put it, "ended in a bureaucratic whimper."

A Lovely Stew of Fashion and Nudity, Plus a Dash of Profane Oct 13, 2010

WEB EXCLUSIVE! Whether in scorching heat or foggy gloom, driving along the PCH toward Pepperdine University in Malibu is always a pleasure. My goal was to see the exhibition Inspired by Fashion and Finance presenting artworks created in the last forty years and pulled from the holdings of the Weisman Art Foundation. Though this exhibition doesn’t break any new ground, it definitely provides plenty of amusement and food for thought...

Three Exhibitions Hardly Acknowledging Each Other Oct 06, 2010

By nature I'm not an envious person, but this morning, going through the Los Angeles and New York Times - I felt a pang of jealousy. There, on the front page of the New York Times, was a glowing report about the major Claude Monet exhibition that just opened at the Grand Palais in Paris. And if that's not enough, this front-page article was illustrated by an attractive photograph, with the report continuing on the inside with a generous half-page of text accompanied by an even larger color photograph..

WWII Tragedy Turned This Doctor into an Artist Sep 22, 2010

When I mentioned in last week's program, The Best of 9/11, the captivating exhibition of Italian artist Alberto Burri currently on display at the Santa Monica Museum of Art, I was still ignorant of the most important and dramatic experience of his life. While serving as a physician in the Italian army in North Africa, he was captured in 1943 by American troops and then imprisoned for three years at a POW camp in Texas...

The Best of 9-11 Sep 15, 2010

Confessions of an Art-aholic Sep 08, 2010

Hello, my name is Edward Goldman, and I am an art-aholic. There, I've said it. Dope, drugs, and alcohol don't do much for me, but art...that is another matter. Art has held me in its grip for as long as I can remember. If, God forbid, there is no museum or art gallery within thirty minutes of wherever I am, my blood pressure drops dangerously to the point where demons start dancing in front of my eyes...

Artistic Rites of Passage: Triumphs and Failures Sep 01, 2010

Most artists, before developing their own unique voice and signature style, go through lengthy and often difficult rites of passage. The amazing exhibition of Arshile Gorky currently on view at LA's Museum of Contemporary Art has numerous examples of his earlier works, where we see the young artist gradually absorbing the ideas and energy of Modern Art – a kind of art he knew next to nothing about before emigrating from Armenia to the United States in 1920...

An Embarrassment of Riches Aug 25, 2010

Monday's announcement that Los Angeles art collector and philanthropist Eli Broad had finally chosen downtown as the location for his new museum did not necessarily come as a big surprise. After all, he has always been deeply involved with the Grand Avenue Project, which was intended to revitalize downtown LA through commercial and cultural development..

The Gospel of Goldman: Top Ten Reasons to Support KCRW Aug 11, 2010

So, ladies and gentlemen, here is the Art Gospel, according to Edward Goldman: The Top Ten reasons – no, Ten Commandments - urging your support for KCRW, the radio station par excellence...

Fasten Your Belt, It's Going to Be a Bumpy Ride Jul 28, 2010

If you've never been to the Pacific Design Center, it might be a challenge to find the satellite galleries of the Museum of Contemporary Art there. The small separate building stands near the busy intersection of San Vicente and Santa Monica Boulevard, but driving by you wouldn't see the large banner advertising the current exhibition. Only by approaching this building on foot via the PDC plaza will you see the banner announcing the new exhibition by video artist Ryan Trecartin titled Any Ever...

Happy Dog Days of Summer Are Here Again Jul 21, 2010

So, at last, the happy dog days of summer are here again. Yes, I know I am mixing metaphors, but it's been hot - almost 90 degrees, even here in Santa Monica, so I do have an excuse. Last weekend, seemingly everyone wanted to come to the beach to cool off, but I had better plans: with a group of friends, I went in the opposite direction - toward downtown - to the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. Cool idea, don't you think? Actually, it was freezing cool inside...yes, I know, I am mixing metaphors again...

MOCA's Double Standard Jul 14, 2010

A little more than a year ago, MOCA, LA's Museum of Contemporary Art, was on its deathbed. After years of living beyond its means by illegally dipping into its endowment, the museum finally came to a breaking point: the director had to resign, the museum board was revamped, and at the eleventh hour, Los Angeles mega-philanthropist Eli Broad came to the rescue, to the tune of $30 million. Thus, the museum was saved, and one could hear sighs of relief all across our City of Angels and well beyond...

Creative Juices Peaking after Decades of Work Jul 07, 2010

Mother Nature, in cahoots with the Gods and Muses, often treats architects and artists very differently. While architects tend to reach creative maturity and develop their unique style later in life, their artistic cousins - painters, sculptors, and photographers - reach a creative peak, most of the time, much earlier in their careers...

Pangs of Jealousy toward San Francisco Jun 30, 2010

I just returned from San Francisco, and let me tell you, I am jealous - very jealous. I went there for the opening of the new exhibition at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art... In an unprecedented act of generosity, Doris and the late Don Fisher, renowned collectors of contemporary art, gave their outstanding collection to SFMOMA, and in celebration of this occasion, the museum mounted a superb exhibition called Calder to Warhol....

They Hated Him, But He Hated Them Back Jun 23, 2010

When the late Hollywood comedian Rodney Dangerfield was ranting that he didn't “get no respect,” he was actually building a solid foundation for his career. But when 19th century French painter Jean-Léon Gérôme (1824-1904) complained that he could get no respect from either his colleagues at the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts or the leading critics of the day, it was definitely not a joke, but the bitter truth of his otherwise successful career...

Gone Are Two Major Players in LA's Cultural Life Jun 16, 2010

A few days apart, we Angelenos lost two major players in the cultural life of our city. First came the shocking news of the untimely death at age 69 of James Wood, the President and CEO of the Getty Trust. And then we learned about Ernest Fleischmann, former managing director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, who, after a long illness, passed away at age 85...

Bitter Life of a 'Bitter' Artist Jun 09, 2010

The life of Arshile Gorky, one of the most famous mid-century American artists, was marked by tragedy from the very beginning. Born around 1902 in an Armenian province of Ottoman Turkey, he and his family experienced the horror of the 1915 Genocide, during which more than a million Armenians were massacred. Somehow, he, his mother and three sisters escaped, though a few short years later, his mother died of starvation. At the age of 16, he managed to find his way to America, eventually settling in New York in 1924. In the following twenty plus years, this self-taught painter absorbed the lessons of a number of great artists, from Cezanne to Picasso to Miro....

What a Difference a Day Makes Jun 02, 2010

This past Memorial Day weekend turned out to have yet another sad dimension. Yes, we honored the memory of untold thousands of American soldiers who lost their lives on the battlefield in service of our country. But in addition to that, those of us caring deeply about art had an extra reason to mourn over the last few days. Saturday brought the news of the death - at age 74 - of Dennis Hopper, the famous Hollywood actor and distinguished artist...

The Naked Truth May 26, 2010

When I think about artists who excel at the art of portraiture, I am thinking about those whom I admire not just for capturing the likeness of a sitter, but those who, courageously and in the most uncompromising way, swore to tell the truth, and nothing but the truth: about the people who model for them, then about us viewers, and ultimately, about themselves...

Making the Most of It... May 19, 2010

When I went to Christopher Grimes Gallery for the opening of the exhibition of paintings by Scott Short, I didn't detect any signs of crisis. There were only two large, abstract, black and white paintings in the front room, which made for a very elegant, spare installation. The last time I saw this artist's work was a couple of months ago in New York, at the Whitney Biennial, so I was looking forward to seeing his new exhibition here in Los Angeles and meeting the artist himself. Scott Short's paintings put me in a rather contemplative mood, offering an interesting dilemma: should they be perceived as a proliferation of white shapes painted on a black ground, or black shapes painted on a white ground? Am I seeing a night sky through flakes of falling snow, or, a vast snow-covered landscape dotted with hundreds of tiny dark splotches – skiers, perhaps?

Up Close and Personal: Your Only Chance May 12, 2010

One of the guilty pleasures of being an art critic is having the chance to visit artists in their studios, ask questions, look at art closely, hear the stories, and - yes, smell the paint. When an artwork leaves the studio, the proverbial umbilical cord is cut; seen later - in a gallery or museum exhibition - the work continues to be appealing, but something is missing. And that something is the unique intimacy that only can be experienced by seeing the artwork in the midst of the creative chaos of an artist's studio.

If You Happen to Be in Manhattan or Santa Barbara May 05, 2010

If I had the chance to be in New York today, the Christie's saleroom in Rockefeller Center would be the place I'd try to sneak into, to watch the high-profile sale of the outstanding private collection of Los Angeles philanthropist and collector Frances Brody. In spite of the state of the economy, this collection, with its truly amazing works by Matisse, Picasso, Braque, and Giacometti, among others, is expected to fetch at least $150 million....

On a Merry-Go-Round of Sacred and Profane Apr 28, 2010

As expected, last week's program titled "Let Me Confess..." about the three churches I went rather spontaneously to on Sunday afternoon generated more responses than usual. One listener wrote: "Edward, you should do this sort of urban landscape confessional thing more often." And indeed, I'm planning to do just that. In response to my asking for your favorite house of worship here in Los Angeles and beyond - one you like for its art, architecture, and interior design - I received some very interesting suggestions and do hope to get even more, along with photographs you've taken. So in the weeks and months to come, I'll continue to travel around our City of Angels, following up on your suggestions, and then we can all participate in choosing LA's three most visually appealing houses of worship...

Let Me Confess... Apr 21, 2010

Let me start by admitting that last Sunday I did something very...hmm, shall I say...unusual? It's not just that I went to church, but that in one afternoon I went to three churches. And I must confess that I went there not to pray or to hear a sermon, but just for the pleasure of it. It all started rather innocently...

From Chicago, with Dance and Art Apr 14, 2010

The past week turned out to be challenging and very hard on some of my friends. It brought a trifecta of bad news, affecting them and their friends. I would probably still be singing the blues if not for the generous dollop of art and culture that I got last weekend...

Hidden in Plain Sight Apr 07, 2010

Last week was special indeed. Most of my friends were busy celebrating either Passover or Easter, so I felt compelled to do something for my spirit as well. As my luck would have it, American Cinematheque at the Aero Theatre was showing Andrei Rublev, the famous movie by avant-garde Russian director Andrei Tarkovsky telling the story of the 16th century Russian monk and artist whose frescoes and icons are among the most cherished treasures of Russian spiritual culture...

Expecting the Least, Getting the Most Mar 31, 2010

For me, going to see an exhibition or a movie or a new play, it's always the same: the biggest surprise comes when I have no expectations, and the biggest disappointment occurs when, for whatever reason, I expect quite a lot. So when I went a couple of weeks ago to see selections from the private art collection of Greek billionaire Dakis Joannou at the New Museum in Manhattan, I thought I was in for a treat. After all, the exhibition was curated by none other than Jeff Koons...

Heaven and Hell in New York Mar 29, 2010

It was a hell of a trip, at least the beginning of it: my morning flight to New York was delayed for three hours because of the storm there, and then...the flight was simply cancelled. Great. The only choice was to fly the next day or wait for another nine hours for a very slim chance at flying standby on the red-eye...

President Lincoln Speaks Again Mar 10, 2010

Week after week may pass without any surprise while I'm dutifully visiting numerous gallery and museum exhibition. So you can understand why last week turned out to be particularly rewarding – I stumbled upon four good exhibitions, each appealing in its own way...

'American Stories' Beats Renoir's Tired Nudes Mar 03, 2010

When I went to New York last December, I rushed to the Metropolitan Museum to see the exquisite small exhibition of 18th century French painter Antoine Watteau. It was the closing day of the show, and I expected it to be packed, but luckily for me, that was not the case. There was another show at the Met that Sunday that drew a big crowd: a sprawling display of American paintings telling stories of everyday life here, in this country of ours, from the late 18th to the early 20th centuries...

A Bloody Perfect Time in Madrid Feb 24, 2010

I probably shouldn't, but simply I couldn't...say 'No.' An invitation to go to Spain for the international contemporary art fair, ARCO Madrid, arrived less than three weeks before the opening, but hey, who's complaining?...

Breaking News about...Broken Art Feb 10, 2010

If you're not brave enough to deal with the cold, rainy days upon us here in southern California, I want to suggest a lovely alternative: spend a couple of cozy hours perusing the delicious display of drawings by one of the greatest artists of all time. Several dozen drawings by Rembrandt and his students are on display at the Getty Center in an elegant, imaginatively installed exhibition, where visitors have a chance to participate in an ongoing scholarly debate - which drawings were done by the great master himself, and which by his pupils trying to emulate his style?

And Speaking of Auctions, Fairs, and Presidents... Jan 27, 2010

In Southern California, where most cultural institutions are not more than a few decades old, the upcoming 60th anniversary of the Long Beach Museum of Art is definitely a milestone. Starting on February 5, the museum will present a series of interesting exhibitions drawn from its permanent collection and introducing a new generation of museum-goers to the high points in the Long Beach Museum's history of collecting and exhibitions...

A Stormy Week, in More Ways than One Jan 20, 2010

Last week proved to be quite trying for museums here in LA and even further north. While the Getty and MOCA have had their share of unpleasantries in dealing with the coming and going of their directors, the Fresno Metropolitan Museum of Art & Science literally went belly-up, becoming the victim of a royal miscalculation by its trustees...

Pray That New MOCA Head Won't Become Art World's Sarah Palin Jan 13, 2010

Sometimes when museum directors get hired, fired, or choose to resign, it creates a mild controversy -- a storm in a teacup. But not this time. The announcement by trustees of LA's Museum of Contemporary Art that they selected Jeffrey Deitch, a prominent New York art dealer, as MOCA's new director, created nothing short of a perfect storm, generating headlines nationwide...

All's Fair in LA Jan 06, 2010

Once in a while, or, to be more precise, once each year, one can justifiably say about life here in the City of Angels that All's Fair in LA. Usually it happens in the month of January, when not one, but three art fairs roll into town, causing a lot of happy commotion, confusion, and anticipation. Scheduled literally days apart, these art fairs have names which are easily mixed up, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that even art insiders get somewhat confused.

Reports of My Death Are Greatly Exaggerated (Mark Twain) Dec 30, 2009

Even if you've been only half awake throughout this past year, you could not hide from the grim reality of the financial woes that made life for so many of us extremely unsettling and worrisome. And definitely the art world was not immune to this dramatic downward spiral. Museums were forced to face the tough economic reality by paring down scheduled exhibitions, cutting back staff, and putting a freeze on new hires. Disappointing sales at art auctions and various art fairs reinforced the sense of doom and gloom on the international art scene, and a number of galleries were forced to close their doors. But, as Mark Twain once said, "The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated..."

Leaving Fashion for Art Dec 23, 2009

It was not what I expected when I went to see the new film, A Single Man directed by fashion icon Tom Ford, but nevertheless, there I was, in a packed theater, following the story of a man about to die and being moved by it, but...only to a point. The acting was superb, but the same could be said about the lighting, the costume design, the sets – and for me this striving for perfection significantly lowered the emotional impact of this movie...

In New York, Drunk on Art Dec 16, 2009

The day after Thanksgiving I took the red-eye to New York, and with hardly two hours of sleep, plunged into the festive madness of Manhattan giddily rushing toward Christmas. The first order of the day was a long walk -- about 40 blocks -- to the Metropolitan Museum to catch a couple small, jewel-like exhibitions before they closed the next day...

Pope Art? Dec 09, 2009

Once upon a time, many many years ago in a faraway land, lived a king who ruled over a country which was very tiny indeed, but he was so powerful and wealthy that other kings felt very envious. This king was also very smart; he knew the power of art, so he searched far and wide for the most talented and famous artists to decorate his castle with the most beautiful tapestries, paintings and sculptures – and paid them handsomely...

Art and Babies, Part II Nov 25, 2009

When a couple of weeks ago, I shared with you the story of my friend Meridee's visit to the Getty with her 2 ½ year-old niece, your response to the adventures of this little girl on her first trip to a museum far exceeded my expectations. She was so cute, asking at the museum information booth if they had any 'pony art,' and it was so touching that the lady behind the desk took this request seriously and actually found for this tiny visitor four artworks depicting horses. And you know what? When Getty officials got wind of this story, they did some detective work and found the wonderful lady who was working the information booth on that particular day. Her name is Ann Erwin, and I want to congratulate her for doing such a splendid job...

Last Week's Trifecta Nov 18, 2009

Last week Los Angeles hosted what sports fans would probably call a perfect trifecta of cultural events. First, the Museum of Contemporary Art celebrated its 30th anniversary with a huge, lavish gala attended by 1,000 art patrons, many of whom flew in just for the occasion...

Art and Babies Nov 11, 2009

Today's program has a simple and wholesome title, "Art and Babies." And the sermon I'm about to deliver has to do with the impact that art can have on the lives of our little angels. Speaking in front of a live audience, I often bring up the issue of the importance of exposing children to art at a very early age. Every young parent knows the benefit of suspending a mobile with bright shiny objects above the crib to activate the child's brain. Therefore, there is no doubt in my mind that bringing these little angels to museums, even before they are potty-trained, is wonderfully stimulating as well...

This Beauty's Looking at You, Kid Nov 04, 2009

Every time I'm in New York, I never miss the chance to visit the most elegant salon on the Upper East Side of Manhattan to pay my respects to its charming hostess, famous for her beauty as well as her repose. A woman of few words, she greets you in the foyer, and you cannot help but notice that even with the passing years, her youthful glow and aura of mystique have hardly changed. She travels very rarely, but when she does, it makes the news. So when she recently accepted an invitation to come to Southern California, her friends and admirers made sure to set aside time to visit with her...

Encountering Art, Police Chief Gets Egg on His Face Oct 28, 2009

So, what would you think about the LA Police Chief if you heard that he had expressed support for a controversial public artwork installed in front of the new police headquarters? Would you worry? Rest assured, outgoing Police Chief William Bratton simply hates the eight monumental bronze sculptures installed at the new LAPD...

LA Artists on Fire Oct 21, 2009

For almost one hundred years, people around the world have known Los Angeles primarily as the place where movies are made. But in the last couple of decades, something else has entered into the equation: a few LA artists have achieved such international acclaim that they've become our de facto cultural ambassadors to the world at large...

He Was the Scheherazade of Our Time Oct 14, 2009

Last month, at the opening of the Irving Penn exhibition at the Getty Center, the celebrated 92 year-old photographer was not in attendance. We were told that he hates to fly, which shouldn't come as a surprise, considering his age. Though his exhibition of 210 black and white photographs is still on view at the museum, the artist himself is no more; last week brought the sad news of the death of Irving Penn, one of the most famous photographers of the 20th century...

Hitting a Nerve: The Anatomy of Beauty and Horror Oct 07, 2009

Do you remember the olden days when everyone had a Polaroid camera, and the small color photos our parents took on vacation could be found in virtually every household? These days, Polaroid technology is almost obsolete, and one can hardly find the film for those instant cameras. A few people, however, are still continuing their love affair with this medium...

Towering Figures, Tumbling Walls Sep 30, 2009

Anyone who had the good fortune to know Henry Hopkins (1928-2009), a seminal figure on the California art scene for the last fifty years, would probably agree that he was the epitome of what we call a gentleman scholar. Even at crowded museum openings, one could always spot Henry – tall, imposing, impeccably dressed – charming everyone with his courtly manners...

Love Thy Garbage Sep 23, 2009

I'm not a morning person, so, fortified with plenty of coffee, I usually start the day off slowly by paging through the newspapers to catch up on the latest. Sometimes, a headline jumps off the page with such a good vibe that it instantly snaps me out of the morning doldrums. Today is one of those days: the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times reported on this year's recipients of the MacArthur Grants, each of whom will receive $500,000, no strings attached. Among the winners are scientists, journalists, performers, and, of special interest to me, visual artists...

A Generous Serving of Small Trades Sep 16, 2009

If you have the slightest interest in the art of photography or fashion, you will undoubtedly recognize the name Irving Penn, whose artistic achievements have had a major influence on the contemporary art scene of the last sixty years. Born in 1917 and still active today, Irving Penn might have started his career as just a fashion photographer, but he quickly developed a distinctive style which set his images apart...

Escaping the Dog Days of Summer Sep 09, 2009

So, how was your Labor Day? Myself, I'm never sure what's the proper thing to do on this holiday – to honor it with an honest day of work or by taking it easy. Even here in Santa Monica it was hot, so I did my usual and fled to the air-conditioned sanctuary of museum galleries...

What's in the Drinking Water in Toledo, Ohio? Sep 02, 2009

Five flights, four cities, two countries – not too bad for a one-week trip, eh? It was my first trip to Canada, where I spent three days in Toronto and two in Ottawa, followed by even shorter visits to Detroit and Toledo, where I hadn't been before either...

The Naked Truth Aug 26, 2009

Truth be told, I haven't yet seen any of the five exhibitions that I want to tell you about today – though I'm still hoping to catch one of them in New York, and another, if luck is on my side, in Florence. Two more exhibitions are coming this fall to Los Angeles, so that makes four. And the last one, the controversial installation of Jeff Koons' sculptures at Versailles, has already closed...

Inside the L.A. Art World Aug 19, 2009

Summertime, and the livin' is easy...You are probably packing for a trip and looking for a book to read, so here's my suggestion: the recently published collection of essays by Los Angeles art insiders who spill their guts in conversation with Richard Hertz – himself a consummate insider of the LA art world, with experience teaching at Caltech and CalArts as well as heading the Department of Graduate Studies at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena...

In This Cemetery, Some Like it Hot Aug 05, 2009

There were four of us on this warm Friday night; blankets under our arms, plastic bags full of snacks; we were walking down a nondescript stretch of Santa Monica Boulevard after a seemingly endless search for a parking spot. And we were not alone. One could see a few more people on the sidewalk, like us schlepping bags and lawn chairs and headed in the same direction...

Paintings Enjoyed by All, Read and Deciphered Only by Few Jul 29, 2009

I wonder how many of you would raise your hands if asked, "Who has been to a performance at UCLA's Royce Hall?" I wouldn't be surprised if most of you have been there on a number of occasions to see dance, theater, or a concert. But how many of you know about the museum tucked away down the hill from Royce Hall? I'm talking about the Fowler Museum, where savvy, adventurous Angelenos can find a variety of exhibitions about little-known arts and cultures...

Beautiful Nightmare Jul 22, 2009

What would you say if a nightmare that woke you up in a cold sweat could be described in the most terrifying detail to a great artist who would be able to recreate it in bronze...and I mean it not figuratively, but literally, in bronze. If you are lucky enough to stumble upon the National Archeological Museum while wandering through Florence, you will never forget the encounter with one of its world-famous treasures, the life-size bronze sculpture of the Chimaera, the mythological creature that is part lion, part goat, and part snake. When it was unearthed in Italy in the 16th century, it immediately became a sensation and soon was installed in the Palazzo Vecchio, the residence of Cosimo I de'Medici...

Collecting, Until Death Do Us Part Jul 15, 2009

For those looking for an excuse to step away from the media obsession with Michael Jackson – and the Sarah Palin sideshow – here's a good chance to do just that: go see the irresistibly charming documentary about Herb and Dorothy Vogel, the most beloved American collectors of the last half-century, whose unique and inspiring life devoted to art collecting earned them a well-deserved reputation as cultural icons...

Abroad, in Search of Art Jul 08, 2009

Immediately after coming home from a trip abroad, I like to check out what's happening on the art scene here in my own town, to see if it holds up against the great variety of art adventures I had while traveling. The first day back in LA, totally jet-lagged and exhausted from two weeks of stuffing myself full of art in Europe (oh, poor Edward...), I rushed to the Getty for the opening of the ambitious exhibition of three centuries of French bronze sculpture. It was full of fascinating objects, but my first impression of the exhibition was that the installation was slightly overcrowded – imagine a dozen larger-than-life generals in one room – I definitely need to see the exhibition again...

So Many Tsars, So Little Time Jul 01, 2009

It's been only a couple of months since my last trip to Amsterdam, so there better be a good reason to return so soon for yet another visit. And how could I say no to an invitation to attend the inaugural ceremony for the opening of the Hermitage Amsterdam, the ambitious collaboration between the famous museum in St. Petersburg and its colleagues in the Netherlands? While two previous attempts at branding by the Hermitage Museum – first in London and then in Las Vegas – turned out to be short-lived, this latest and most ambitious venture, in a beautifully restored 17th century building in the center of Amsterdam, seems to have real staying power...

All the Presidents' (Men and) Portraits Jun 10, 2009

Sunday morning's ritual: a large cup of coffee and piles of newspaper spread out all over my bed. Then, out into the world to the farmers' market, with its abundance of color, texture, and taste. The Santa Monica market is brimming with eccentric characters vying for attention. Last Sunday, it was a slim, shirtless young fellow, with his pants so low that the only mystery remaining was whether he'd been circumcised or not. Looking at the multitude of his boring tattoos, I wondered if he had been exposed to art in school or had ever been taken to a museum. You see, I have a theory that if our schools provided a decent art education, then maybe young people like him would at least choose more interesting tattoos. And maybe with more art education in school, we would be spared the embarrassment of seeing hoards of abysmal portraits of our leaders in the halls and chambers of power throughout the nation...

Highs and Lows on the Museum Scene in LA Jun 03, 2009

Let me come clean. Every time I visit the Metropolitan Museum, I skip the galleries displaying American art, and until recently, it was the same with the Huntington in San Marino. I would spend most of the time there savoring the world-class collection of English paintings and then finish by looking at a couple of temporary exhibitions. Not any longer...

Will Nude Edge Cowboy Out of White House? May 27, 2009

On Inauguration Day, four months ago, I talked about the dream I had for what our new president could accomplish if he decided to become a champion of art. I imagined Barack taking Michelle and their adorable girls on a stroll through the National Gallery, and I fantasized about the president deciding to bring contemporary artworks into the White House – not only into the living quarters, but the Oval Office as well. What a great chance it would be to breathe new energy into the historic rooms, which have gotten a bit stale and could use a break from traditional images of cowboys roaming the Wild West...

So Close to the President, Yet So Far Away May 20, 2009

President Obama's commencement speech at Notre Dame has gotten a lot of attention. I heard it on the radio and watched it on TV and was impressed by his eloquence. But when I saw on the front page of Monday's New York Times the photo of students with the president – big smiles and handshakes all around – I was taken aback by the unintentional lack of civility shown by the students. Take a look at the photograph...

It Takes a Village to Raise Museum Funds May 13, 2009

For good, normal folks who might go to a museum only once in a while, museums present themselves in a stately, unhurried, dignified manner. But if you peer behind the curtain, 'calm' is the last word you would use to describe what's going on there...

Twitter as Big Brother? May 06, 2009

In last week’s program I asked you for advice: ‘To Tweet or Not to Tweet...’ and respond you did – with humor, sarcasm, and good straightforward advice. To read all the responses posted, visit the Art Talk page of the KCRW website. Here are some excerpts...

To Tweet or Not to Tweet, That Is the Question Apr 29, 2009

Looking back at the past thirty years, I see the pattern of my initial reluctance to embrace the technology of the modern world. First, I had to learn to drive a car, though some of my friends tell me that I still drive like a Russian peasant. Then, there was an especially embarrassing moment when I heard for the first time the word "fax" and mistook it for, hmmm...an unprintable profanity, and that's how l learned about the existence of fax machines. When I started to do my Art Talk, I would write and edit the text on an old-fashioned typewriter, until an assistant of mine eventually persuaded me to start working on a computer, so I got a used one, courtesy of her husband. Now, years later, I am spending most of my working hours staring at a screen, reading and sending an endless stream of emails...

Oh...to Be Sixteen Again Apr 22, 2009

It's unbearably hot even here, in Santa Monica, near the beach. Damn those Santa Ana winds. To survive, I need to think and talk about something cool. How about this? A stone's throw from Venice Beach sits LA Louver Gallery, one of the mainstays of the Los Angeles art scene. There, for the next few weeks, you can find a small herd of horses roaming the galleries – some standing still, others grazing or lying down, maybe even sleeping...

Moved by Art Apr 15, 2009

Compared to a journalist covering the disintegration of the international financial system or reporting from the battlefield in Afghanistan, there is an obvious advantage to being an art critic. After all, where else if not in the art business can one think about Death, Debt, and Divorce as something to look forward to, a renewable source of profit for auction houses when private collectors are pressured to sell their art as a result of these three famous "D's." Even when the news from the art scene is especially grim, an encounter with a wonderful work of art can still restore my spirit as I make weekly rounds through the galleries and museums...

From Russia with Art Apr 08, 2009

Somehow in the last several weeks, Russian avant-garde culture of the early 20th century has been presenting itself with surprising consistency, both here in LA and during my recent trip to Holland. In Amsterdam I saw excellent early paintings by Kandinsky, and on the last day there, I was invited to see The Four Temperaments by Balanchine performed by the Dutch National Ballet. The theater was packed, and the dancers were very good. All that made me think about the famous Ballets Russes and its impresario Sergei Diaghilev, who introduced the whole world to the genius of Igor Stravinsky’s music in his ballets Petrushka and The Rite of Spring...

'I love plastic. I want to be plastic.' - Andy Warhol Apr 01, 2009

Returning to LA from a ten-day trip to Holland, I jumped head first into the thick of things, trying to catch up with the new exhibitions in museums and galleries. First I drove downtown to the USC Fisher Museum, which has become the happy recipient of a generous gift from the Andy Warhol Foundation...

The Best Place to Get High without Getting Arrested Mar 25, 2009

The name of the picturesque ancient city Maastricht, in the south of Holland, might not ring a bell in American ears, but in Europe it’s definitely well known as the place where the Maastricht Treaty was signed in 1992, giving birth to the European Union. Another reason to be aware of this city is TEFAF, the celebrated annual international art fair, often referred to as the ‘Tiffany’ of all art fairs. That’s where curators and discriminating collectors from around the world go in search of rare examples of Greek and Roman art, Old Master drawings and paintings, and fabulous pieces of furniture, tapestries, and porcelain that once upon a time decorated the stately homes of European nobility..

Is Old Master Art Still a Sure Thing? Mar 11, 2009

The last couple of months, running into various art dealers, the first thing I ask is how they're holding up. No doubt, it's been a difficult time for the art market, where sales of contemporary art are way below what they were even a year ago. One exception was the recent sale of the Yves Saint Laurent collection, a big success, probably attributable to the worldwide recognition of the designer's name; people are willing to pay extra for an art work belonging to a famous person...

Beverly Hills Housewife for Sale Mar 04, 2009

When you think about the most important Los Angeles cultural patrons of the last fifty years –- people who devoted their sizable fortunes and limitless passion to supporting and promoting the arts 0– three names spring immediately to mind: Dorothy Chandler, who gave us the Music Center, Marcia Weisman, the driving force behind the creation of MOCA; and, last but not least, Betty Freeman, a legendary patron of avant-garde music as well as a major collector of American post-war art...

Humble, but Sooo Sexy Feb 25, 2009

Now that the razzle dazzle of Oscar night has mercifully passed, and our tuxedos and one-strap designer gowns are back in the closet, let's put on overalls and roll up our sleeves: it's time for a reality check...at least reality the way I see it...

In Good Times and Bad, We'll Always Have Art Feb 18, 2009

Whatever the state of the economy right now, one thing is clear: major museums in LA are not wanting for attendance. Last Sunday, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art was pleasantly crowded; not only its temporary exhibitions, but the galleries with permanent collections were full of visitors as well. A lot of young people gathered around four BMW Art Cars exhibited outdoors on the museum plaza. You might want to check out these cars painted by Andy Warhol, Frank Stella, Robert Rauschenberg, and Roy Lichtenstein; this small traveling exhibition closes next Tuesday...

In Gold We Trust Feb 11, 2009

Bad weather, with its strong winds and rain, can sure put a damper on weekend plans, unless you get a little bit creative – after all, there are always museums out there waiting for us. It was pouring when I hit the Pacific Coast Highway last Sunday, but all of a sudden, the celestial authorities had a change of heart, and the rest of the drive to Malibu was smooth sailing: few cars and plenty of sunshine...

All Art, All the Time Jan 28, 2009

It's been a whole week since the dawning of a new era, with President Obama urging fellow citizens to work harder rather than sending us to shop our way out of trouble. I can honestly say that I've never worked harder than this last week; it was all art, all the time, and then some. Judge for yourself...

Obama as Arts Czar? Jan 21, 2009

Since Election Day, when Barack Hussein Obama became President-Elect of the United States, I, like everyone else, have been swept up in the wave of enthusiasm over the results of the election. But truth be told, I'm elated not just because we have our first black president, but because...

Hidden in Plain Sight (Art, That Is) Jan 14, 2009

It shouldn't come as a surprise that with so many good, important art exhibitions fighting for our attention, we inevitably miss one or two of them. But what about the smaller exhibitions and art events which often don't make headlines, though definitely worthy of our attention?

Lights, Camera, Action: LA Is Ready for Its Close-up Jan 07, 2009

I do remember the opening of the first Los Angeles gallery dedicated exclusively to showing photography, an event that was met with considerable skepticism. Then, in the early 80's, not only the public, but a lot of critics considered photography to be the stepchild of the art scene, dominated by painting and sculpture and the critical darlings, conceptual and installation art. These days photography is all the rage...

To MOCA: Our Hallelujahs, Mazel Tovs and Spasibos Dec 24, 2008

This year, Santa Claus has decided to deliver his gift to us a little bit ahead of time. Today's announcement that MOCA at last accepted a generous 'bail out' offer of $30 million from L.A. philanthropist Eli Broad put an end to a flurry of speculations that had inflamed the local and national art scene. It seems that the museum survived the storm and has figured out a way to come out of this mess as a lean, mean and stronger fighting art machine...

The Blind Leading the Blind? Dec 17, 2008

By nature, I am an optimist. But being an art critic and historian, I put things in perspective, which keeps my positive impulses in check. So, I guess that makes me a cautious optimist...

Does MOCA Have the Courage to Face the Music Dec 10, 2008

When I went to Paris in March 2006 for the opening of the groundbreaking exhibition at the Pompidou Centre, which hailed the emergence of Los Angeles as one of the art capitals of the world, I rejoiced not only in celebrating the art and artists of our City of Angels, but also in the fact that so many outstanding works of art came from the collections of our own Museum of Contemporary Art...

MOCA in Peril: Don't Ask for Whom the Bell Tolls Nov 26, 2008

Rumors about the financial difficulties at LA's Museum of Contemporary Art have been circulating for a few years, but the institution, much admired for its cutting edge exhibition program, has maintained a brave face. The museum continued to mount exhibitions in all three of its facilities –- two large spaces downtown and a smaller one at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood. Ambitious exhibitions were accompanied by thick, scholarly catalogues, well designed and obviously expensively produced. So, maybe these rumors were unsubstantiated; after all, in the last few years the museum, instead of cutting its staff, actually expanded it...

Sex, Life and Lots of Art Nov 19, 2008

After being seen in London, Paris, and New York, the retrospective exhibition of works by 96-year-old Louise Bourgeois has finally arrived in LA -– to dazzle, to provoke, and to unsettle virtually everyone who walks through the galleries of the Museum of Contemporary Art, hosting this exhibition until the end of January...

Please, Mr. President, Take Us on a Date Nov 12, 2008

I never start my weekly radio broadcast by giving you its title; only if you visit the KCRW website or sign up to receive Art Talk via email do you find out that each program comes with a headline. Today, for the first time, I want to start this broadcast with the title. Here it goes: PLEASE, MR. PRESIDENT, TAKE US ON A DATE...

Art, Politics, Money... Oct 29, 2008

With just one week left before the election, it's difficult to think or talk about anything else. The political drama –- or comedy, if you will -– of the presidential election proves that we Americans do have a National Theater after all...

Berlin, Part II: Getting Drunk on Art Oct 22, 2008

In the last few years, I've had the good fortune to visit a number of great cities famous for their art and culture -- from Paris and London to Beijing and Mexico City -- but the eight days I recently spent in Berlin left an especially indelible impression on me. To put it simply: I never worked so hard and, definitely, I don't remember ever having so much fun...

Seduced by Berlin Oct 15, 2008

Patience is not my main virtue, but I had no choice but to wait for many years to complete my journey to Berlin. It's been 34 years since I've been there. At that time, the city was divided by the Berlin Wall and we, Soviet tourists, were allowed to see only the Eastern part of the city. I remember standing in front of the Brandenburg Gate in 1974 and wondering what it would be like to walk through its Neoclassical splendor and to discover the forbidden Western part of the city hidden behind the Berlin Wall. It was a time when only a few of the bravest or most desperate souls would attempt to climb over the Wall, and for most of them, the price was a bullet in the head...

Is the Art Market Impervious to Stock Market Turmoil? Sep 24, 2008

Following last week's roller-coaster news – Wall Street in turmoil while London art auction sales for Damien Hirst exceeded $200 million – I couldn't help thinking about the mischievous Gods of Commerce and Art looking down from Mount Olympus at us mere mortals and giggling at our attempts to make sense of it all...

Spooky, Unsettling, Mad Sep 17, 2008

As a rule, I prefer in this program to talk about just one or two of the best exhibitions I’ve seen recently, but today I want to make an exception. So many good shows I saw last week, it makes sense to mention all of them – even if briefly...

Bernini: Tales of Power and Seduction Sep 10, 2008

Due to our recent pledge drive and the coverage of two political conventions, Art Talk has been off the air for a few weeks, so I wouldn't be surprised if you are starving for some good art news. I'm happy to report that the autumn season has gotten off to a good start with a number of museum and gallery exhibitions worth seeing...

From Russia with Art Aug 20, 2008

By the rules that applied to everyone who grew up in the Russia of yesteryear, I was destined to live and die in the same city, the same apartment, holding the same job all my life. But in my lucky case, the city happened to be beautiful St. Petersburg -– then called Leningrad -– and the job I had was in a very special place: the Hermitage, the famous museum founded in the 18th century by Catherine the Great...

Marathon of Chinese Art Aug 06, 2008

It’s been ten months since I returned from Beijing, but China is definitely on my mind. And how can it not be? With the Olympics starting this weekend, China has been front and center of political and cultural coverage for months: Tibet, the earthquake, mind-boggling new buildings in Beijing...

Secret to a Great Exhibition Jul 30, 2008

Good museum exhibitions come in all shapes and sizes. The best of them linger in our memory because of the deep satisfaction that comes from making new artistic discoveries or seeing our old favorites in a new light. Sometimes we remember these exhibitions not only because of the great art, but also for the unusual, innovative way the works were displayed in a specially designed gallery space. Traditionally, major museums rely on a team of in-house designers for the installation of the artworks, but on occasion, they take a risk and invite someone else to design the exhibition...

Buyer Beware...of Art Jul 23, 2008

Usually I find myself in the camp of those who see the glass half full and not half empty. But here is some information that challenges my philosophy: there are about one hundred cities in China with a population of more than one million people. With the Chinese economy booming, most of these cities are building or planning to build a new art museum. So what's not to like? It's definitely a bonanza for architects...

The Never-Ending Quest for Oxygen and Art Jul 16, 2008

You would imagine that after seeing an especially successful exhibition, an art critic would take a break from the never-ending steeplechase and rest for a while, savoring the moment. Not a chance. You would imagine that after seeing an especially disappointing exhibition, yours truly would stop for a moment to lick his aesthetic wounds. Wrong again. Like a shark whose very nature demands constant movement bringing oxygen through his gills, an art critic's very being depends on an endless flow of art through his eyes...

Mona Lisa, Jackie, and...Yes, Me! Jul 09, 2008

If I tell you that I caught a glimpse of Jackie Kennedy once, in her post-Camelot period, would it pique your interest? "Come on, Edward," I can hear you saying, "people were running into her on the streets of Manhattan for years; what's the big deal?" Here's my story...

Chicano Art and All That Jazz Jul 02, 2008

Most American museums follow the guidelines that advise against exhibitions showcasing private collections unless some of the artworks are promised gifts to the museum. Private collectors crave a museum's stamp of approval; it's good for their ego, and more importantly, it's good for their pocket. If they decide to sell the collection, the fact that it was shown in an important museum can significantly increase its value...

Marlene Dumas at MOCA: Art That Slaps You in the Face Jun 25, 2008

Do you think you could enjoy seeing paintings that poke you in the eye, make you sick to your stomach and – as if that's not enough – violate your sense of decency and propriety? But wait a minute...I forgot to mention that these paintings also have an explosive raw energy, frightening authenticity, and the violent brushwork of a drunken samurai wielding his sword right and left...

Art Makes Nothing Happen Jun 18, 2008

Gasoline prices be damned, I spent last week crisscrossing the cultural landscape of southern California, driving to Santa Barbara, to Ojai, to Long Beach, to Altadena. But on Saturday, I gave myself a break and spent the whole afternoon roaming for art close to home -– in downtown LA, to be precise...

Record Prices for Art and Crude Oil Jun 11, 2008

Last year when I went to Beijing to get a taste of its exploding contemporary art scene, I was especially taken by the monumental and rather dramatic art installation by Qiu Anxiong in the cavernous space of the Universal Studios Gallery. In my Art Talk about the Chinese art scene, I described the dimly lit room dominated by a railroad car – not a full-scale replica, but the real thing, which I recognized immediately. I rode similar trains as a child in Soviet Russia in the 50's and 60's. At the gallery, one was invited to climb into this no-frills railroad car where every window was used as a screen for projecting black and white documentary footage of 20th century Chinese history, with special emphasis on the brutality experienced by Chinese people during WWII and the Cultural Revolution...

Up Close and Personal: Happiness and Monsters Jun 03, 2008

Unless you are a man or woman of steel, I doubt that you had the willpower to shut out the media blitz surrounding the release of the last and hopefully final installment of Sex and the City. Am I the only one who looks at the impossibly teased 'do of Sarah Jessica Parker and gets spooked because it reminds me of Medusa, the mythological creature with snakes instead of hair?...

Blue Boy and Pinkie Back from Exile May 27, 2008

After two years in exile, 'Blue Boy' and 'Pinkie' are back home at the Huntington Art Gallery. The much-loved Beaux-Arts mansion, built in 1911 for Henry and Arabella Huntington, has just reopened after two years of renovation and restoration. It looks every bit as resplendent as we remembered it, but now it has even more paintings and decorative art objects on display than before...

Rauschenberg: Forever Curious May 20, 2008

Among the artists whose art I like and admire, there are a few whom I feel as if I've known personally. Rembrandt would be one of them. With dozens upon dozens of self-portraits, we are able to follow him from youth to old age. Also we know his mother and father, son, wife and mistress – all painted in a deeply personal way that reveals his feelings about them...

Racing against the Clock May 13, 2008

It's always the same; with so many museum and gallery exhibitions to see and talk about, I'm constantly racing against the clock. Definitely want to be sure that you will see MOCA's captivating exhibition, Collecting Collections, before it closes this Monday, May 19. This sprawling exhibition is a celebration of the generosity and vision of private collectors – most of them Angelenos – who have enabled this relatively young institution to become a major player on the international art scene...

The Germans Are Here May 06, 2008

If I were the cultural commissioner of this city, I would have declared the past few weeks a 'mini festival' of German culture in Los Angeles. Judge for yourself: a week ago I went to a screening of the new documentary, Shadows in Paradise, a fascinating story of German émigré musicians, writers, and filmmakers who fled the Nazis and settled here in LA. Some of them flourished; others merely managed; a few committed suicide. Never before have so many of the best and brightest creative minds of one country either left on their own or been forced to emigrate, and what's especially unusual is that most of these people ended up here in LA. The impact of this German-exile community on the cultural life of our city was profound...

Profound? Yes. Sacred? No. Apr 29, 2008

I love LA for being an inexhaustible field of discovery for art, architecture, and music – not only in museums, galleries, and concert halls – but also in less expected venues...

Under Cover and Behind Closed Gates Apr 22, 2008

When a few years ago, two Los Angeles museums, MOCA and the Hammer, jointly organized a sprawling exhibition devoted to the history of the American comic strip and comic book, I felt underwhelmed and slightly excluded from all the excitement that surrounded the exhibition...

A New Madonna for Our City of Angels Apr 15, 2008

So, ladies and gentlemen, if you, like me, have been procrastinating on filing your taxes until the very last moment, then today – April 15 – is your Atonement Day. Why this Christian reference? Probably it has something to do with the deep impression left on me by the spectacular works by Anselm Kiefer and their religious symbology that I talked about last week. Or, maybe I was swayed by the purity and beauty of the Madonna, not the one on the cover of Vanity Fair, but the 500 year-old vision of her that I saw last Sunday...

My Thoughts on Madonna, Moses, and...Anselm Kiefer Apr 08, 2008

For me, last weekend turned out to be anything but usual. It's Saturday: I am drinking my morning coffee and, all of a sudden, I am in the presence of...Madonna, staring at me from the cover of Vanity Fair. Still in great shape, still eager to provoke. Behind her, the globe that she holds -– or should I say, clutches –- with rather frightening determination. Then, another sip of coffee, and a quick look at another cover story: Moses and his famously thunderous voice is no more; Charlton Heston is dead...

Museums and Private Collectors: It Takes Two to Tango Apr 01, 2008

My fellow Angelenos, judging by the numerous exhibitions of contemporary art currently on display in various Los Angeles museums, I want to assure you that the state of art in our city is strong...

Great Art, Fake Art... Who Knows? Mar 25, 2008

The news about the recent acquisition by the Getty Museum of a rare painting by Paul Gauguin came as a welcome surprise. Though this work is known to specialists, it has rarely been seen, as its Swiss owner was very reluctant to loan it out for exhibitions. Even in reproduction, it is absolutely striking, not only because of the beautifully preserved colors, but also because of the strangeness of its subject. Painted by Gauguin during his first trip to Tahiti, it shows what appears to be the severed head of a man placed on a white pillow in the center of the composition...

Art, Sex and Videotape Mar 18, 2008

As far as the Los Angeles art scene is concerned, last week was a winner. Consider this: in celebration of its tenth anniversary, the Getty Center held two special conferences. The first was focused on new acquisitions made by Weston Naef, Curator of Photographs, Lee Hendrix, Curator of Drawings, and Thomas Kren, Curator of Medieval Manuscripts. All three curators are old pros who have been with the Getty for decades and have virtually built these collections from the ground up. Each drew from a treasure trove of entertaining, poignant stories about their many triumphs and occasional defeats in the never-ending hunt for rare, beautiful artwork...

The Color of Life Mar 11, 2008

We are lucky to have here, in southern California, some of the best art schools in the country. But when several years ago, I went to one of them to see an exhibition of works by students graduating from the Master of Fine Arts program, I left the galleries feeling rather depressed. Most of the art was inept, and I felt sorry for the parents who had been duped into investing thousands of dollars in their kids' education, with such a dismal return...

Artists as Magicians and Holy Fools Mar 05, 2008

In the heady art scene of the 1980's, with New York as its epicenter, there were several brash, young artists who ruled the day. Their paintings were big, their personalities even bigger. Julian Schnabel, David Salle, Eric Fischl, Robert Longo -- they all had become part of the fashionable crowd, their names constantly in the news. Now, a quarter of a century later, their presence on the contemporary art scene is, to put it mildly, rather modest. Today only Julian Schnabel, whose reputation was made by painting over shards of broken plates, continues to evolve as an artist...

To Love It All Feb 27, 2008

There is nothing, absolutely nothing, that artists cannot make good art from, including such strange substances as bodily fluids and excrement, both animal and human. You may remember the controversy surrounding the paintings by Chris Ofili, the British artist whose trademark material is elephant dung. Bull's urine was used in the past to produce a particular yellow paint, famous for its warm, golden glow. Andy Warhol made a series of so-called 'piss paintings,' where he and his assistants literally urinated on canvas treated with copper; the resulting 'Oxidations' elevated a lowly process into high art. Anselm Kiefer, a celebrated German artist, deals with apocalyptic subjects and uses for his art everything from hay to semen...

Idiots Retreat Feb 20, 2008

Last week I talked about the theft of four priceless artworks from the Bührle Museum in Zurich and wondered what the hell the idiot burglars were planning to do with the stolen French paintings, so famous as to be virtually unsellable. Here is the latest about the idiots and their heist...

What a Shame Feb 13, 2008

Every time I see an artwork appear on the front page of the newspapers, my heart sinks, because I know: the news, most of the time, is not good. Today's headlines announce the brazen theft of four priceless works from a private museum in Zurich, Switzerland...

The Oscars, Hollywood and Art Jan 23, 2008

This morning, when the Academy announced the Oscar nominations, all other front-page news -– the stock prices plunging, the gas prices rising –- seemed less important to me. Hey, after all, I live in LA, in close proximity to the gods and goddesses of Hollywood who, for almost a hundred years, have kept us enthralled in dark theaters across the world. They are the objects of our worship, inspiration, gossip, and ridicule. I can't resist quoting Frank Sinatra: "Call me irresponsible... tell me I'm impractical... throw in undependable too..." But today, I feel it would be appropriate to mention their less celebrated role as patrons of art who in the past have generously donated numerous artworks to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art...

Who Calls the Shots at LACMA? Jan 16, 2008

It's been a week since the New York Times broke the story about Eli Broad's decision to retain permanent control of his foundation's art collection instead of gradually transferring its governance to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The arrangement between Mr. Broad and LACMA has always been rather vague...

I Wanna Wish You an 'Artsy' Christmas Dec 26, 2007

What would A Christmas Day Art Talk be without Mr. Scrooge? His latest misdeed is a royal screw-up of a major cultural exchange between Russia and Great Britain. A few weeks before the opening in London of a blockbuster exhibition from the Hermitage and three other major museums, the Russians called it off...

Photos to Intimidate and Fall in Love With Dec 19, 2007

There are a number of reasons why the remarkable photographs by Graciela Iturbide probably would not be used in an advertising campaign to lure tourists to Mexico. She works primarily in black and white, and neither the landscapes nor the people in her work appear to be particularly genteel. On the contrary, her powerful images tend to rattle and put you on guard, as if you had stumbled into a not yet explored physical and emotional territory connected to the ancient past...

The Very Good and Irresistably Kitschy Dec 12, 2007

Surrender was the only option I had upon entering the festive photo installation by Jenny Okun at Craig Krull Gallery in Bergamot Station. Close to two hundred photographs cover the walls salon-style, from floor to ceiling, creating an enchanting visual equivalent of a merry-go-round. Most of the compositions are comprised of overlapping images of architectural and sculptural monuments, which the artist reassembles into dynamic and whimsical narratives. For my money, this is the jolliest exhibition of the holiday season, and one would be a Scrooge not to appreciate its charm and generosity of spirit...

China on My Mind Dec 05, 2007

It's been more than three weeks since I returned from Beijing, but thoughts and impressions of it resurface on a daily basis. Friends and colleagues keep asking all sorts of questions about China, as if I had become an expert on the subject after being there for only nine days; but certainly, I did my best to keep my eyes, ears, and mind open as wide as possible. These days, the coverage of the Chinese contemporary art scene has spilled over from the pages of art magazines to such mainstream publications as Vanity Fair (December issue)...

Artists That Slash, Crash and Cuddle Nov 28, 2007

If you've seen Gordon Matta-Clark's artwork -– even once -– you will remember the rush of adrenaline it sends through your veins. After all, this is an artist who loved to display the results of violence he perpetrated habitually against the objects of his desire. Think of all the gory scenes from Hollywood movies: knives plunging, bodies falling in slow motion... That's exactly what Gordon Matta-Clark did to abandoned buildings -– carving huge holes in their walls or slashing them with mind-boggling vertical cuts that plunge from top to bottom...

Chinese Lessons Nov 21, 2007

Though the invitation to travel to Beijing came up only a couple of months ago, I was preparing myself for this trip – without even realizing it – for almost a year...

Art Explosion Inside Chinese Munitions Factory Nov 14, 2007

Eight days in Beijing. Never been in Asia before. It's my first trip to China. Always felt slightly intimidated by the huge span of its history, by the intricacy and "otherness" of its culture. But here I am, among several dozen journalists from around the world, invited for the opening of the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art, an ambitious and impressive undertaking, privately funded by Belgian collectors Guy and Myriam Ullens....

British, German and Japanese Art Come to LA, Edward Goes to China Oct 31, 2007

What a difference a week makes... seven times 24 little hours... Santa Ana winds and firestorms once more wrestled to the ground our cherished illusions of our idyllic life in Southern California. No doubt, some day, this recurring calamity will become the subject for a great work of art. To my knowledge, it hasn't happened yet...

You Can Never Be Too Thin, Too Rich or Have Too Many Museums Oct 24, 2007

Keeping up with what's happening on the Southern California art scene is not as easy as it used to be. In the last 25 years, existing museums have greatly expanded and new museums have opened, while the number of commercial art galleries has jumped from a few dozen to a few hundred. A few weeks ago, I reported on the small, new, fascinating Wende Museum in Culver City, devoted to the history and culture of the Cold War era in Eastern Europe...

Exhibitions That Rock Oct 17, 2007

When last year the Pompidou Centre in Paris organized the exhibition celebrating LA art, it was monumental, overwhelming, and slightly tedious in its academic intention to miss nothing, no matter how minor. When last week the Orange County Museum of Art opened its exhibition celebrating California Art, Design, and Culture at Midcentury, it turned out to be not too big, not too small – just right in size. With about 150 objects, including paintings, photographs, TV footage, furniture, and architectural pottery, this exhibition tells the captivating story of how California -– thousands of miles from New York and light-years from Europe –- came, artistically speaking, into its own...

Art on Film Oct 10, 2007

With rare exception, movies about famous painters prove to be a disappointment. The recent film about Gustav Klimt, with the formidable John Malkovich in the title role, was a futile attempt to capture the essence of this artist's life in Vienna at the turn of the 20^th century. Though the beautiful costumes and authentic interiors provided a certain pleasure, it was not enough. The film disappeared without a trace. A few years earlier, the abysmal movie about Modigliani starring Andy Garcia was kindly laid to rest soon after its release...

A Week Chock Full of Art Oct 03, 2007

September is the month when, after a summer lull, the art world kicks into high gear. And for me, last week turned out to be all art, all the time, virtually a 24/7 art explosion...

Dirty Money, and Plenty of It Sep 26, 2007

My dear listeners, I have no doubt that most of you are upstanding citizens with unimpeachable moral standards. Therefore, it's with significant trepidation that I must confess to being tempted, and ultimately seduced by, a big bundle of dirty money. And if you think that you would be strong enough to resist the temptation, go ahead and try it for yourself. There is a place in town where a huge mound of silver coins is waiting for you. First you will stare at it in disbelief, then you will want to touch, to fondle, these coins, and then, inevitably, you will find yourself sitting on a pile of this money the way I did...

In Holland, Drunk on Art Sep 05, 2007

Three months have passed since my trip to Holland, but I'm still slightly foggy from – let's be honest – being overdosed. When I tell people that I stayed in Amsterdam, they knowingly smile and then, with a wink ask, "Did you try the stuff?" You bet I did. That's what I went to Holland for...and there was plenty of it. Rembrandt! Frans Hals!! Vermeer!!! And not only in Amsterdam, in the stately Rijksmuseum, but in the Mauritshuis Museum in The Hague and the Frans Hals Museum in Haarlem as well...

An LA Take on Brazilian and Dutch Design Aug 29, 2007

When I met Michael and Gabrielle Boyd for the first time at a museum function a few months ago, I knew immediately who they were, thanks to a recently published article about their collection in the LA Times magazine and a profile on them in Vanity Fair. They live in Santa Monica Canyon, in a house built by the famous Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer -- the only structure he has ever built in the United States...

Treasures from Russia under the California Sun Aug 22, 2007

Now that the Getty Museum has wisely chosen to undertake the painful but inevitable step of placating the Italian authorities by sending back to Italy forty antiquities from the museum's collection, it's a good time to reflect on this controversy and try to make sense of it all. I couldn't agree more with the editorial page of the Los Angeles Times (August 6, 2007) stating that "Legally, the return of the artworks is the right thing to do...International treaties left Getty executives with little choice. Whether it's fair is another matter."

Summer Sign-Up 2007 Aug 08, 2007

Story of Two Exhibitions: One Friendly, The Other Not Aug 01, 2007

One of the best kept secrets of LA's downtown art scene is REDCAT, a cutting-edge performance and exhibition space run by CalArts. Don't feel guilty if you haven't been there yet; it's not easy to find, as it's tucked away on the ground floor of Disney Hall, far from the main entrance of this famous building. Since its opening a few years ago, REDCAT has hosted a number of ambitious exhibitions, often presenting challenging conceptual and performance art not necessarily intended for a general audience...

Controversy over Monument to Reverend King Jul 25, 2007

When it comes to the official monuments decorating city squares in China, Libya, Iraq, and the former Soviet Union, one thing that all these oversized statues of local dictators have in common is the laughably low quality of the art. The infamous bronze statue of Saddam Hussein, toppled in Baghdad after US troops seized the Iraqi capital, is a perfect example of this brand of official art: the inevitable stiffness of pose, obligatory right arm thrust upward toward a bright future, and total disregard for or lack of awareness of modern and contemporary art. Needless to say, all these monuments were produced by local artisans loyal to the political regime of the country...

The Sensual Art of Drawing Jul 18, 2007

On any given day, Los Angeles teems with well-toned, fresh-faced hopefuls waiting for their big break. You can find them on the beach or if you get lucky, bump into one of them at Schwab's Drugstore on Sunset Blvd. At least that's where, according to legend, a Hollywood agent discovered the divine Lana Turner in the 1930's. If that same agent lived in Paris in the 1880s, I wonder what he would think about the beautiful barmaid at the Folies-Bergère, the one that Édouard Manet immortalized in his famous painting. Though the girls there were known for their easy virtues, this melancholic beauty seems lost in her own thoughts and not the least bit interested in responding to us viewers or the customer standing in front of her...

An Exhibition Overdosed on Love Jul 11, 2007

Until I found in my mailbox the eye-catching catalog of Mary Heilmann's exhibition at the Orange County Museum of Art, I had never heard of her. The handsomely printed hardcover book, with its elegant layout and numerous color reproductions, is clearly a labor of love. For this California born and raised artist, who now resides in New York, this is the first retrospective covering four decades of her career...

LA Art through a European Prism Jul 04, 2007

Last month, I traveled through about a dozen European cities in just three weeks; it was all art, all the time, but don't feel sorry for me, it was not exactly heavy lifting. The invitation to visit Holland came from two Dutch organizations: the Mondriaan Foundation and the Service Centre for International Cultural Activities (SICA). My hosts gave me carte blanche: staying in Amsterdam I could travel to other cities and see as many museums and meet as many curators and directors as my heart desired...

The Art of El Anatsui and the Critic's Comeuppance Jun 27, 2007

Intrigued by an artwork that is new to me, I like to get very close and examine its texture. It's not unlike having a handshake with a new acquaintance that hopefully confirms a first, favorable impression. A couple of months ago, at the Seattle Art Museum, when I saw for the first time a large, colorful wall hanging by Nigerian artist El Anatsui, I mistook it for a traditional African textile...

Venice the Magnificent Jun 20, 2007

It's midnight, and I just said goodbye to the newlyweds with whom I shared a water taxi from the airport to the Piazza San Marco. The square is still crowded with hundreds of people sitting in outdoor cafés, enjoying a balmy night, listening to live bands playing hilariously sugary renditions of the most sentimental tunes from the 50's and 60's. The apartment I'm renting is only two blocks away, which is great, but it sits above a noisy trattoria that keeps the neighborhood awake well past 1am. Well, I didn't come to Venice to sleep, did I? It's Biennale time...

The Amazing Art of Nothing May 23, 2007

Right now, there are two exhibitions in Los Angeles which have at first glance very little in common: one of the celebrated American sculptor Dan Flavin at LACMA and the other of the much lesser-known artist Richard Tuttle at MOCA.

Portrait of L.A. as a Young Thing May 16, 2007

Let's be honest; we all like to check ourselves out in the mirror. Whether or not we are pleased with what we see there is another matter. In the last ten years, we Angelinos have had several chances to look in the mirror that friendly outsiders propped up in front of us to generate debate. ..

Museums Take a Cue from the Zoo May 09, 2007

She is, to put it mildly, quite obese. Actually, she is so huge that it's nearly impossible not to stare at her. She has been a celebrity for so long that at this point, she doesn't mind the gawking crowds. As befitting a superstar, she is known by her first name only. Everyone calls her Clara. Paris Hilton would kill for the secret to the unprecedented longevity of Clara's fame -- two hundred fifty years and counting, to be precise...

Seduced in Seattle May 02, 2007

Have you ever traveled to Seattle in the month of April, when all the trees sport the freshest shades of green and each blade of grass salutes the spring? I went there twice, and -- as luck would have it -- both times in April. It's easy to fall for this city given the picturesque quality of its waterfront and unhurried pace of its sophisticated urban center. What I find especially attractive about the city is its deep commitment to the visual arts, fully evident last week during the gala opening of the dramatically expanded Seattle Art Museum...

Happy Days Are Here Again Apr 25, 2007

In a very peculiar coincidence, for two days in a row I found, on the front page of American papers, articles dealing with Russian history and culture. It is no surprise that today's newspapers paid tribute to former Russian president Boris Yeltsin, who died yesterday in Moscow at the age of 76. A larger-than-life colorful personality, he broke with the Communist Party when it was still in power and a move like that had a heavy price attached. Later, he became the first freely elected president of Russia and subsequently, the first leader in Russian history who relinquished his power at the end of his term. Yeltsin presided over an extremely volatile moment in Russian history during the disintegration of the Soviet empire, with its subsequent rampant corruption...

LA Cultural Scene Basking in the Sun Apr 18, 2007

Following closely the developments of the Los Angeles cultural scene for a almost twenty years, I'm glad to report that artwise, favorable weather conditions prevail in the City of Angels. The Mayor's office announced yesterday the appointment of a new cultural affairs chief, Olga Garay, whose rather impressive resume bodes well for her new job here in LA...

Andrea Zittel Kisses the Frog Apr 11, 2007

Have you ever tried to imagine the persona of the artist behind the work? Their look, their age. What kind of personality do they have: outgoing or shy, maybe? I have to admit that most of the time when I tried to do that, I failed. For example, LA sculptor extraordinaire Tim Hawkinson, whose current exhibition at the Getty Museum is getting rave reviews, almost shocked me when I met him for the first time. He was so quiet and unassuming, almost ordinary. With his amazingly inventive sculptures and collages defying traditional logic, I expected a mad scientist type with bulging eyes...

Can Mediocre Art Serve a Good Cause? Apr 04, 2007

Going to a museum to see a permanent collection or temporary exhibition I expect to see good as well as great artworks inevitably mixed with decidedly lesser ones which are needed to complete the story and illustrate a point of view. After all, great and good artworks are by definition in limited supply, while mediocre and merely competent works are always plentiful...

The New York Times' Love Affair with LA? Mar 28, 2007

It took me no time at all to fall in love with Los Angeles -- just a few intakes of the balmy air upon emerging from the plane shortly after midnight. Until then, I didn't believe in love at first sight. Now, almost thirty years later, I know better. Never mind the wonderful climate and suspiciously gorgeous Hollywood wannabes. This huge and sprawling metropolis stubbornly refuses to follow the rules of success established by its older rivals, and instead of the storied beauty of Paris or Rome, it offers an exotic and unsettling, but ultimately intoxicating mixture of good, strange, and ugly...

Our Right to Demand Clean Air and Good Quality Art Mar 21, 2007

The enthusiastic response to last week's program about the daring art installation "Stations of the Cross" at San Gabriel's Church of Our Saviour made me think about how much of contemporary art is experienced by us outside of museum and gallery walls. The problem is that most of the art we may encounter in restaurants, in hotels, in theatre lobbies or in doctors' offices is rather mediocre, to put it mildly. I wonder how all these places would be perceived if the quality of art there was improved. Everyone knows what happens to your body when you eat nothing but junk food. Now think about all the bad art that is ingested through our eyes while we're in these public places. Imagine the damage it does to our collective psyche...

Ground Zero and Stations of the Cross Mar 14, 2007

A couple of weeks ago a friend of mine called to let me know about a rather unusual exhibition I shouldn't miss. It is a little bit off the beaten path, she warned, but you're an adventurous man, aren't you Edward? It was a challenge I simply had to take. Driving to the San Gabriel Valley turned out to be not such a big deal -– actually it's not far from Pasadena and San Marino. The unusual thing about this conceptual art exhibition was that it was mounted neither in a museum nor a commercial gallery, but in an Episcopal church, of all places...

The Getty Shows Off Its Monsters Mar 07, 2007

Like a monster out of a low-budget Japanese horror movie, it's huge and more than a bit scary. Its translucent tentacles are a hundred feet long, and it feels as if they're still growing, ready to ensnare anyone within reach. The creature doesn't even have an easily identifiable main body. Instead, there are a few gigantic kidney-shaped blobs: translucent, flimsy, icky - like the tentacles that grow out of them. I saw it last night with my very own eyes, and I swear I was stone cold sober...

Oscar Dish of Celebrities and Butterflies Feb 28, 2007

It takes chutzpah to roll into LA just a few days before the Oscars and still hope to get some attention for a project not connected to Hollywood -- at least not directly. To win this game, ambition is not enough; one needs to be a superstar, propelled by a superagent. Damien Hirst, the most famous of the so-called Young British Artists, and Robert Wilson, the much celebrated American avant-garde theater director, stage designer and sculptor, flew in last week to supervise the final preparations for the openings of their high-profile exhibitions at the two most glamorous galleries in town...

Close-Up on Chuck Close Feb 21, 2007

If you've ever been invited to an elegant dinner where every bite is a delight and each new course makes you hungry all over again, then you want to treat yourself to what amounts to a sumptuous feast for your eyes -- an exhibition of Chuck Close prints at the Orange County Museum of Art...

John Constable, Precursor of Modern Art? Feb 07, 2007

One cannot blame British artists for their cutthroat politics in fighting for a place in the sun. To be noticed by the public and written about by art critics, these chaps would go to remarkable lengths. At the end of the day, the Royal Academy and admission into its famous annual Salon was all they dreamed about. Even the lucky ones, whose paintings were accepted, were prone to anxiety attacks, wondering: Will their painting be shown in the prestigious Main Gallery or be banished into the adjacent rooms?...

Four Times Fair Makes Magic? Jan 24, 2007

The end of the year has its own inevitable rhythm; the busy holiday season is punctuated with shopping, partying, and obligations to have a good time. And still, many of us can't wait for the quiet weeks of January. Not this year, that's for sure. For a stretch of ten days starting last week and continuing through the upcoming weekend, Los Angeles became the arena for four virtually concurrent Art Fairs competing for our attention....

Picasso and His Monsters Jan 17, 2007

One of the most intriguing art events of this season took place last Sunday at the LACMA auditorium. A single famous artwork was discussed in depth and interpreted in provocative ways during a day-long symposium devoted to what is arguably Picasso's greatest print. Seven art scholars argued their points of view regarding one particular etching, Minotauromachy, that the artist printed in 1935 -- the worst year of his life -- according to his own statement. Picasso's marriage to Russian ballerina Olga Koklova was falling apart, and he was involved in a clandestine love affair with Marie-Thérèse Walter, who, at the time they met, was only fifteen years old...

LA Art Exhibitions: Familiar and New Names Jan 10, 2007

Last week was good for gallery hopping, with a number of interesting new shows popping up all over town. Given the art world propensity for the discovery and promotion of fresh young talent, it was especially satisfying to find an exhibition celebrating the sophisticated art of one of LA's most renowned sculptors, John Mason, who turns eighty years old next year...

Will the Art Bubble Burst? Jan 03, 2007

At the turn of the 20th century, collecting contemporary art used to be serious business for a relatively small group of people. It was an exclusive gentlemen's club with only a few ladies, such as Gertrude Stein in Paris and the Cone sisters in Baltimore, allowed to join in. An annual trip to Paris, a visit with the preeminent dealer Ambroise Vollard and, maybe, knocking on the door of Matisse or Picasso's studio would be enough for an adventurous collector with an eye on contemporary art...

The Best of 2006 Dec 20, 2006

With 2006 coming to a close, it's tempting to look back at the year's most memorable encounters with art. In April, a large crowd of journalists gathered inside a plastic tent in the courtyard of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. It was raining cats and dogs but Michael Govan, the recently appointed museum director, was resolutely upbeat. Five famous paintings by Gustav Klimt, that were considered to be Austrian national treasures, were returned to Maria Altmann, a Los Angeles resident and niece of the previous owners. Over the next few months long lines of bewitched visitors formed in front of the Museum gallery to see these paintings, among them two mesmerizing portraits of Maria Altmann's aunt, Adele Bloch-Bauer...

L.A. Comes of Age Dec 13, 2006

One of the best kept secrets of American cultural life, the ascendance of Los Angeles to the enviable position of one of the most important art cities in the world, is not a secret any longer. The recent exhibition devoted to LA art at the Pompidou Center in Paris underscored the prominence of Los Angeles as one of the four major international centers, along with London, Berlin and New York, where cutting edge contemporary art is produced. A decade ago, The New York Times would rarely mention the LA art scene in its art coverage, but this is no longer the case...

Answered Prayers...? Let's Hope... Dec 06, 2006

In a surprise, but nevertheless highly anticipated announcement, the Getty Trust revealed its choice for the new president to replace Barry Munitz who hastily resigned or--to put it more precisely--was shown the door last February. After a nine month hunt and--one would hope--a lot of soul searching, the Getty trustees did something rather revolutionary: they summoned up the courage to overcome the corporate mentality that currently prevails in American museum board rooms across the country...

Mexico City: Eyes Wide Open Nov 22, 2006

My first trip to Mexico City was an eye opener. I knew that it was huge but still I was overwhelmed by its scale, its crowds, and its traffic. However, it was impossible not to be seduced by the operatic grandeur of the Palace of Fine Arts with its Art Deco interiors and frescoes by Diego Rivera and Rufino Tamayo...

The Sweet Smell of Art and Dollars Nov 15, 2006

These have been heady days. And I'm not even talking about politics. Only a few weeks ago the art market reached a seemingly insane high with the sale by David Geffen of two post-World War II paintings: the de Kooning for $63.5 million and the Jasper Johns for $80 million. But if you think that that's a lot of dough, how about the $140 million that Mexican financier, David Martinez, handed to David Geffen for an iconic drip-painting by Jackson Pollock, the costliest art sale ever made. So, let's do the numbers. In one month Mr. Geffen sold three paintings from his collection for $283.5 million. Considering that his net worth is estimated to be $4.6 billion and his passion for art collecting has never been in doubt, the question arises: why is he parting with such stellar examples from his collection?...

Museums' Delicate Dancing Nov 01, 2006

Right now, there are two exhibitions in Southern California--one in San Diego and the other in Los Angeles--both speaking volumes about the ways savvy museum directors and curators develop relationships with private collectors. In building their art collections, American museums have always depended on the "kindness of strangers" or, to put it more precisely, on the generosity of private collectors, while their European counterparts could count on royal patronage or government support...

Headline: L.A. Times Hits New Low While Getty Stock Rises Oct 25, 2006

Being an art critic means being open to an endless stream of visual information. I guess it's a professional hazard to respond to every picture, to every image -- the good, the great, and the ugly -- and to judge it in terms of its aesthetics. While reading this morning's L.A. Times dance review, I was struck by the ugliest possible photograph of classical ballet dancers -- undeniably God's most graceful creatures --captured in a performance of "Swan Lake" by the Kirov Ballet. While the dance critic raves about the beauty and elegance of their performance, the accompanying photograph tells a totally different story, reducing this timeless classic to an unappealing, difficult-to-read image of swans with drooping necks and broken wings. I wonder whether the editor is aesthetically challenged or just fell asleep at the wheel?...

Stupefying Prices/Priceless Exhibition Oct 18, 2006

By my nature I'm not a pessimist but last week, reading about the sale of mid-century paintings--one by Jasper Johns and the other by Willem de Kooning--for $143.5 million made me rather sad; not for David Geffen who sold them for an astonishing profit and definitely not for the two hedge fund billionaires who bought them. It made me sad because of the insanity of this whole transaction...

What Do Museums and Dinosaurs Have in Common? Oct 11, 2006

Since World War II the number of new museums in the United States and Europe has multiplied and it seems that no museum--either old or new--is safe from the seemingly never-ending expansion with the name of a famous architect attached to the project. If you believe that with tens of thousands of artists being churned out of art schools every year there should be enough good art to fill all of these museums, in that case, you have no reason to be skeptical. For myself, I believe that no matter how many schools and museums we have, the number of great artists is limited. Gods and muses are very undemocratic in distributing talent among mortals. ..

For the Getty: Is There Light at the End of the Tunnel? Oct 04, 2006

After an unprecedented fourteen month investigation by the California Attorney General's office, here comes the conclusion that surprises no one: the trustees of the J. Paul Getty Trust, one of the richest non-profit foundations in the world, slept at the wheel for almost a decade, while Barry Munitz, its former chief executive, was left to do as he pleased...

Would Catherine the Great Approve? Sep 27, 2006

Little did I know what might happen when I agreed to participate in a special event at the Getty Museum last spring, introducing the screening of the Russian Ark, a whimsical movie shot entirely inside the Hermitage Museum...

Bad News Turned Good News Sep 06, 2006

There are some situations when it's difficult to decide whether the news is good or bad. A month ago, I read in the LA Times that the sixty-five foot tall sculpture by Claes Oldenburg and, his wife and collaborator, Coosje van Bruggen could not be installed as planned in front of the Disney Concert Hall. The sculpture--in the shape of a giant bowtie and collar-- had already cost the Music Center about $4 million and now, because the metal and fiberglass sculpture had developed dangerous cracks compromising its structure, and therefore its safety, the future of the whole project is uncertain. It's estimated that fixing the problem will cost another $3 million. At this point, there are no funds to cover the additional cost. To add insult to injury, the artists made a statement blaming the engineers for the structural problems and accepting no responsibility for this situation. To be completely honest, I don't find this development all that upsetting. After all, I have said before that Frank Gehry's Disney Hall is a remarkable sculpture in its own right, and doesn't need another sculpture in front of it that would only distract people from viewing the great building...

The Tenth Muse Aug 30, 2006

Many years ago, a great American performance artist, Laurie Anderson, famously said that talking about art is like dancing about architecture. The way I interpret her witty words is that unless one tries to experience a work of art first-hand, be it let's say a painting or a building, then forget about it. I believe that words, even at their most eloquent, can only try to convey the physical appearance of the work of art, the artist's intention and the context in which the artwork or building can be experienced and understood. When I talk about art on this program I try to minimize the physical description of a work of art and instead try to elaborate on the emotional impact it had on me and any thoughts and ideas triggered by the encounter. What would it be like, I wondered, to be able to show images "on the air?"...

Tons of Rock, Steel and Art in San Diego Aug 23, 2006

Last week, I was invited to spend a couple of days in San Diego as a guest of the Museum of Contemporary Art and that turned into a big adventure. The Museum has two facilities, one in La Jolla and the other in downtown San Diego. In a few months, the Museum is expanding into an impressive historic structure, a former Santa Fe depot baggage building. It's located directly across from the Museum's existing building in downtown San Diego. The renovation of this 1915 building by the architect Richard Gluckman is almost finished and the resulting galleries with their abundance of space and daylight are nothing short of inspiring. As luck would have it, a day or two prior to my visit, the Museum had completed the truly heroic labors of installing Richard Serra's monumental sculpture consisting of six blocks forged out of steel: each standing about five feet high, each weighing about 22 tons. The brutality of its geometry creates a good contrast with the gentle arches of the outdoor loggia where the sculpture is placed...

Museum Crimes and Misdemeanors Aug 08, 2006

When a museum's name is in the news, it usually spells trouble for the institution. And there's been plenty of it lately. There was a theft at my beloved Hermitage in St. Petersburg: 221 pieces of Russian silver were missing from the museum storage room. When this was discovered, museum officials had the smarts to immediately go public about the theft. As a result, dealers and collectors who had unsuspectingly acquired some of the stolen silver have already returned a few of the missing items. And here's a Hollywood-worthy plot twist: suspicion initially fell on the Museum curator who died last year, and now Russian authorities have announced the arrest of her husband and son, implicating them in the theft. The Director of the Hermitage, Mikhail Piotrovsky, called the crime "a stab in the back" and promptly acknowledged a deficiency in the Museum's security...

Jumping on the Art Bandwagon Aug 01, 2006

I can suggest a number of reasons one might want to stop by the Gagosian Gallery when in Beverly Hills. It's always intriguing to see what's happening in one of the outposts of his art empire. In addition to this local site built for him by star architect, Richard Meier, Mr. Gagosian has two galleries in New York, two in London and one is planned to open in Rome...

Partying with Ancient Greeks Jul 25, 2006

I wonder, what is your way of keeping cool during the crazy, heat wave that has kept us prisoners these past couple of weeks. Movie theaters? Shopping malls? My secret is museum galleries. On Sunday, when the temperature hit 100 degrees and the humidity, I swear, approached 150% I escaped to the Hammer Museum. It was heaven to spend a couple of hours walking through ---The Soci--t-- Anonyme---, the coolest show in town, telling the story of modernism in America. Besides, the Hammer announced that during the whole summer admission to the Museum is free. How cool is that?..

Fine Art of Living with Art Jul 18, 2006

There are two ways of traveling in search of art: one is go to far away places and another, perhaps even more challenging, is to turn a fresh eye on things that are there, right under your nose. After all the traveling that I've done in the recent months, last Saturday spent in LA turned out to be especially full of surprises. I promised to take a group of aspiring collectors on a tour of galleries, artist studios and collectors' homes and, literally, until the last moment I was still rearranging the schedule. It takes some friendly arm-twisting to persuade a collector to open their home to, basically, a bunch of strangers. And artists feel protective of their studios as well; they want people to see their art but prefer to let the art speak for itself and if asked to talk about it they often feel nervous.

The Sweat and Joy of an Artist's Life Jul 11, 2006

As they say, there is no rest for the wicked. On the Fourth of July, when everyone else was doing as little as possible, I found myself working up a sweat at 6000 feet altitude. Almost a mile high above Palm Springs, there is a small town of alpine beauty called Idyllwild which, in spite of its popularity with tourists, still manages to maintain a leisurely pace and bohemian spirit. Every summer the town fills with poets, musicians and painters who come to participate in an intense two-week workshop. I was invited to be part of the "Painting's Edge" program where well-known painters and critics were giving lectures and spending time with the participating artists by reviewing their portfolios and discussing their work.

From Tel Aviv: Lessons for L.A. Jun 27, 2006

One of the lingering memories of my recent trip to Israel is of walls; famous ones, like the Wailing Wall, and miles upon miles of inescapable eyesores that make up the Separation Wall. What I didn't expect was to pay any attention to the mundane walls along the freeways. Instead of the monotonous barriers that traditionally protect houses and people living in close proximity to freeways, Israelis excel in making these boring structures into surprisingly attractive components of the city fabric...

Beguiling, Boastful and Intricate... Jun 20, 2006

The front-page news about the sale of Gustav Klimt's famous, shimmering gold portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer for an unconfirmed $135 million made me surprisingly happy. To be completely honest, my proprietary instinct would rather have all five Klimt paintings stay here in LA, yet I have to admit that this iconic painting is ideally suited for the focused collection and exquisite environment of the Neue Galerie in New York. After hearing this news, I jumped into the car and hurried over to LACMA to say goodbye to the five canvases which after June 30 will leave LA for the Neue Galerie, where they are going to be on view for a few months. The fate of the other four paintings is still uncertain but let's hope that at least one of them--another mesmerizing full-length portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer--will be acquired by a public museum as well.

The Art Treasures in Israel Jun 13, 2006

Last week, I got high: not once, not twice but more or less all week long. Traveling to Israel with a delegation of art patrons organized by the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles turned out to be the adventure of a lifetime. It's less than twenty-four hours since I returned from my first trip there and my head is still spinning from encounters with fascinating people, ancient and contemporary art, and landscapes of unsurpassed beauty. Landing in Israel at midnight, I was welcomed by two gorgeous ancient Roman mosaics installed above the gateway to the impressive, ultra-modern Ben Gurion International Airport. This was the perfect metaphor for things to come.

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