From January 23 – 27, 2019, art enthusiasts descended upon the LA Convention Center’s West Hall to attend the 24th annual LA Art Show, the city’s longest-running art fair and the largest and most comprehensive showcase on the West Coast. Over 120 galleries from 18 countries packed the hall’s 200,000 square feet of exhibition space, featuring modern and contemporary works, blue chip art, historical pieces and a stunning breadth of new contemporary and lowbrow work from around the world. Returning for the third year in a row, DIVERSEartLA’s donated exhibition space showcased installations and performances from non-profits, museums and institutions from around the world, including for the first time ever CCK – Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Art Share LA. The LA Art Show once again cemented its position as the most diversely programmed art fair in the world, dedicated to making art accessible to everyone.
Following the Opening Night Gala, LA Art Show opened to the public and brought in over 70,000 attendees over the four day period, delighting with more highlights and featured exhibitions than ever before.
The show kicked off with one of the strongest opening nights in years, where Kate Beckinsale drew a crowd as the evening’s host, meeting with St. Jude patient families and delivering an address about the organization’s mission to the VIP area. Gavin Rossdale, this year’s Art Ambassador, reminded the audience that art can save lives. They were joined by previous host Emma Roberts, and stars such as Jessica Szohr, Peyton List, Cameron Monaghan, Joe Manganiello, Lance Bass, Amy Smart, Odette Annable, Brandon Boyd, Brigitte Nielsen, Evan Williams Bailee Madison, Kevin Zegers, Dr. Drew Pinsky, Perrey Reeves, Amber Stevens West, JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Naomi Grossman, Davi Santos, Barry Sloane, Brittney Palmer, Ian Bohen, Denim Richards, Celeste Thorson and many more. LA’s own Robert Vargas painted live throughout the four days, donating 100% of the proceeds from his work to St. Jude’s.
Vargas was joined by fellow art stars Tristan Eaton, Camille Rose Garcia, Jorge R. Gutierrez, Gregory Siff, Dave Pressler, Brandi Milne, Dosshaus, Gary Baseman, RETNA, Andy Moses, Mikael B, and hundreds more were in attendance, along with over 7,500 VIPs. The 25th edition of the LA Art Show is scheduled for February 5 – 9, 2020.
