For the past few months, we have highlighted four artists whose works have been exhibited at Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, also known as LAMAG. Our partnership with LAMAG is a reflection of how art is intertwined with the library. All our buildings have beautiful artworks and this is another way for the library to bring art to our patrons virtually. We are concluding this series of blog posts by highlighting the latest exhibit at LAMAG, which is known as COLA. In 1997 the Department of Culture Affairs funded the City of Los Angeles (COLA) Individual Artist Fellowship for visual arts award. COLA honors the relationship between Los Angeles, its artists, and the city’s identity as an international art capital.
This year 10 Los Angeles-based visual artists are featured as part of this prestigious fellowship. The artists are Edgar Arceneaux, Maura Brewer, Nao Bustamante, Jedediah Caesar, Neha Choksi, Lia Halloran, Farrah Karapetian, Phung Huynh, Ruben Ochoa, and Umar Rashid. Their work is a reflection of the current issues that exist in our society: class, race, identity, body image, etc. Their works are thought-provoking and conversation starters. For example, the work of artist Ruben Ochoa honors the invisible labor of street food vendors and other businesses. Artist Maura Brewer critiques the image magic of mass media, while artist Nao Bustamante's work is about issues around women’s bodies. Visit LAMAG to view their work. This exhibit will be available online from May 27-July 22, 2021.
Among this group of talented artists, is also Phung Huynh. Huynh is a refugee from Southeast Asia whose works are exhibited nationally and internationally. Her work is a personal retelling of her family’s journey as refugees and her childhood experience living in America. Los Angeles Public Library with the generous support of the National Endowment for the Humanities and LAMAG are co-hosting a program with Huynh on Friday, June 25 at 1 p.m. Huynh will facilitate a guided workshop where participants will create small zines about their own stories.
Further Reading
