Sacred Heart by Mark Ryden. Graphite on Paper, showing in Part 2. This piece has sold. The eye on the heart is interesting.

To celebrate its 25th birthday, La Luz de Jesus is holding a two month art extravaganza with a dizzying list of participating artistic luminaries. It’s a visual feast of lowbrow, subversive underground, assemblage, folk and figurative art.  I expected nothing less from the Los Angeles gallery which has become synonymous with edgy exhibitions that break new talents.

The two shows include new works and statements by more than 250 artists who have shown at La Luz throughout its 25 years. Mainstays of the California contemporary art scene including Mark Ryden and Robert Williams are showing alongside emerging talents such as my friends Jennifer Jelenski and Krystopher Sapp.  It’s very exciting! Other notable darkly oriented artists include Laurie Lipton and XNO showing in Part 1 and Michael Hussar, Tara McPherson, Kaia Coopman, Jessica Joslin, Chris Mars and Liz McGrath showing in Part 2.  There is a companion book to the show, which is sure to be a necessary supplement to any contemporary art bookshelf. Part 1 is opening in just a few weeks, Friday October 7 and Saturday October 8 from 8-11pm. And Part 2 opens Friday November 4 and Saturday November 5, 8-11pm.

I LOVE this piece! It's so exuberant and twisted. The bats and gator heads are great and the image puts a smile on my face every time I look at it. Bat Form 5 by Jennifer Jelenski, showing in Part 2. Acrylic on Canvas. Available for $600.

The Apprentice, by Alan Forbes, showing in Part 1. Ink on paper, available for $350

Caylee by Dean Karr showing in Part 1. Silver print photo, oil paint, metal, glass, resign. Available for $1200.

Another stunning work by Krystopher Sapp. I love the grenade and the gold sheen in the background and I cannot wait to see this piece in person in Part 2. One Ring to Rule Them All, assemblage with real hand grenade, price to be announced.

A fabulous piece by the brilliant XNO (Chet Darmstaedter). Haunted Car showing in Part 1. Acrylic on Canvas available for $1500.

Ah the magic of childhood. Witch Roast by Mark Sosnowski showing in Part 2. Oil on Canvas. Available for $5,000

Powerful! I'm in awe of this piece. Feast of the Undead by Craig LaRotunda showing in Part 1. Acrylic on Wood, available for $3,000

Brilliant! I love this one too! Everything about the misshapen head and mottled skin freaks me out. Dr. Glaxo by Chris Mars is showing in Part 2. Oil on Panel. Available for $7,800.

Another masterpiece by Laurie Lipton! Her work blows me away. La Luz, showing in Part 1. Charcoal and graphite on paper. Available for $11,000

I selected a few of my favorite previews from the shows for this post, but with 250 plus artists, I barely scratched the surface.  To see more previews from these shows or for more information, visit La Luz de Jesus 25 website.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 21st, 2011 at 10:28 am and is filed under Around Los Angeles, Art. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.