The LA Art Show kicked off the 2024 Los Angeles art season with its Opening Night party February 14th. Guests got a special VIP preview of the LA Art Show’s 2024 expansive cultural programming featuring over 100 galleries, museums and nonprofits exhibiting that included an international lineup of galleries and museums from countries from the Philippines, Italy, Israel, Peru and South Korea.
The gala was hosted by celebrated actress Lucy Hale. Reality TV star Francesca Farago (Too Hot To Handle, Perfect Match) and fiancé Jesse Sulli of Tik Tok fame also took to the carpet.
The evening’s charity partner was the American Heart Association, which is celebrating its 100th birthday this year. As the evening’s host and friend of AHA, Lucy took to the stage and spoke about the important work the American Heart Association’s work with its Life is Why campaign which is inspiring people to honor their reasons for living longer healthier lives. LA Art Show producer and director Kassandra Voyagis, American Heart Association CEO Nancy Brown and AHA survivor family Danielle and Chandler Armstead also spoke during the presentation. NFL player Damar Hamlin (Buffalo Bills Defensive Back), who suffered cardiac arrest on the field last year joined Lucy on stage during the American Heart Association presentation.
LA Art Show will donate 15% of all ticket proceeds to the American Heart Association’s Life Is Why™ Campaign.
Other LA Art Show 2024 highlights included:
· A musical performance by Korean artist Choi Sori who through drumming and manipulation of metal surfaces, Choi creates an abstract interplay of light, color, and sound.
· Iconic LA artist Robert Vargas was onsite live painting his powerful mural – inspired by Martin Luther King Jr.’s “The World House” – which honored Black History Month and conveyed a message of peace and unity.
· The Tanya Weddemire Gallery exhibited “Give Us Our Flowers” by acclaimed Haitian American artist, Guy Stanley Philoche, who found art as his refuge at an early age.
· Fremin Gallery from New York showcased inspiring works including female Turkish artist Ardan Özmenoğlu’s “Blue” a stunning sculpture of a tree on a wooden stump, created from layers of glass panels and nail polish.
· LP Gallery from South Korea featured renowned artist Dain Yoon known for painting on her skin to create surreal self-portraits.
· Licht Feld Gallery presented photography from award-winning celebrity photographer, Markus Klinko, including his iconic image of Mariah Carey, recently projected on stage at the 2024 Grammy Awards.
· Fabrik Projects Gallery showcased ‘The Soul of Your City” exhibition, the culmination of a global photography competition capturing the hidden spirit and true identity of cities through the lenses of local photographers.
· DIVERSEartLA presented the second Museum Acquisition Award for Emerging Artists participating at the fair. The award-winning artist was Barcelona-based Juan Escudero on behalf of Pigment Gallery selected by Ana Maria Matthei, AAL museum director & AAL Magazine founder, along with DIVERSEartLA curator, Marisa Caichiolo.
For more information, please visit https://www.laartshow.com