L.A. Story at Hauser & Wirth

The exhibition L.A. Story is currently running at Hauser & Wirth West Hollywood from September 12th, 2024, to January 4th, 2025. Co-organized by Ingrid Schaffner and Mike Davis in collaboration with Steve Martin, this project is inspired by Martin’s 1991 film L.A. Story, which humorously and affectionately examines the quirks of life in Los Angeles. The exhibition explores the surreal beauty and contradictions of the city, much like the film, and features works by artists whose pieces reflect the unique spirit of Los Angeles.

Among the featured artists are David Hockney, Mark Bradford, Vija Celmins, Eric Fischl, and Ed Ruscha. Hockney’s iconic depictions of California swimming pools evoke the casual glamour of LA, while Bradford’s abstract canvas incorporates maps of the city, capturing its vast, sprawling nature. Celmins offers a cinematic close-up of a hand firing a gun, calling to mind Hollywood’s noir classics and Westerns, while Ruscha juxtaposes LA street names with snowcapped mountains, giving the city’s landmarks an almost sublime quality.

Other artists such as Calida Rawles and Florian Maier-Aichen contribute works that balance realism and dream-like qualities. Rawles’ paintings of swimming pools shimmer with emotional depth, while Maier-Aichen’s infrared photograph of Malibu presents the coast as both toxic and ethereal. Together, these works weave a visual narrative that, much like the film L.A. Story, celebrates the city’s eccentric charm and cultural vibrancy.

This exhibition not only pays homage to the cinematic world of Los Angeles but also presents a diverse contemporary art landscape, demonstrating how the city continues to inspire and challenge artists across generations.