(Attended 01/30/16 SA @ 6:00pm): "Oh brother, where art thou!?"…read more I snuck into the Downtown Art Center Gallery while on a "break" from my volunteer duties at the 2nd Annual "Night On Broadway" street festival along Broadway St. in Downtown Los Angeles. Truth be told, I've walked past this gallery space on numerous ocassions as I crawled - I meant roamed - this street from bar to bar and other fun businesses in the area and not once entered. However, it was at first glance the gobs of color http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=7QEzwGX01lRKKt9c9hZHrw&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw against the snowblind walls that drew me in http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=VkQgpIt2N8QX2Y8s1C03pg&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw. Would this one exhibit warrant a return visit!?: THE EXHIBIT: PAPERLAND TWO (January 14 - March 04, 2016) http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=0SqCeJ34mxLJuJJsH_SZ3Q&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw Borne from an earlier installment of PAPERLAND exhibited here in 2013, this exhibition further extended upon the themes and proceses found then and was dedicated to the spirit of the zine and the ethos of communality and "Do-It-Yourself" aesthetics. The exhibition also included a number of prints showcasing a dynamic range of works by a group of emerging Los Angeles-based printmakers, as well as multiple editions of paper sculptures http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=dCWIFe4FRzlI5Jh9EPeUgA&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw, http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=Fzl5C45b0oCqLc2MwSWt0w&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw, http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=hUpkfcE63-_TPsulXZpY0w&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw. The ethos of creative collaborative practices and the democratic nature of the self-printed and distributed publication have carried through to inform the latest iteration of this exhibition. PAPERLAND TWO included zines and prints http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=6yYkYb4idJLH3Cal9HE1_A&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw by select local small press publishers, including SPACE CAMP, Tiny Splendor, Never Press, and more, and featured images from nearly 50 exhibiting artists. Service - There was only one young gentleman throughout who manned the front counter as he happily greeted me and said to ask him if I had any questions about the exhibit - rock on! I had no questions so I went exploring and meticulously looked at each piece of art with the standard "high brow" demeanor of one hand that rubbed my chin while I stood and stared from all sorts of angles with and without eyes squinted. As I left, the same young man thanked me for visiting and wished me a good night. Heck...if EVERYONE in customer service was as cordial as this chap the world would be a better place to shop! Great job! Parking (Free this instances; Varies) - I was volunteering for the "Night On Broadway" event this same evening in which parking was FREE. Otherwise, there were a ton of parking lot and structure options in and around the general vacinity with rates that ranged from $5.00-$20.00 based wholly on the distance traveled and time arrived. Plenty of 2-hour limit meters on all surrounding streets (valid until 6:00pm nightly). Additional options were a driving service like a taxi, Lyft, or Uber or Go Metro with a station at nearby Pershing Square. Atmosphere, décor, ambience - [DISCLAIMER: This would change from one exhibit to the next] Stark white antiseptic walls fit for an insane asylum housed by strait jacket-wearing guests, colorful fragments of artistry were hung at times in small huddled clusters http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=rqy514ymcNLMvwwcWEY-MQ&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw or carefully displayed upon trippable blocks between two separate wings. A high open rafter ceiling gave the sense of a tall space where fluorescent lighting sucked your soul right from your eyes; otherwise, large glass front walls easily captured glorious beams of sunlight during the day. Flyers, postcards, and other promotional items were strategically placed for your taking pleasure. There were no TVs nor music playing in the background. http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=MjO2uxmFuk1K76jvbq0abA&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw Attire - Totally casual, so I would normally be in a t-shirt, boardshorts, and flip-flops. Overall, the Downtown Art Center Gallery was cool for my first time, but my enjoyment was solely based on the exhibit and how the space was configured to work with it. After all, at its basis it was simply a medium-sized square facility that was molded by creative hands. My return depended upon future exhibits and/or if admission were free. But I'm a lover of the arts so it had my attention; and, as with art my opinion was purely subjective. I found fairly good value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around $0.00; no tip required). And, my credit card of choice was accepted...AMEX! 3.5 STARS

this is a quirky gallery with some very interesting exhibits. Check the local…read morelistings in the paper: the gallery is small but it is centrally located and the people are friendly. It's not in the 'ARTS" area which makes it a fine place as far as i am concerned.

I had no idea this place existed until an Eventbrite ad caught my eye. Shiri Phillips was doing a…read moresolo show of here artwork. If you didn't know her work, it's the most fun, colorful and happy art at the intersection of Impressionism, portals and optical illusion, where you squint your eyes and each segment of color is like a pixel in a tapestry of interwoven color and texture. The vibe was amazing ing and I just had to go see this art and support this artist. I arrived and found an entire treasure trove of fascinating art by dozens of artists. Each style is unique and well worth coming by. Imagine walking through a museum of the most amazing only talented artists and all the art is for sale. I bought two pieces. One of Shiri's of course. The art is reasonably priced and there are many different sizes. I highly recommend Artspace Warehouse for some of the best talent in the L.A. art world. The staff is wonderful and extremely helpful and full of knowledge about each and every artist, the types of art and our chats were so chill- no pretentious vibes here. Just joy. This was really a thrill to see locals, families choosing art for their homes, and people like me who came a bit of a distance to share the art experience here. I highly recommend Artsoace warehouse.

Last weekend I had visited a local art gallery. The employees were well informed and willing to…read morerespond to inquiries. The way the exhibits were arranged was such a well-reflective idea in my mind, small, and with a soul.

The Richard Heller contemporary gallery had some unusual paintings by Carter Flachbarth. The faces…read morewere sad and clown like depicted in different scenes. These were large scale paintings. Not our style but well done. Free outdoor parking and WiFi.

Edward del Rosario's personal paintings are good. I get excited in this space when work by Evah…read moreFan or Marcel Dzama is on the wall. If you want to buy an ink drawing by Daniel Clowes, go here. The current show is Masahiko Kuwahara's, but I don't like her runny oil sketches. This gallery also represents artists such as Brendan Monroe and Rachell Sumpter.

Went back a year later to see different artists and it was well worth the repeat visit!…read more Because it was a holiday weekend, most locals were out of town so parking was easy in the lot. Also just happened to visit a gallery the day before the closing date of the three artists, so they invited us to the closing! So much personal attention, and they took the time to give background on all the artists. Stopped by the store and meandered around the new exhibits until my artist friend found the perfect gift for an upcoming birthday! Will make an effort to come visit more often because the artists and exhibitions change constantly and they're is always something to suit every taste.

Was attending for over 2 decades. It was an amazing microcosm of art practice and humanity to hold…read moredeep cultural conversations. It would be a great loss if it were confirmed for redevelopment impacting gallery tenants.

If you like mild, easy, typical art- this isn't your place. Virga Gallery was my favorite stop…read morewhile visiting several of the galleries as well as the local museum across the street. Every piece is bold, energetic, full of life and motion- everything from abstract representations of nature, to glittering eye candy, to light shining through intricate paper cut outs, to fine art paintings that connect you to something beyond. The gallery's namesake Virga, who is the owner and a featured artist, is a delight as well. She's a proud, fiery person and her work is pure genius. I loved my time spent in Virga Gallery, and tried to really slow down and understand each piece- which I really recommend doing. I will definitely be back, and hopefully will purchase one of these beautiful pieces in the future.

Virga, I'm sorry you think that my girlfriend and I were…read moreapparently the worst experience you have had in 45 years in the art world. I find that surprising. You must not have had very many experiences with potential customers. Most art galleries I have been too, either clearly state that no pictures can be taken of the art or they do not have a sign and they don't mind. Yours, however is very particular. You do not have a clearly posted sign but you do have an opinion! I guess it's the worst of both worlds.

STEPH JUDGMENT: Great gallery born out of the street art movement…read more I first heard about them in an LA Times article talking about their exhibit on the art of GWAR, the pioneering horror sci-fi rock band. I'd heard of Beyond the Streets before through various Art in the Streets exhibits, but had no idea that they now had a permanent physical home until I read that article. The hubby and I are longtime GWAR fans so had to go check it out! There's metered parking around the gallery, but you can also park for free on nearby neighborhoods streets. The gallery was quite sizable, with several exhibition rooms and a gift shop, of course. It's free to enter, and the exhibit was really great. Since then the hubby and I've returned for the Shepard Fairey exhibit and are looking forward to coming back for more!

Made the trip up here to see the GWAR exhibit and it was amazing. This space was utilized so well…read morefor what was on display. Being able to be so close to some of the stage costumes of my favorite band was a truly amazing experience. The entire setup was very well thought out, and I easily spent way more time here than I would have expected. The studio isn't huge, which was a bit of a let down, but their space was certainly maximized for the art. The gift shop was nice as well, but I was a bit underwhelmed by the mixing of merch for GWAR with other past exhibits. It felt like they could have been a bit more organized about that. Parking is street in LA so you have to have realistic expectations. I did have some issues with the parking meters out front that did not like my debit cards, so it took a few tries at a few spots before finding somewhere that worked. I don't count this against them because that's LAs fault, just wanted to share it with all readers here. Overall, it was an experience I made and was absolutely necessary for a Bohab like me.

Hunsaker-Schlesinger shows abstract enamels and figurative oil paintings. I am impressed by the…read moretechnical skill of Enjeong Noh's portraits. Robin Palanker's pastels looks like dated clip art though. Some of the nudes are photorealistic. The life paintings usually involve narrative.

We went to a beautiful opening today! The space was exquisite (even though it was a bit warm)…read more Loved the art, both artists were there to answer questions and Lora herself was there to assist in any way. I would highly recommend checking it out.

I have framed a number of items with LA Art Exchange. The folks have an eye for the proper framing…read moreand matting. And, they have give me dates when the frames will arrive and painting will be ready, and they are always accurate and perfect. Today I stopped in to simply have a wire added to the back of a new gallery piece I purchased. There were equally attentive , and serviced me while I waited ! If you are looking at this review , then you should really use their services. Free parking in back!!

I have been framing my art for a very long time at various places but once I went to LA Art…read moreExchange years ago when they were on Broadway , I never went anywhere else. The staff is extremely patient, as I am quite a perfectionist. There are many many choices at various price points. And the final product is perfectly executed. Prices are reasonable given the high quality of the work! Truly a pleasure. Linda