This is a review for an online purchase. I waited 7 weeks for my items to ship. At first, communication was sparse and not helpful. Didn't say much beyond "Yea. It's taking a while" When I finally received my items, a whole print was missing. I bought three things and so a third of my order was not received. Communication was much better at that point and I was given a refund for my shipping and the item I didn't receive (obviously). I wasn't sent the item I ordered. I wasn't offered a replacement. Just a waste of my time. They have a lot of cool art and the products I did receive were nice. But. Waiting 7 weeks and not even getting what I ordered... I would not suggest purchasing anything from them online. read more

I purchased on November 1 and as of the day after Christmas, half of my order still hasn't arrived. One item that didn't come was a gift, so obviously that was disappointing. The items I did finally receive (after about 6 weeks and only after I emailed) were nice, but beware if you actually expect to get all the items you ordered in a reasonable time frame. read more

Being my first time at this specific gallery, I was anticipating a lot of excitement. The space is quite small, but it housed a lot of pieces not just on the walls, but prints to flip through in the center of each room. It might have been the array of artwork that was there that night, but I was only captivated by a few pieces that became of interest for me. While it wasn't the entire gallery that had me in awe, I still admired every artists' work that was proudly displayed. It didn't take me that long to walk-thru the gallery -- it also wasn't too crowded (might have been due to my late arrival; noticed a couple of giant red tubs filled with melted ice that turned into water -- welcoming beverages?). Definitely a place to keep tabs on if you're into gallery events. Parking: street -- meter (be careful not to park in permit only areas) read more

Gallery 1988 is a small gallery that usually features modern/post modern art shows. Usually sometime interesting.

I recently came to Gallery 1988 because it hosted Lora Zombie's Flaming Heart Art Show. I was lucky enough to get tickets to Lora's live painting before the main event. I'm so glad I did because (1) Lora Zombie is one of my favorite artists and (2) it was great seeing the gallery in a small group. I could see myself getting a little claustrophobic because the space is small and looks like it can be difficult to get around & see all the art when it's packed to the brim. Lora Zombie's live painting was for a group of 20 with chairs provided around the canvas, letting people see up close and personal how she works. She was very lively and funny, answering questions from the group and from people commenting on the Facebook live streaming. As part of the event we got to see her original sketchbooks and got to buy merchandise before the public viewing. Got my third Lora Zombie art print and she was more than happy to sign it! Parking can be a little dicey around Melrose Ave depending on the time but it's not impossible to find metered parking or parking lots (especially if you don't mind walking a little). It looks like the art is always changing at Gallery 1988 so it's worth keeping an eye out for current/future exhibits. read more

See all

This is a very cool, small art gallery devoted to pop culture. The artwork is great and fun to look at even if you don't have an interest in purchasing. I ended up getting a piece of art for $25 and while perhaps a bit pricey to some, it's uniqueness and supporting a local artist/gallery made it worth it to me. I framed it and it looks great on a wall in my place. This definitely appeals to those that are nostalgic (tons of 80s and 90s related art and even an arcade game in one area of the gallery). The staff was nice and helpful at the event that I attended. It's definitely worth checking out this gallery if you're interested in pop culture and especially if you are on this area of Melrose anyway it makes for a fun place to stop in to. While there is metered street parking on Melrose, you should easily be able to find parking on side streets where you don't have to pay as long as you are willing to take a nice walk. read more

I didn't know that this gallery is a "thing" in LA. I recently heard about Gallery 1988 East because artist Kate Micucci (one half of the Garfunkel and Oates duo) had a new exhibit, "Love and Pasta," on display for two weeks from end of May to early June. As it turns out Gallery 1988 East features some big names in the pop culture scene with a nerdy/indie tilt including comic book artists and entertainers such as Joss Whedon. The gallery is located near Pink's Hot Dogs (note: metered street parking for $1 an hour with time restrictions) and is a plain storefront with a tiny room and they only have one exhibit at a time, so when I visited the whole place was filled with Kate Micucci's work lining two walls. There is a staff member that sits there to answer questions. At the time I came, basically all the art had already been sold but was still on display for the limited time, but I was able to buy a t-shirt with Kate's art work. My whole visit took probably 15 minutes. It's worth keeping up with this gallery (and its bigger 1988 West sister) to see what's coming and stopping in for a casual visit on the way to other things in the area. read more

See all

It's been a while since I've been to an art gallery in Los Angeles. I recently went with my friends to check out 100% Soft's Kawaiioscope show at Gallery 1988 on Melrose. It's a fun show with Kawaii style pop figures in a kaleidoscope display. There is a lot of humor and a lot of heart that harkens to the familiar images of one's youth. The gallery is small but you can buy limited edition prints along with the original 3D lithographs. The staff stays out of your way but you are welcome to wander about and ask questions. There was another show in the adjacent room with Garbagepail Kids style prints. I thought it was a great throwback to the 80s. The shows run for a limited time so go check it out and show a local artist some love. read more

See all

The 2016 YELP 500, Review #197: Initially, I showed up and they were closed and I thought, next time I need to phone ahead. This way I don't waste my time getting over to that part of town. so, I looked forward to stopping by so that i could start bumping up my rating. NOTE: The first time I showed up there was a woman sitting in a beach chair very much looking like she had forgotten her key to open the gallery. I asked her if she worked there or what? She said that there was a show there that night, which was still a decent amount of hours away. At the time, I could barely see inside the place but, if this lady was going to sit outside and wait I would be willing to bet that this isn't your ordinary gallery. Making me all the more sad that I had missed my initial opportunity to see what was inside. When I finally was able to stop past and visit the gallery I enjoyed my visit and found the employee there informative. I have snapped a photo of the hours but, like all galleries I refrain from reproducing the art of others via photographs. Art is life! read more

See all

Took 2 weeks from order to even ship item (that was in stock) 5 days later and the item still hasn't been given to USPS per the tracking. Won't be buying anything from here again. read more

If you are a art lover this is the place to go. They have all local up and coming artist in there small exhibit. The day I came they were showing local art on Bojack. Every artist had a unique look that they gave, nothing was similar which was amazing. They actually sell the pictures there. However if the painting is he original you buy it you must keep that painting there until after that feature exhibit ends. They change they feature exhibit every three to four weeks. So it gives you a chance to see different artist and paintings or photos monthly. Great place to go!! read more

Gallery 1988 - Art Galleries Near Me - Los Angeles, California

See all

THIS PLACE IS THE WORST DONT SHOP HERE!! (Just kidding I just don't want you to buy all the art I want for myself). I don't want to tell anyone about this place so I will regret writing this review, but it's too awesome not to share. This is the BEST art gallery in all of Los Angeles. My brother and I stumbled into this place accidentally while looking for overpriced vintage clothes on Melrose, and we were instantly enamored by how seemingly perfect this place was for our tastes. Dumb and Dumber, Billy Madison, The Thing, Oldboy, Godzilla, WWE, and Battle Royale art pieces were all on display. And incredibly affordable too! After looking through literally every piece of art they had in the store, I bought an Oldboy print that is amazing. And it was only $40 + tax (no frame). I'll be shopping here exclusively for my art needs from now on. And having just discovered their online store, I'll be broke and on the streets in no time. BUT I'll have a bunch of awesome art so it will all be okay. read more

Gallery 1988 - Art Galleries Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Rick and morty show...i swear the line was half a mile long or more. We waited 2 hours to get in. The staff was very friendly and courteous, despite the stuffy room and BO. There were also free refreshments, which was a very nice gesture. Portraits and art were displayed in an otherwise plain, tiny little studio, with a small counter at the back for guests to buy pieces they liked. We enjoyed the art for about 40 minutes, then waited an additional 30 minutes or so to buy the prints we liked. Everything was near sold out within the 3 hours the store had opened (wow!), but we were very, VERY lucky to grab the ones we truly wanted. Wallet is now empty, but it was worth every penny spent, especially once we receive the original pieces we got and hang them in our home :) read more

See all

It's a little on the small side, but you know what they say about small packages... I went last Friday night for the opening reception of Funny Or Die's "is This Thing On?" (http://www.funnyordie.com/articles/1c12c541e4/funny-or-die-and-gallery1988-present-is-this-thing-on) - showing through January 29, 2011 The layout wasn't in any particular order, so it was a surprise to move along the wall and see oldies and newbs depicted in such a funny fashion. There were definitely some conversation starter-pieces and then others were pretty straight forward. The prices were really reasonable and walking around the gallery was a fun alternative to hitting the bar scene. It's an awesome time-kill and a great way to make that trip to Pink's not strictly gluttonous! read more

See all

I have been meaning to come to Gallery 1988 for years and I'm glad I finally did! The artwork is all so unique and they have a great selection of originals and prints from previous exhibits. I would, however, suggest to maybe check their website before you visit in case they have something going on you're not interested in. When I went they had 2 exhibits going on. One was all inspired by Mattel toys which I enjoyed and the other was all portraits of wrestlers. Something I couldn't care less about. So, it was a mixed bag for me. I did, however, find some prints that I was interested in buying and had a wonderful conversation with the woman working. It really capped off a good visit and ensured that I would definitely be returning. read more

Glad I finally got to check this place out! It is a small gallery that has a lot of art inspired by pop culture. The current exhibit that was posted up showed guns and swords that were based on things like Rick and Morty, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and more. I was really bummed when I found out about this place and realized I missed the Rick and Morty and IT exhibits. I was pleasantly surprised that there were a bunch of pieces from previous exhibits still on the racks that held more art. When I was flipping through it, a lot of the posters were very affordable. My friend ended up purchasing two pieces. This gallery is very nice and takes cash or card. It's small, clean, not crowded, and they just let you freely look at everything. It's next to a few food places and clothing stores. Tatsu Ramen is just a couple blocks away. It might be difficult to find parking though. We parked in a CVS parking structure about 4 blocks away for an hour for $8 cash only. The CVS offers cash back on purchases though. Cannot wait to come back again to see future exhibits and buy the No Face poster I saw! read more

See all

Who you gonna call? The Ghostbusters 30th Anniversary Exhibit! Phenomenal and you get to take a picture with a huge Slimer! =D We came last night for opening night and the line was out the door and around the corner. I think we waited about 1.5 hours to get in. The gallery space itself is quite small. It's a long corridor with a counter at the very back to buy prints. Since there was such a large crowd, they were handing out numbers at the door. Once they call your number, you can go to back and order any prints you want. The exhibit was great. So many different types of Ghostbusters related art in different types of media. The prints were about $35 - $40. Bf said that is standard price. They were also selling Slimer toys and Ghostbusters T-shirts in the back. It really wanted to make me go home and watch the movies all over again. =) Also, heads up! Don't park on the residential street around the corner from the gallery. I think the time is limited and you have to have residential parking permit. Watch the signs or you might get a ticket! read more

See all

I've never even heard of Gallery 1988 East until a friend wanted to come here and check out one of the exhibits. The current exhibit is "Happy Food" and it is on display until June 6, 2015. The exhibit displays about 30 different paintings/pictures of an array of different foods and drinks with faces on them. Some are actually pretty funny and cute. The exhibit is pretty small and it only took around 10 minutes to actually look at all of them, but if you are in the area it's definitely something neat to check out. read more

Super cool gallery with fun exhibits. The space is somewhat small but it's laid back and fun and features art one can actually purchase without having to be a former investment banker or frequent customer at Sotheby's. The art is creative and original and often inspired by 80's pop culture. We went to a He-Man exhibit here a year ago and just saw the Garbage Pail kids and both had some great pieces. They also have a annual cult film exhibit during August that I'll have to remember to catch next year. Come by and check this place out, it'll only take a few minutes and you might just find your next favorite artist. read more

See all

This place had fun modern art dating the last 2 decades. Come if you want a little chuckle! I bought the Bruce Willis print about pies, a Hanksy piece (pic to upload later...) They even gave me %15 off my purchase, but sorry... it was only a special that lasted for 2 days. WOnk.. wonk... but YAH ME!! Art, it's subjective, but I like it! Winkers! ;) read more

See all

I'm a big fan of Gallery 1988! The art here is always amazing. I do have my favorite artists, 100% Soft, and Dan Goodsell, among them, but I never cease to be impressed by everything in the gallery. Most recently, I went to peruse their Idiot Box 2 pieces (art inspired by television), and as a fan of TV and art it was really impressive to see the two meet so gloriously in each and every piece in the gallery. As a bonus the prints/paintings are pretty affordable. Sometimes as little as $20-$30 can get you something unique to hang in your home, or office, or wherever you deem most appropriate. And the staff here is pretty hands-off, but still accessible: a dream team, in my opinion. I cannot wait to go back for their next exhibit! read more

Gallery 1988 - Nostalgic cartoon art - Art Galleries Near Me - Los Angeles, California

See all

Gallery1988 West is the larger of their two galleries. I had this place bookmarked for a long time but was never motivated enough to venture this far west... that is, until they had their Joss Whedon fan art exhibit. My friend Laura S. and I came here for the opening night party and wow the line was long! We found metered street parking a block away and waited in line for what seemed like forever... Despite being the larger gallery, this one was completely packed which is why the line moved so slow. The artwork was amazing though and we were quite tempted to buy some of the prints, but sadly we ended up leaving empty handed. Since it was the opening night, they did have complimentary refreshments for everyone and a lot of the artists were present to talk about their work and take pictures. Joss Whedon was there earlier when only the press people and artists were allowed inside, so we were unable to meet him since he left before they opened it to the public. I came again for Dan Goodsell's solo show for his Mr. Toast art. While he does post a lot of his work online, it was really cool to see all his work side by side on the walls. They also had complimentary posters for everyone who visited the exhibit. While I don't make it out here often, I do enjoy the exhibits that I see here and will definitely be back for their future ones. read more

See all

Easily one of the best locations to buy prints and unique art. Every so often they have different themes from movies to video games to even random moments. Artists create amazing pieces and obviously put them for sale. One awesome thing about this location is a lot of the prints have a certain number available such as my back to the future print which is 1 of 100. Most of the items are affordable but can easily rise up depending on the artist and the print itself whether it's on paper, Wood , or even metal. I truly do love this place and definitely recommend stopping here to see some of the art on display as well as other art that is for sale. Don't be surprised if you find yourself buying something. read more

Where do I start?!?!?! A friend of mine told me about this SUPER COOL gallery with incredible artist's and shows. I am the worst person to buy X-Mas gifts for or any gifts for that matter. This makes it especially hard for my wife, Angela. So, we were in the area going to a book signing/reading and decided to stop by there after dinner at Doomies home cookin'. As we perused the prints from there current show, "Crazy for Cult", I saw many things that I liked very much. We are both artist's, my wife and myself, so it feels weird whenever I purchased or have someone else purchase art for myself. That was thrown right out the window after I started flipping through the print. OH LORDY, did I find some gems! I picked out a bunch of stuff that I thought would go really well in my home office and my work office as well. It just kept getting better, they were having a sale of 40%(I think) of all prints, WHAT A DEAL! Angela was able to take care of my X-Mas gifts and I was able to pick them out, win-win! Since then I have been there 2 more times and was able to go back on my second visit and purchase art for Angela's office and for our house. Really nice place, super cool staff and some really, really beautiful work. Thanks guys and gals at 1988 gallery, we will continue to support your place and attend openings when we can. Keep up the good work! read more

Gallery 1988 - This is one of prints. Its based on the movie "Eastern Promises" with Vigo Mortensen. The title is "Spa Day". - Art Galleries Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Came at the opening night for Joss Whedon tribute gallery (It's still going on, guys!). I love him and I expected a long line... so I waited and it was worth it as a fan who loves fanart. The exhibit is SUPER small, so you'd expect the lines to be crowded near the place they buy the artwork. For opening night, they offer drinks (non alcoholic) and it's not hot in there. THANK BUDDHA! The place is great for a small art exhibit but for large stuff like this and big attractions... it's going to be crowded. I recommend not coming on opening day because you will have to wait and be squished with people. Parking: Street OVERALL: I came for the art. The venue was just there. :D read more

Gallery 1988 is for the art seeker that's into comic books, Kevin Smith, toys and video games from the 80's and has a budget of anywhere from $30 - $220 to buy an interesting, unique, relevant and relatable piece of artwork. It's for our (those born in the early to mid 80's) generation. I was here for the Pixel heart art opening last night and had I done my taxes (my appointment isn't until the 20th) I would've spent some of my refund on a Mario piece called Next Level Shit which was somewhere around $180 to $200 I believe? If you're a tourist looking for dope art in L.A. check out their Instagram first to see what exhibits or pieces they have and stop-in. I've also been here for the WWF/WWE wrestling art show opening they had 2 years ago which featured paintings and portraits of Ric Flair, Gold Dust, The Rock, Undertaker, Paul Bearer, Million Dollar Man, Razor Ramon (so hot), Shaun Michaels (oh man so hot), Brett The Hitman Heart...you get it. Jensen the owner or one of the owner is super interesting also and has a podcast Get Up On This which I think goes hand in hand with the Gallery. If you haven't heard Get Up on This you need to listen to that first or immediately after visiting the gallery. Also something someone visiting L.A. for the first time should listen too. read more

See all

The gallery itself is very small, but the artwork was worth the visit. We went to checkout the Ghostbusters showing and they had some really cool stuff displayed. We definitely enjoyed our visit, but it was quite short due to the small space. Parking was convenient and we were glad we at least checked it out. read more

Gallery 1988 - Art Galleries Near Me - Los Angeles, California

See all

Wanna see some awesome art shows, robots, toy or doohicky openings, then this is the place to go. They hold really great events all the time and they are usually packed with interesting peeps and some sort of free booze. The key is to sign up for the mailing list. Every month or so you get a postcard in the actual mail (I know what?) and it is on a high quality glossy card and usually filled with awesome art. Great for bookmarks after it's all said and done. As for the exhibits, the chicken one had to have been my favorite, but like I said, each month there is something new and it's awesome. So check em out and for all of you comic book geeks (and I mean geeks in the most complimentary way) the new Golden Apple Comic Book Store just opened next door, so look at it as a 2 for 1 special! Enjoy!! :) read more

I haven't been to Gallery 1988 yet for an exhibition, but have done a little shopping for my walls here. The prints are good quality, packaged with care, and extremely affordable. I had missed the Wet Hot American Summer show back in 2011 because I was living on the other side of the state at the time. I was pretty bummed when I couldn't make the trek down. Recently, my friend told me that Gallery 1988 was having a sale on their back inventory for Black Friday, and a sliver of hope appeared. I crossed my fingers and we braved both the rain and shopping traffic to see if they had any WHAS prints in stock. Lo and behold, they had ONE print available! (A great print, I might add.) Score! The staff is amiable and don't mind chatting with the patrons. On that Black Friday, they helped my friend find a print he had seen on a visit prior which wasn't to be found on the gallery floor. The space is small, so I wouldn't expect much by way of creative layout when it comes to exhibitions, but the artwork they choose to showcase is always spot on. read more

Gallery 1988 has the most fantastically curated shows where artists will all depict their versions of Pee-Wee Herman, The Sour Patch Kids, Cult Films, Robocop, etc. etc. Their openings are really chill and almost always have original pieces as well as prints available for sale at extremely affordable prices. read more

Very friendly atmosphere at this gallery. I went to an opening here, and I thought the best part was the after-party going down at the comic book store next door. I don't know if that's standard procedure for this venue, but it was awesome. After the opening, I thought about a couple of prints I had seen and decided I had to have them. Called them up and had them put aside, then went down to pick them up. Even though they were about to close, they opened up especially for me since I was buying and not just browsing the gallery. I feel like most places wouldn't have even asked, and just said "Sorry, closed suckah!" I appreciated it because the gallery is far from my house and I was about to drop some mad skrilla. Customer service is a plus in those situations. My pictures are gorgeous and overall a great experience. read more

This gallery makes my heart happy. They throw the best group theme shows ... it's always so much fun to see the themes they choose and the artists who participate. The work is always fun and engaging. Some of the work will be clever, some hilarious and some just plain brilliant. But all of it inspires you to keep coming back to see more. The frustrating thing about the gallery is that it's bigger shows tend to draw such gigantic crowds that it's not uncommon to find yourself waiting in a line that winds down the block. Big booooo. But it's usually going to be worth the wait. The gallery maintains a blog where you can usually check out a lot of the work prior to the show opening. It's a great way to get familiar with the kinds of artists they show. I've bought many a print here, too--and once you go, you will as well. read more

Awesome little gallery. Just went the other night for the "Funny or Die" show. There were some great pieces and I wanted to get so many of them. The crowd of people are cool and the vibe is even better. It was sooo packed though the other night and I was sweating like a pig in the little place. Otherwise thumbs up. Found a few great artists that I can now follow. read more

Honestly this place is one of my hang out spots off of La Brea cuz there's always something dope going on there. They have some of the sickest graff art shows and the vibe there is always kick back. Check out their website to see when the next show is being released because if you can go on opening night of "i-am-8-bit", you will not be disappointed. I've gone opening night the last 3 years and it was a ridiculously fun time. The artists like Joe Ledbetter, Craola and Luke Chueh are all real chill and mad talented. I can't get up there as much as I like, but when I do, I always make sure I check out Undftd/Stussy/Union so I can feel like I'm hip. I suggest you do the same because I know you're not hip either. Also check out for my stickers I slap around the area. My logo is a monkey. yeah yeah yeah, i know everyone uses a monkey, but mine is better. Why you ask? because I drew it :) read more

Came here last night for the HeMan art exhibit opening. The space is small but they make the most of it. It was the first night so we probably waited in line for like 45 minutes to get in. It was worth it. I was so excited to finally visit this spot. They always have the coolest exhibits that always seem to have passed me by. Not this time! I can't wait to see what the next show will be! read more

I decided to come here because I heard that there was an Arrested Development gallery. I suppose I expected some grand art gallery where pretentious art enthusiasts critiqued art, but it was quite the opposite. It's just one room and there was actually not many people there when I went. The art work was cool, but I wouldn't drive all the way there again just to come to this gallery. Brownie points for free admission, but they have odd day offs (I believe they are only open Wednesday-Sunday until 6pm). My bf and I got lost and drove past this place so many times because it's so small. It's right next to the Golden Apple Comic Book store if it makes it easier for anyone to find it. We couldn't figure out where to park, so we parked in the parking lot next to the comic book store. Yeah, our bad if we weren't supposed to park there. Neat, free gallery though. I'd check out this place once in a while if I lived in the area. read more

This place is SOOOOOO cool!! If you like pop art and pop culture this place is for you. They have all kinds of styles so if you're into prints or water colors or even just different interpretations of popular pop culture icons, you're guaranteed to find something that you like. They have really cool stuff on the walls that feature different artists and their current collection (I think that would be the appropriate word to use?) and its always always always fun to look in the bins and dig through what's available. The last time I went, we walked out with a spray paint print of Doc Brown from Back to the Future, which is one of my favorite movies. Now we just need to find Willy Wonka to complete the series! read more

My favorite gallery ever!! I can't get enough of this place. There are so many amazing artists here and Jensen has a great eye for amazing artists. Some of my favorite artists are shown here, and thanks to G1988 I can't stop discovering more. It's because of this gallery that I became somewhat addicted to buying posters. The shows that are put on here are so much fun! Conceptually, G1988 can do no wrong when it comes to the shows they put on. Scott Campbell, Greg Simkins, Joe Ledbetter, Plasticgod, Amanda Vissell and Alberto Cerriteño are just a handful of some of my favorite artists that show there. I'm honored to be asked to have some pieces in a few of their shows too (yay!!!) Crazy 4 cult is THE show of the year every year and I can't help but spend lots and lots of money at this place! If you're looking for a place to check out what's going on in the LA art scene, this is the place to go. I'm glad they opened up the Venice gallery too. There are pieces there that are quite pricey, but if you're like me and love art, but moths fly out of your wallet, they have lots of limited edition screen prints and posters for sale too to dress up your walls with. read more

The premier gallery that showcases only the best events!!! I love this place!!!!

Amazing place! Great staff! If you're into pop culture, you gotta check out this gallery!