Craft in America: L.A. Made

This exhibition is installed at Los Angeles International Airport Terminal 1 (Southwest) and is co-produced by Los Angeles World Airports and City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs

Craft in America: Made in LA installation view at LAX Terminal 1
Craft in America: Made in LA installation view at LAX Terminal 1

Los Angeles has been an epicenter for craft in contemporary art since the mid 20th century. This grouping of sculptural objects is filled with revelations about the evolving nature of contemporary craft in the region. Today, the boundaries between media, the utilitarian, and the conceptual, as well as around design, art, and craft have eroded and become an open field for artists. These selected objects are indicative of the breadth and range of materials that artists draw upon to create art in the 21st century including ceramic, glass, fiber, metal, and wood.

For decades, these exemplary eight L.A. artists have contributed to the broadening of the conversation of what art can be. Beyond their individual works, these artists have also contributed deeply as teachers, influencing countless other artists with their diverse craft practices. They each manipulate materials to new ends. Some innovate through selection of material, while others expand the lexicon of techniques used to produce work. They employ abstraction to very different ends: figuration, reflections of nature, depictions of L.A. life, studies of form, and politically charged messages. All of these artists explore the metaphorical potential of their materials and draw upon historical precedent to imbue their work with meaning and beauty. Beyond the realm of design, these sculptural works help redefine how craft is viewed on the world stage.

Po Shun Leong, Red Coral, Painted maple wood, Collection of the artist
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Kauai Coral Reef, Ceramic, Collection of the artist
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Kauai Coral Reef (left), John Luebtow, Linear Form Series, Cat. # LF-4-02/4 (right)
John Luebtow, Linear Form Series, Cat. # LF-4-02/4, Glass, stainless steel, Collection of the artist
Gerardo Monterrubio, Roll Dogs, Terracotta, under- and over-glazes, Collection of Carol Sauvion
Carrie Burckle, Spine, Cotton and linen, handwoven: double weave, wire armature, Collection of Carol Shaw Sutton
Tanya AguiƱiga, Hand-felted Folding Chairs (4 gray), Metal folding chair, wool, Collection of the artist
Karyl Sisson, Skin (Grey) & Skin (Blue), Vintage cotton zippers, twill tape, thread, and wood, spring – operated clothespins, Collection of the artist
Ferne Jacobs, The Round, coiled waxed linen thread, Collection of the artist
Craft in America: Made in LA installation view at LAX Terminal 1
Craft in America: Made in LA installation view at LAX Terminal 1
Craft in America: Made in LA installation view at LAX Terminal 1
Panorama Vitrine Final, Craft in America: Made in LA installation view at LAX Terminal 1
Craft in America: Made in LA installation view at LAX Terminal 1

This project is supported by a grant from the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs. https://culturela.org/

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