Gallery 1988
- Price Range: $$$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
3 reviews
Neighborhood: Beverly Hills
"LA chapter of debatably the worlds preeminent gallery. Gagosian represents all the big-name living artists, and a lot of their shows are…" read more »
10 Reviews for Gallery 1988
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 :)
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At Gallery 1988, don't expect to see high brow art. Throw away your coat and tie, give up that stuffy attitude and put on something comfy to wear because at this gallery it's low-brow fun art all the way.
Take Luke Chueh who opened Feb 5th along with Mark Bodhar and Yuseko Ueno. His art reflects the ironic nature of the human condition expressed by non human characters. Still sounds a bit intellectual? Luke Chueh expresses himself through the use of Chickens and Bunnies. For us, this exhibit was too good an opportunity to pass up as we were not only excited to purchase the 1998G Mini Chase Print Set along with other goodies offered that evening, but see the artwork first hand.
The gallery itself is located on Melrose in Los Angeles. Nothing pretentious looking, simply a mid sized one room gallery with ample lighting and room enough to show a good selection of artwork.
There was the standard bar serving wine and beer which was a nice touch. However the real testimony to the exhibit's success was the sound of the cash register in the back having a workout as many people came to purchase the 4 x 5 Chase set of four prints from Luke Chueh's collection (with a random number of sets to included a fifth piece of signed artwork). At $80 a pop, it was slightly pricey but a nice way to go to own a piece of this highly popular subcultural artist. By the end of the evening we were down almost $1000 after purchasing the 30 x 40 print "Disintegration", the Chase Print Set and 2 small "blind" boxes from their previous exhibition, Vivisect Playset. I'd say that was a successful evening.
We were extremely fortunate enough to catch Luke on his way in to the gallery and were able to chat with him for a full five minutes before he made his rounds. During that time he signed Linden's Vinyl called "Possessed" which Linden almost didn't bring with him(!) and spoke candidly to us about the inspiration for his work. What I took away from the conversation with him was his view that all abstract work needs a concrete base from which the concept can be pulled from. You need a point of reference first to better understand the abstract outcome.
From the original artwork to the people attending and possibly meeting the artist himself, I highly suggest attending a gallery opening as you never know what cool opportunities await you.
http://www.yelp.com/us...
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re-post 02/08/2008
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There are two kinds of comic book fans, Marvel fans and DC fans. Since I'm a DC comics fan I never warmed up to Marvel much. Nevertheless, I always found the God-like status paid to megalomaniac Stan Lee to be extremely obscene. When I heard there was a group show paid to Stan Lee, not Marvel Comics and the hard-working geniuses who worked under him, I was intrigued. How does a self-loving prick like Stan Lee rate a show? Will Jack Kirby's ghost show up and take a dump on Lee's worn-out toupee?
Tributes like this I would accept like a burning spear hemorrhoid, which would probably resemble Spiderman. There were few paintings that actually could be called "art" and most of it was just plain bad. Let's cast the swine before pearls: When the artists weren't busy imitating Mark Ryden or a kid's Fruit Roll-Ups ad (when the kids are bugging their eyes out like speed freaks), it was just bad Napoleon Dynamite fan art. I actually missed the liger!
He who (cannot be named) should have their thumbs hung:
1) He who painted Dr. Doom giving Ozzy devil metal fingers
2) Stan Lee pencil sketches
3) He who painted "The World of Stan Lee" and then cribbed a load of Jack Kirby images...you're a douche
4) He who painted Stan Lee on stage with Marvel heroes rocking out in a band called The Excelsiors...you're the biggest douche of all
I saw a terrible painting of the Hulk going for $7000 (the most expensive piece there) and it was the stupidest thing I ever saw. The horror set in when I discovered it was my next door neighbor's painting! There was also a beautiful color light box of Mr. Fantastic that didn't seem like art to me but belonged in some stoner teen's rec room. By the beer bong.
At least some people tried, there were paintings that had virtually nothing to do with superheroes. If they couldn't get into the comics frame of mind they should have fucked off.
Who was good?
1) There was a nice painting of Dr. Strange by Nic Cowan. Unfortunately it looked like any image from the Powerpuff Girls. Bummer.
2)Yoskay Yamamoto's painting of Thor was excellent because it was not only a cool tribute but showed an ORIGINAL art style not to be seen in the rest of the room. His lines and composition made me a fan.
3) Chris Reccardi's painting of Sue Storm/Invisible Girl was very stylized and well-done. Every line was perfectly executed, and again, he won a fan.
To Gallery 1988's credit most paintings were priced to move (under $800) so the art fan gets some great new shit...even a cool stoner light box of Mr. Fantastic.
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Best art gallery in LA. I love it because it hosts I-am 8-bit the annual video game art show. Plus they always have great show from LA'S TOP MODERN ARTISTS.
Great owner that has an eye for talent!!!
Small, fun gallery that seems to have some great off-beat shows. We strolled around this weekend for the "I am 8-bit" group show and weren't disappointed. My only disappointment was that I couldn't afford to bring home some of the artwork with me ... price prohibitive.
For those that plan to go by May 12 ... "I am 8-bit" is a fab little showing of art inspired by video games. Nicely selected and nicely displayed. I'd definitely go back to see what they cook up next!
The vibe is laid back and casual, but keep in mind that we went on a Saturday afternoon ... so I'm sure the scene for openings is a whole 'nother LaLa Land ballgame.
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!! :)
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"open bar, dude!"
not that it meant anything to me, since i'm allergic and asian, but it sounded like a good time. it was an invite to a new art opening, accompanied by a couple other artist friends, to this gallery in hollyweird. i'm not nearly as cultured as i should be, so i excitedly accepted.
upon arrival, there were so many people crammed in this small showroom that they were overflowing out onto the sidewalk and there was a line to get in. luckily the hostess succumbed to my suave charm. we didn't wait too long and hopped right in after a brief 10 minutes.
after my friend made a b-line to the bar, i proceeded to observe and take a look at this artist's work. pretty cool stuff.
...until i saw images of disney characters for sale, in print, with his signature, in the poster basket.
hakkety-hak. don't talk bak!
i despise that. artists jacking other artists. albeit - it was the evil empire of disney who was the victim, but still. my impression of this artist and his work shone with hackluster after that discovery.
if i didn't see any of those eeyore or piglet images mixed in with the rest of his surrealist and distorted creatures, i would have commended his creativity and style. but it all got smooshed instantly along with the credibility of this gallery, in support of this so-called-artist.
i can't give it that low a rating though, cuz i have another friend who shows his stuff here too. he actually rocks. and it was only one show that i went to. i'll come back and edit my review as need be after future visits.
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Tucked away at Melrose & La Brea, Gallery 1988 is a gem, featuring some of LA's best emerging artists. The openings are legendary, attracting artists, scenesters, collectors, and those with a strong thirst for their free, punchy drinks. If you've already collected your fair share of limited edition kicks, and one-of-a-kind Japanese toys, the next evolution is probably some good art for your walls, and 1988 is the perfect place to start. The owners have a good eye and IMHO have done a great job exposing the next-gen of artistic talent and make owning a great piece, if not entirely affordable, at least possible.
parking kinda sucks but its a great no frills gallery with lots of amazing shows with awesome artists.
jensen is great, so very helpful and the kind of curator you want to meet everytime you enter a gallery.
can't wait to see more shows at g1988!
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