Des Artistes is excited to present “80s”, a group show of influential LA-based artists, all octogenarians—painters, photographers, sculptors, and mixed media artists. 

 

Featuring pieces by contemporary pioneers Lita Albuquerque, Charles Arnoldi, Judy Baca, Larry Bell, Jerrold Burchman, Jo Ann Callis, Mary Corse, Guy Dill, Laddie John Dill, Maxwell Hendler, Paul McCarthy, Gwynn Murrill, Ed Ruscha, Helen Pashgian, Astrid Preston, Joe Ray, Ann Thornycroft, Michael Todd, and Elyn Zimmerman, 80s offers a collective reflection on what it means to continue making art across decades of change, discovery, and experience. 

 

Why this group now? As Des Artistes founder Philippe Browning put it: “I have been lucky enough over the last few years to befriend many artists in this exhibition. In their studios and homes, I am constantly inspired to see what a truly long life-in-art looks like: hundreds of works in racks and new ones under way, catalogues from countless museum shows, the photos of studios over time. All these amazing artists share a common thread:  a tenacity over scores of years, circumstance, and success, sometimes more and sometimes less, but always evolving, whether in the spotlight or not. I thought that highlighting some of these artists would introduce them to new audiences, and provide an opportunity for the works to be seen in dialogue with one another.  For me, these artists are a living bridge from modern to contemporary art—a good place to shine a spotlight. I turned to two experts for help.     

 

80s is curated by Cliff Einstein and Suzanne Ponder.  Cliff was the MoCA chairman for years and regularly opens his substantial personal collection to visitors; Suzanne’s collection of Light and Space art, and her long friendships with many of the artists presented here, is a personal inspiration to me. When I asked Cliff and Suzanne to collaborate on this project, they readily agreed. Together with my associate Yiwei Lu, Cliff and Suzanne have assembled this extraordinary group of pioneering contemporary artists.”   

 

In a culture that frequently celebrates youth, age is often reflected in a negative light, rather than seen as a source of depth, knowledge, and possibility. The art world is no exception, with attention mostly directed toward emerging artists and the promise of what is new. “80s” challenges this tendency, offering a platform for artists whose practices have developed over scores of years and whose work continues to evolve in the present.

 

The artists assembled here demonstrate that the impulse to make, question, and discover remains active throughout a lifetime. The exhibition is both a celebration of individual achievement and a collective acknowledgment of their influences on all who followed them. 

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100% of sales proceeds go to the artists—a basic tenet of Des Artistes operating model.