"Crosscurrents in L.A. Painting and Sculpture, 1950-1970" embodies only one of many manifestoes inherent in PST's panoply of visual and performance art projects. But it is the one that encapsulates an essential purpose of the whole venture in its declaration that "the history of modern art looks very different when viewed from the West Coast." more ›

MOCA's annual gala was Saturday night, and it apparently caused some ruffled feathers. Curated by performance artist Marina Abramovic, the event, entitled "An Artist’s Life Manifesto," started off typically enough, with cocktails, mingling, and polite, art-y conversation. But according to a write-up in the New York Observer by Susan Michals, when guests moved into the fancy dining portion of the evening, they were greeted with a few unwelcome surprises. more ›

With the release of his new book a month away, Steve Martin comes to the Getty this Tuesday to talk art with writer Frederic Tuten. The already sold-out event is part of the Getty's Pacific Standard Time initiative, which is hosting lectures focusing on Los Angeles' role in the development of contemporary art. more ›

LACMA officially announced today that they would like to merge with MOCA, who is having considerable money problems right now. "Under the terms of the proposed merger," reports Culture Monster, "MOCA's collection and programs would be exhibited at MOCA's Geffen Contemporary Space in Little Tokyo, the Broad Contemporary Art Museum at LACMA and at LACMA's Stewart Resnick Exhibition Pavilion, under construction on the LACMA campus. Additional programs are planned for MOCA's Grand Avenue site." If the merger goes through, money from LA County would not support MOCA like it does with LACMA. The institutions would be operated by the same people and share the same infrastructure, but both would keep the "independence and integrity" of their missions. more ›

The delicious, outstanding, mind-altering Magritte show at LACMA is over on Sunday, March 4th. John Baldessari has done a bang-up job presenting Magritte's work in a new context, free from the apple/bowler hat, ceci n'est pas une pipe cliches his work so often calls to mind. We’d normally say something like: run, don’t walk to the show. It’s that good. You only have six days to make it happen so you need to hustle.... more ›

Dear LAist, more ›