Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Three Artists Sue AEG for Dumping Their Murals From Ritz-Carlton Art Show
Street artists are used to having their work destroyed or painted over — but probably not when their work is being displayed indoors.
The California artists Shepard Fairey, Mear One, Chor Boogie, and Shark Toof had their work on display in a penthouse at the Ritz-Carlton for an L.A. Art Show event — in the hopes that a taste of the "street" would attract deep-pocketed prospective condo buyers.
Fairey's art was sold off, but the suit says that AEG’s condo sales director wanted to keep the remaining five pieces on hand to impress prospective buyers who came in after the event. When the show's curator Bryson Strauss tried to get the remaining five pieces back, he was told that AEG had dumped it, according to the Los Angeles Times. (The Times points out that AEG is the group responsible for sending treasures from King Tut’s tomb across the globe). The suit says AEG is refusing to compensate the artists for dumping their work, when it promised to give the pieces back. Now the artists are suing AEG and asking for $150,000 for each lost piece, as well as punitive damages.
AEG offered up this statement to KPCC:
Support for LAist comes from
AEG does not agree that plaintiffs in this matter have accurately or completely set forth the facts associated with this matter. Nor does AEG agree with the legal positions taken by the plaintiffs in their lawsuit. AEG looks forward to vigorously defending itself in court.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The critical findings are part of long-awaited after-action report was released Thursday. It contains recommendations for increasing emergency staffing and updating old systems. -
Diving has changed, mountain biking has been added. Here's where to watch the Olympics in person in 2028. -
'A Great Day in the Stoke' is a free, daylong event in Orange County billed as 'the largest gathering of Black surfers in history.' The fourth annual festival is set for Saturday in Huntington Beach. -
Kimmel returned less than a week after ABC suspended his show over comments he made about the assassination of right wing activist Charlie Kirk. -
Southern California might see some light rain tonight into Wednesday morning. After that, cooler weather is on the way, but expect the humidity to remain. -
A gate tax at Disney? It's a possibility.
Best of LAist