The breadth—and relative accessibility—of Frieze Los Angeles means that you needn’t be an art expert to take in some of the best that LA’s arts scene has to offer this weekend. But if you’re seeking a little direction in your gallery-hopping, here—with the invaluable help of Vogue contributor (and freelance art advisor) Jocelyn Silver—are a few of the major highlights. Get out there and enjoy!
Greta Waller: Solo Presentation
Not only is Waller one of Los Angeles’s most visually exciting painters, but she’s also a paramedic (!), and indeed the urgency and precision of her work feels pretty in line with both her creative and medical background. Her images of ice blocks, lush fabrics, cherries, sea animals, and charred hearts are disquieting in the best way, and well worth trekking to Santa Monica to witness in person.
Where to see it: Fernberger Gallery, Booth F10 in the Focus section, Santa Monica Airport, February 26 to March 1
Raymond Saunders: Notes from LA
Saunders, who died last summer at the age of 90, is most closely associated with his home city of Oakland, but seeing his multimedia paintings in person at David Zwirner in Los Angeles is a reminder of California’s rich and prolific tradition of Black artistry.
Where to see it: David Zwirner, 616 N Western Avenue, February 24 to April 25
Amity group exhibition: I Did It Myself
Frieze LA isn’t truly complete without the opportunity to see some truly cool local architecture, and that’s exactly what arts organization Amity’s curator and founder Jed Moch is offering with a group show at Laurel Canyon’s historic Wohlstetter House that features works by Issy Wood, Ed Ruscha, Faith Icecold, John Waters and many more artists.
Where to see it: Wohlstetter House, 2805 Woodstock Road, February 25 to March 2, by appointment
Barry McGee: 99¢
Los Angeles’s iconic 99 Cents Only store shuttered all its locations two years ago, but for one week only, McGee is bringing it back. In collaboration with Jeffrey Deitch and the Hole, the artist has innovatively converted a former 99 Cents Only location on Wilshire Boulevard into a pop-up stuffed with works by McGee and his friends.
Where to see it: 6121 Wilshire Blvd., February 23rd to March 1, 12pm-6pm daily
Stephanie H. Shih: Erewhon Juices Available Now
I’ve long been a near-obsessive fan of Shih’s fanciful yet hyper-realistic sculptural recreations of everyday objects, and her latest project—taking on LA’s obsession with expensive, woo-adjacent beauty and wellness enhancers through a collection of ceramic Erewhon juice bottles—makes me proud to be an Angeleno.
Where to see it: Berggruen Gallery, Booth D07 at the Santa Monica Airport, February 26 to March 1
Sayre Gomez: Precious Moments
Gomez’s take on urban existence is reliably thought-provoking, and his Frieze exhibition—a multidisciplinary mix of new paintings, sculpture, and videos—questions LA’s commercialism at any cost, even as it celebrates the city’s ineffable beauty. Gomez’s scale recreation of the abandoned, graffiti-covered Oceanwide Plaza towers in downtown L.A. is particularly arresting.
Where to see it: David Kordansky Gallery, 5130 W. Edgewood Place, January 16 to March 1
