Observations of the 2016 LA Art Show: Steve Grody

The L.A. Art Show is always a mixed bag, and a lot to visually chew through with not necessarily enough attention span to make through properly in one try. There is work that might have been seen as edgy if it were at least 40 years ago. There is work where clearly the artist has really worked on his or her chops, but is trying to have an effect without success. There is quite a few slacker artists posing as “raw.” And luckily, there is always work that is thoughtful and personal, possibly representational, possibly abstract to various degrees, but having in common the power to hold your attention.

Nice to see the UGLAR collective working on a wall for MCLA, (photo pictured above), and at one point my eyes swiveled to see the distinctive glyph-inspired work of Saber, kicking down work that only a properly obsessed painter could do.

See the show next year if you have a chance, and just steel yourself for a marathon of viewing.

All photos by Steve Grody.

Saber

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Steve Grody, is the author of Graffiti LA: Street Syles and Art, historian and photographer. In 2011 his photographs were in the MOCA “Art of the Streets” show and catalogue, and he was co-curator of “Street Cred: Graffiti Art from Concrete to Canvas” at the Pasadena Museum of California Art. He is also our Cartwheel Art Tours graffiti expert. More about Steve.