CalArtians are among the 39 artists and collectives selected for the sixth Made in L.A. Biennial exhibition, running from Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, 2023, at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles.
Since its inception in 2012, Made in L.A. seeks to highlight the work of Los Angeles-based artists whose practices “embrace the value of craft, materiality, performance, and collectivity.” Under the theme Acts of Living, the 2023 iteration is organized by L.A.-based independent curators Diana Nawi and Pablo José Ramírez, with curatorial fellow Ashton Cooper. More about this year’s exhibition, from the Hammer:
Made in L.A. 2023: Acts of Living takes its title from a quote by the renowned Los Angeles artist Noah Purifoy, which is inscribed on a plaque at the Watts Towers: “One does not have to be a visual artist to utilize creative potential. Creativity can be an act of living, a way of life, and a formula for doing the right thing.” The history of Watts Towers—built by Simon Rodia over the course of 33 years and then preserved by the local South L.A. community, including Purifoy, to become a hub for arts education—embodies this ethos and offers a salient metaphor for this biennial.
The CalArtians selected for this upcoming edition are Vincent Enrique Hernandez (Art BFA 21), Kang Seung Lee (Art MFA 15), Esteban Ramón Pérez (Art BFA 17), Roksana Pirouzmand (Art BFA 17), and School of Art visiting faculty Young Joon Kwok.
All artists in the exhibition are eligible to receive awards funded by philanthropists and art collectors Jarl and Pamela Mohn, including the $100,000 Mohn Award and $25,000 Career Achievement Award, both of which are selected by a professional jury. Additionally, the Public Recognition Award ($25,000) is determined through a public vote, and presented in conjunction with the exhibition.
Find the full list of Made in L.A. 2023: Acts of Living participants at the Hammer’s official announcement.
