Gallery Association Los Angeles, an association of around 100 galleries formed in 2020, released an open letter Friday night calling for the art community’s continued engagement, support, and solidarity in the city amid the ongoing Eaton, Hurst, and Palisades fires.
“Over the past week, Los Angeles has faced devastating losses due to the destructive wildfires sweeping through our city,” the letter reads. “In moments like these, the art world’s unique strength as a close-knit and interconnected community becomes especially clear. We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of concern and support from both near and far.”
“As members of the Gallery Association Los Angeles (GALA), we have been in close contact with local colleagues. In the coming weeks, the artists, art workers, galleries, museums, nonprofits, and affiliated vendors who make up our art community, many of whom lost everything, will be back to work. Most already are. While it is not business as usual, our businesses and organizations are open and operating.”
The letter, signed by major LA dealers like Tim Blum, David Kordansky, Regen Project’s Shaun Caley, Hannah Hoffman, Shulamit Nazarian, Seth Curcio, and Davida Nemeroff, the president of GALA, further asks the art community to “prevent the wildfire devastation from compounding into broader instability” by “attending exhibitions, contributing to relief efforts, and actively supporting the artists and spaces that shape our cultural landscape.”
Other signatories include the founders of Felix Art Fair—Mills Morán, Al Morán, and Dean Valentine—Agnes Lew, the managing director and head of private banking at East West Bank; Chris Sharp, the founder of Santa Monica Post Office art fair, which is due to launch next month; blue-chip galleries like Pace, Hauser & Wirth, David Zwirner, Lisson, Marian Goodman, and Perrotin; local institutions like MOCA LA and ICA LA; as well as a host of other galleries.
“From talking with a variety of artists, art workers, gallerists, and institutional leaders, including many of those who lost homes and workspaces, it is clear all parties want to return to business,” Kathryn Andrews, an artist and co-organizer of Grief and Hope, a fundraiser supporting the LA arts community that has raised over $480,000 to date, said in a statement. “LA has a powerful network with great community spirit. Without a successful economy, its diverse players cannot support one another.”
GALA’s open letter comes hours after Frieze announced that the sixth edition of its LA art fair would go on as planned from February 20 to February 23. The event has received support from city officials and local tourism agencies, Frieze said, and the fair has also partnered with local hotels to accommodate attendees. Frieze also announced that it is a founding contributor to the LA Arts Community Fire Relief Fund, which provides financial aid to artists and art workers affected by the wildfires.
“Your presence at Frieze Los Angeles will help amplify this support and champion the resilience of the city’s extraordinary cultural community,” Frieze said in a letter to VIPs sent on Friday.
As of Friday, the Greater LA fires have killed at least 24 people, burned over 40,000 acres, and destroyed over 12,000 structures. Over 170,000 people remain under evacuation orders. While the Santa Ana winds died down this week, allowing firefighters to work on bringing the fires under control, the National Weather Service warned that dangerous fire conditions could return next week. On Monday, California Governor Gavin Newson proposed a $2.5 billion fund for emergency response and recovery efforts, dubbing it a “Marshall Plan” for LA.
The full text of the GALA letter is below:
To Our Art World Community in Los Angeles and Beyond,
Over the past week, Los Angeles has faced devastating losses due to the destructive wildfires sweeping through our city. In moments like these, the art world’s unique strength as a close-knit and interconnected community becomes especially clear. We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of concern and support from both near and far.
As members of the Gallery Association Los Angeles (GALA), we have been in close contact with local colleagues. In the coming weeks, the artists, art workers, galleries, museums, nonprofits, and affiliated vendors who make up our art community, many of whom lost everything, will be back to work. Most already are. While it is not business as usual, our businesses and organizations are open and operating.
GALA is committed to providing tangible aid and support for those most deeply affected by the fires—individuals, families, and communities across and beyond the art world. To assist in these efforts, we are updating resources on our website and encourage you to contribute to the following critical relief efforts:
- Grief and Hope: Supporting L.A.’s artists and art workers impacted by the fires.
- LA Arts Community Fire Relief: Rebuilding and assisting creative endeavors in affected areas.
- Los Angeles Regional Food Bank: Addressing the immediate needs of families facing food insecurity across the region.
The Los Angeles art community has long been a testament to resilience, collaboration, and vision. While we are optimistic about the city’s future, your engagement is essential. It is important we work together to prevent the wildfire devastation from compounding into broader instability. By attending exhibitions, contributing to relief efforts, and actively supporting the artists and spaces that shape our cultural landscape, you can help us sustain the vitality of this extraordinary place.
To everyone who has already extended your support and shown solidarity, we cannot thank you enough. Together, we will continue to nurture the creativity and people that make Los Angeles a truly singular city.
With gratitude,
Gallery Association Los Angeles (GALA)
Signatories:
839; Brian Butler, 1301PE ; Nathalie Martin, 1301PE.; Brad Eberhard, Alto Beta; Mario DeFlice & Helen Babst, Babst Gallery; Lee Foley, Director of Bel Ami, Los Angeles; Tim Blum, BLUM Los Angeles; Tanya Bonakdar Gallery; Andra Nadirshah & Stevie Soares, Ceradon Gallery; Olivia Barrett, Chateau Shatto; Alex Ross, Cheremoya; Chez Max et Dorothea; Commonwealth and Council; Luis De Jesus, Partner and Director, Luis De Jesus Los Angeles; Jay Wingate, Partner and Director, Luis De Jesus Los Angeles; Brianna Bakke, Director, Luis De Jesus Los Angeles; Jeffrey Deitch, Jeffrey Deitch Gallery; Anat Ebgi; The ƒ/Ø Project; Mills Morán, Felix Art Fair; Al Morán, Felix Art Fair; Dean Valentine, Felix Art Fair; Emma Fernberger, Fernberger Gallery; Peter Fetterman, Peter Fetterman Gallery; Alex Nazari, Gattopardo; Keith J. Varadi, Gene’s Dispensary; Gemini G.E.L.; François Ghebaly; Sebastian Gladstone, Sebastian Gladstone Gallery; Marian Goodman Gallery; Good Mother Gallery; Hauser & Wirth; Timothy Hawkinson Gallery; Hannah Hoffman, Hannah Hoffman Gallery; Anne Ellegood, Executive Director, Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (ICA LA); Karma; Sean Kelly; David Kordansky, founder and owner, David Kordansky Gallery; Mike Homer, partner, David Kordansky Gallery; Peter Goulds, Kimberly Davis, Elizabeth East, Lisa Jann and L.A. Louver Gallery; Ian James, Leroy’s; Agnes Lew, Managing Director and Head of Private Banking, East West Bank; Lisson Gallery; Benjamin Trigano, M+B; Emilia Yin, Make Room Los Angeles; Portia Hein, Philip Martin Gallery; Philip Martin, Philip Martin Gallery; Jay Ezra Nayssan, Founding Director & Chief Curator, Del Vaz Projects; Shulamit Nazarian and Seth Curcio, Nazarian / Curcio Gallery; Davida Nemeroff, Owner, Night Gallery; Alina Cohen, Director of Communications, Night Gallery; Mihai Nicodim, Owner, Nicodim; Ben Lee Ritchie Handler, Partner, Global Director, Nicodim; Yan Yu, Director, Nicodim; Abigail Ogilvy Gallery; Moskowitz Bayse; The Museum of Contemporary Art | MOCA; Pace Gallery; Carlye Packer; Parker Gallery; Performance Art Museum; Adam Miller & Devon Oder, The Pit; Perrotin; Shaun Caley Regen, Regen Projects; Roberts Projects; Diane Rosenstein; Diane Rosenstein Gallery; Sara Hantman, Sea View; Chris Sharp, owner and director of Chris Sharp Gallery and founder of Santa Monica Post Office; Beatrie Beugelmans, Chris Sharp Gallery; Louis Stern Fine Arts; Alice Lodge, the LODGE; Patricia Sweetow, PATRICIA SWEETOW GALLERY; Esther Kim Varet, VSF; Ariel Pittman, VSF; Mike Weiss and Virginia Martinsen, Lowell Ryan Projects; Susanne Vielmetter, Vielmetter Los Angeles; Gordon VeneKlasen, Chantal Webber, Webber Gallery; Michael Werner Gallery; Courtney Treut, Michael Werner Gallery; Naomi Wilding and Anthony Cran, Wilding Cran Gallery; David Zwirner
The post “Gallery Association Los Angeles Calls for a Return to Business Amid Fire Recovery” by Harrison Jacobs was published on 01/18/2025 by www.artnews.com