Since the mid-20th century, California has been a beacon of both inventive design and political activism. Exploring the intersection of these two realms, this exhibition uses case studies from LACMA’s collection to demonstrate how designers and artists championed civil rights, opposed wars and injustice, and pressed for change. Skilled communicators by profession, they distilled complex issues into eye-catching images, often appropriating commercial art techniques—from newspaper broadsheets to screen prints to digital downloads—to distribute powerful imagery despite limited resources. Others led workshops and formed printing collectives, providing movements with new methods for disseminating their messages. Their works express both outrage and optimism, going beyond protest to envision alternative ways of living. Key figures and organizations including Emory Douglas of the Black Panther Party, Sheila Levrant de Bretteville of the Woman’s Building, Self Help Graphics & Art, and street artist Shepard Fairey achieved widespread acclaim and notoriety, galvanizing political movements and empowering marginalized communities.
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What would you say?: Activist Graphics from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art
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Upcoming Events
Free
Downtown Santa Monica Farmers Market
The Downtown Santa Monica Farmers market is widely recognized as one of the largest and most diverse Certified Farmers’ Markets in the nation. Local residents, out-of-town visitors, celebrities, and many of Los Angeles’ best-known chefs and restaurants, can be found shopping in this location which features over 60 California farms.
$20
2023 ASIAN AMERICAN EXPO – YEAR OF THE RABBIT
Asian American Expo ushers in the Year of the Rabbit; continuing the tradition of hosting the largest Lunar New Year Celebration in America. Eager to roll out the red carpets for attendees, the 41st annual Expo is here to demonstrate why this is a ‘must attend’ cultural celebration in America with a smorgasbord of food, entertainment at every corner, a myriad of vendors to delight one’s urge to splurge, and plenty more activities to participate. The expo will have 5…
Free
Nubia: Jewels of Ancient Sudan
For nearly 3,000 years a series of kingdoms flourished in ancient Nubia (present-day southern Egypt and northern Sudan). The region was rich in sought-after resources such as gold and ivory and its trade networks reached Egypt, Greece, Rome, and central Africa. This exhibition presents highlights from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston’s extensive collection of Nubian objects, and features superbly crafted jewelry, metalwork, and sculpture exhibiting the wealth and splendor of Nubian society.
Free
Adee Roberson and Azikiwe Mohammed: because i am that
because i am that is a two-person exhibition by Adee Roberson and Azikiwe Mohammed presented in CAAM’s atrium. Featuring screenprints, paintings, video, window vinyl, and a mix of sculptural works, because i am that is a malleable environment that will evolve to include additional collaborators in performance, movement, and sound. Roberson’s and Mohammed’s intuitive practices figure Blackness as an abstraction, something free of fixed narratives and boundaries. because i am that is a conversation between two artists, a means to…
$25 – $29
The Hilton Als Series: Njideka Akunyili Crosby
This exhibition features collage-based paintings from “The Beautyful Ones”, the artist’s ongoing series of intimate portraits of Nigerian children, including members of her own family. Akunyili Crosby creates unique settings for her subjects, where history, philosophy, and fantasy permeate the walls of quiet living spaces. Furnished with vintage decor and analog electronics, the interiors evoke her own 1980s-era youth.