This past weekend, photo l.a. celebrated its 20th Anniversary as the longest running art fair west of New York and the largest photo-based art fair in the country, drawing over 10,000 attendees. It brings together photography dealers from around the globe, displaying the finest contemporary photography, video and multi-media installations along with masterworks from the 19th century. photo l.a. is honored to have played a significant role in the cultural life of Los Angeles. It has been essential in transforming the art/ photography landscape of Los Angeles by increasing public awareness and acceptance and the inclusion of photo-based art in almost all contemporary galleries and museum exhibitions.

In 2004, Photo LA was created as a public event, and each year for 4 1/2 days, the public immerses itself in all things photography. In addition to the exhibition fair, numerous lectures, events, and seminars were being offered. Photographers such at Uta Barth, Arthur Tress, and Amy Arbus provided lectures, presentations on independent printing and publishing, panel discussions on a variety of topics were offered, and daily collecting seminars were available. Across the street, Center hosted Review LA (to be featured next week), and there were photography openings at venues across the city.

most images by Noelle Swan Gilbert
The Los Angeles Art Association celebrating the opening evening

Close to 60 galleries and publishers set up booths, filled with photography and books for sale. The galleries came from as far away as China, Australia, and the Netherlands, but the show also included local galleries. It was an opportunity to not only be exposed to a terrific range of imagery, but see trends in print sizes, matting and framing, pricing, and color vs black and white. Five years ago, the fair was filled with large scale color prints, the last two years were dominated by small black and white classic prints–this year was a more balanced offering of scale and approach.

Photographer Lacey Terrell and Peter Mays from LAAA and 825 Gallery

A wall of color

Tom Chambers featured at the photo-eye Gallery

Susan Burnstine featured at the Susan Spiritus Gallery

Elizabeth Corden and Jan Potts from the Corden Potts Gallery, San Francisco

Tom Gitterman Gallery featuring Gita Lenz

Melissa Parker from the DNJ Gallery featuring Maria Luisa Morando

Wandering the show….

Selected images from Photo LA
Herman Leonard, “Ella Fitzgerald” from “Listen: Herman Leonard and his World of Jazz,” courtesy of 21st Editions

Natalie “Miss Aniela” Dybszi, “The Smothering,” courtesy of JoAnne Artman Gallery

Bruce Hall, “Prize Fighter,” courtesy of Blind Photographers Guild

Bill Eppridge, “Robert F. Kennedy campaigns with various aides and friends; former prizefighter Tony Zale and (right of Kennedy) N.F.L. stars Lamar Lundy, Rosey Grier and Deacon Jones,” 1968, courtesy of Monroe Gallery