Downtown’s art scene is robust, diverse, and experimental, with works that lend creativity and talent to the international stage. Much like DTLA’s art scene, this year’s LA Art Show being held at the LA Convention Center in the Social District will showcase diversity through curated shows, international galleries, major players, and a wide stylistic range of works.
Stars & Curators Painted Bright
The LA Art Show has a strong roster of curators, stars, and artists this year. First up is actress, producer, author, and entrepreneur—of Pretty Little Liars fame—Sasha Pieterse, who is set to host the Opening Night Premiere Party for the show on January 6.
The star-studded Opening Night Gala will offer celebrity sightings, a red carpet, free food and beverages from some of LA’s top eateries and spirit brands, and of course a first look at this year’s selection of international art and interactive exhibits.
Sylvester Stallone – photo courtesy Provident Fine Art Gallery
The list of stars doesn’t end there, as Sylvester Stallone will be showing a collection of abstract works in his solo exhibition with Provident Fine Art Gallery throughout the LA Art Show event.
With his collection focusing heavily on process, the abstract works offer a rare glimpse into the psyche of Stallone and the idea of celebrity image as a whole.
Photo courtesy MEK Gallery/ LA Art Show
LA Art Show Curates with Marisa Caichiolo
The 2026 introduction of the Latin American Pavilion, led by curator Marisa Caichiolo, marks a milestone in the international fair landscape and will advance LA Art Show’s global mission by spotlighting the talent of emerging artists from other regions of the American Continent.
Caichiolo has curated over a dozen shows across the world and is the founder of Building Bridges International Art Foundation, a nonprofit based in Los Angeles that holds artist residencies and focuses on art research and education.
Beyond her curatorial efforts, Caichiolo’s personal works focus on identity and span across mediums such as video, sculpture, painting, and performance, among others.
Under the eye of Caichiolo, the LA Art Show sharpens its focus on one of the most powerful forces shaping contemporary art today: biennials. Biennials, in reference to the art world, are large-scale biennial contemporary art exhibits that showcase emerging artists from across the globe.
DIVERSEartLA, curated by Marisa Caichiolo, returns with “The Biennials and Art Institutions in the Contemporary Art Ecosystem,” examining how contemporary art evolves and circulates through global biennials and institutions, complementing and challenging one another as engines of innovation, engagement, and cultural dialogue.
This edition will feature five unique art installations in addition to a video presentation that displays leading international biennials and their practices.
Maca Vivas – “Fluffy Crowns” – photo courtesy Verse Gallery/ LA Art Show
While biennials spark experimentation and cross-disciplinary exchange, institutions offer continuity and long-term stewardship, together forming a responsive, dynamic ecosystem. Amid rapid sociopolitical change, especially in Latin America, biennials remain vital laboratories of critical thought, addressing migration, extractivism, memory, community, and sustainability. Their temporal, site-specific nature highlights the immediacy and fluidity of contemporary practice.
“Since its founding in 1895, the Venice Biennale has remained the most influential model. After World War II, biennales and triennials across cities like São Paulo, Istanbul, and Johannesburg expanded global representation, embracing social critique and experimental media while navigating tensions around inclusion, markets, and cultural diplomacy,” states Caichiolo.
Caichiolo invited a select group of galleries to form the pavilion, chosen for their representation of a diverse range of Latin American artists who embody the region’s voices and perspectives, including:
Verse Gallery will feature six artists, including Maquiamelo, whose striking aesthetics reinterpret pop culture and identity; Esteban Jácome, who weaves emotional narratives through bold forms and color; Maca Vivas, who explores femininity through her delicate yet powerful “Fluffy Crowns”; and Johnny López, who fuses ancestral cultures with contemporary power and language, among others.
Artier Fine Art Gallery presents “In the Mouth of the Jaguar: Myths Reimagined”—a groundbreaking exhibition uniting ten contemporary Latin American artists who explore, reclaim, and reimagine the ancestral mythologies of the Americas. Treating myth as a living force—a jaguar with open jaws—ready to devour and reshape meaning for today’s world, the show features works by Natasha Grey, Ender Martos, Dario Ortiz, Moises Ortiz, Luigi Fantini, Brigitte Briones, Ariel Vargassal, Guillermo Bert, Miguel Osuna, and Carlos Luna.
Centered on themes of memory, migration, and identity, the pavilion challenges traditional systems of artist representation and provenance. “At a moment when immigration issues continue to disproportionately impact Latin American communities, it is especially important to provide a platform for these artists,” says Caichiolo. “Their perspectives are vital to a more complete and equitable understanding of contemporary art.” With such impact in mind, the Latin American Pavilion will truly be one of the major stars of this year’s LA Art Show.
DIVERSEartLA will also honor Chile’s upcoming participation in the 61st Venice Biennale with Inter-Reality by Norton Maza, co-curated by Marisa Caichiolo and Dermis León.
DTLA Recreated with an International Art Palette
Johnnie’s Jacket – oil on canvas – photo courtesy LA Art Show
LA Art Show is somewhat of a cultural hub this year, with galleries from across the world staking a temporary claim in the city.
From England, Pontone Gallery brings works by self-taught Manchester artist and former rock drummer Chris Rivers, while Dublin’s Oliver Sears Gallery becomes the first Irish gallery to exhibit at the fair. The strong U.K. presence continues with first-time participants such as London’s John Martin Gallery and Quantum Contemporary Art.
Michael Canning “The Good Life” photo courtesy LA Art Show
Switzerland’s LICHT FELD Gallery will present the first public showing in more than 40 years of Karl A. Meyer’s woodcut prints, created during his transformative 1980s period on New York’s Crosby Street among the era’s most influential artists—work that fills a notable gap in the art history of that time.
The LA Art Show is proud to be collaborating with AOCA – Art of Contemporary Africa to present a solo feature booth in celebration of Dr Esther Mahlangu’s 90th birthday and valuable contribution to contemporary art over 8 decades.
Art of Contemporary Africa solo feature booth in celebration of Dr Esther Mahlangu – photo courtesy LA Art Show
This is the first time an Esther Mahlangu solo has been presented in LA, following on from ‘Nostokana’ her high-profile collaboration with BMW featuring their latest color change technology that was presented at Frieze LA in 2014. Ebony called it the ‘hottest ticket at LA Frieze’.
Corridor Contemporary will showcase internationally renowned Israeli artist Yigal Ozeri, celebrated for his large-scale, cinematic portraits of young women set against lush, evocative landscapes.
For those interested in art scenes from the Far East, LA Art Show 2026 will also continue its strong Korean presence with 15 participating galleries, including J&B Art, presenting “Elegant Freedom” by Jinny Suh. Through traditional Hanji paper and vibrant color, Suh’s nature-inspired works offer emotional depth and an immersive experience that celebrates Korean culture through a modern lens.
Japan, New Delhi, and even Taipei will be featuring works from multiple galleries. Of particular note from Japan is Gallery Edel, home to the works of art legend Yayoi Kusama.
DTLA and the LA Art Show Are Stronger Than Ever
Under the leadership of Director & Producer Kassandra Voyagis, the 2026 LA Art Show promises to be one of its strongest years yet. Taking up shop in the Los Angeles Convention Center, this year’s fair will present a world-class art experience featuring over 90 exhibitors and highlighting the strengths that keep the downtown art scene unforgettable—whether that be through experimentation, international influences, or timely conversations.
Returning January 7–11, the 31st installment of the event is a must for any art lover. Tickets for the show start at $40 with 15% of proceeds benefiting the American Heart Association. www.laartshow.com
