In the early 2000s, the hushed stillness of the industrial district of Downtown Los Angeles began to coalesce around a dedicated group of talented artists drawn to the area’s stark authenticity.
Often whispered about and discovered by a fortunate few, the downtown art scene kept its landscape of concrete warehouses unexpectedly alive after dark with fiercely independent art shows and obscure gatherings pulsing with a raw and untamed creative energy.
From this compelling, underground world known today as the Arts District, emerged Nathan Cartwright—a talented artist whose incredible ability to mix emerging artists with art collectors within fantastic, curated shows quickly garnered him national attention.
It was this attention that led the creators of Gallery Row, Nik Cha Kim and Kjell Hagen along with the original Downtown Los Angeles Art Walk founders Bert Green, Cheyanne Della Donna, and Kimba Rogers to extend an invitation to Cartwright to open The Hive Gallery on 7th and Spring.
In 2005 the Hive Gallery opened, a year after the newly formed Downtown Los Angeles Art Walk, an event that would eventually bring hundreds of thousands of people to downtown and spark the much-anticipated downtown resurgence from 2004 to 2016.
“At the time Gallery Row needed momentum to keep going.” Said Nik Cha Kim. And momentum it got. The area became permanent host to six more galleries over the next nine months. Then the first Gallery Row Art Walk was born, like a child of the movement, that would grow up and walk off on its own.”
This foundational relationship placed Cartwright at the forefront of the resurrection movement, igniting a sense of community and adventure downtown would soon become known for.
“I remember lines of people out the door, for one thing only, amazing art! The Hive has always been a bright spot in DTLA, from the beginning, it’s been the place to find new and exciting artists from all over Los Angeles.” Said long time friend, Gallery Row Founder/Art Collector Kjell Hagen.
Where the Wild Things Are.
For 20 years, through thick and thin, despite the original Artwalk tanking and the post-pandemic devastation of 2020, The Hive Gallery has remained a staple of the downtown Los Angeles art scene.
Still King of the DTLA art scene – Hive Gallery owner Nathan Cartwright – photo courtesy James Payne
Known today as King Bee, Cartwright has mastered the ability to draw together a diverse collective of creative souls, young and old, each bearing their unique spark within the honeycomb of exhibits found within the Hive Gallery.
“The Hive is more than just a space to hang paintings, The Hive, an art installation in and of itself, has become a hotbed for real artists who were struggling, offering them a vital foothold to create, connect, and be discovered.” – Nathan Cartwright, Hive Gallery.
Surreal artist Greg Gould long time exhibitor of Hive Gallery
As an incubator for surrealism, pop art, and just about anything imaginable, the Hive Gallery is a place where the raw edges of “danger and beauty” intertwine.
Inspired by the collaborative spirit and the need for a more permanent and supportive infrastructure, each honeycomb within the Hive features an individual art exhibit, bringing with it a dynamic fusion of exhibition space, work studio, and intimate collector opportunity.
It is this synergy that has kept King Bee alive for over two decades, making the Hive Gallery one of the oldest successful galleries in downtown Los Angeles, as his creative worker bees continue to produce the richest honey, sweetened by the artistic process that draws in the community.
The Queen Bee – a gift from across the seas by female English artist Madison Sharp
Over the years, Hive Gallery has presented hundreds of annual themed shows, such as the most recent 14th Annual Line Attack Show and the 18th Annual Hive Tarot Exhibit, with receptions held the 1st Saturday of every month, with subsequent receptions held on the Historic Core’s monthly Art Night and at closing. Hive Gallery also has an upcoming annual show in Japan in May, curated by Cartwright and entitled “Ultrahive 3,” traveling from Osaka to Tokyo, with over 100 artists exhibiting custom CD cover art. The show will travel back to LA and exhibit at Hive in July.
The gallery also hosts workshops, along with one very zany YouTube channel that serves as a virtual gathering place for a list of peculiar characters who show up in the videos and to the Hive in full costume from time to time.
“Wolf boy” by Nathan Cartwright – photo courtesy Hive Gallery
On May 3rd, Hive Gallery will celebrate its 20th anniversary of creativity at its location on Gallery Row in Downtown Los Angeles—the show will debut a new picture book highlighting the Hive Gallery’s most memorable moments and resident artists. This event is sure to bring out all of its artists, over 150 in this show, fans and charismatic figures, and will give all of Los Angeles and beyond a chance to meet the King Bee himself, and continue with its constant buzz of creation and connection.
The Hive Gallery is located at 729 S Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90014. https://thehivegallery.com
