Inside the LA Street Art Exhibition, Beyond the Streets
Tucked away in the outskirts of Downtown Los Angeles there’s a nondescript warehouse that has been transformed into one of the coolest art galleries around. After seeing the original exhibition Art in the Streets at the MOCA in 2011, I was excited to visit the newest installment, Beyond the Streets.
The exhibition showcases the evolution of graffiti and what it has transformed into today. From sculptures and print making to canvas and mixed media pieces, this gallery proves street art has moved “beyond the streets”, now hanging in homes and galleries around the world.
Worth it or nah?
So is it worth the steep $25 ticket price (fees not included)? Other museums in the city are free or cost much less, so the $25 ticket seems a bit outrageous. But, there isn’t anywhere else that puts together quite as extensive a collection of street art featuring heavy hitters like Banksy, Mr. A, Shepard Fairey A.K.A. Obey Giant, and lesser known artists all in one place. Though in my opinion not as jaw dropping a show as the one in 2011, Beyond the Streets is definitely worth the visit, especially since it’ll all be gone after July 6.
What will I see?
There are so many different media and styles that it’s hard to describe and not spoil the surprise. Let’s just say it will take around one or two hours to see the entire gallery that has both indoor and outdoor areas. Here’s a few artists that caught my eye, you can check out my Instagram for more.
Artists Patrick McNeil and Patrick Miller known as Faile have some super interesting pieces on display including an entire full-size temple complete with iron gates, mosaics, and a sculpture of a scuba diving horse (uhhh yes please). They also display a full wall of paintings on blocks of wood that are definitely eye-catching
Local artist Kristofferson San Pablo has his own little room complete with a canvas painted with hundreds of swimsuit-clad booties. You’ll even see his artwork walking around the gallery because he designed the staff coveralls in collaboration with Adidas.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BicZ_H5BZZb/?taken-by=hikristofferson
Takashi Murakami’s mural depicts his version of purgatory and it’s a colorful one. The piece was originally created for an exhibition at the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art in Moscow, Russia. It’s easily one of the highlights of the show based on size alone. Visitors can sit on a bench inside and contemplate their sins (or just take a selfie).
How to visit
Visitors need to purchase tickets online and choose a specified time. I was lucky enough to be let in early just as the previous group was heading out—there were fewer than half the people. The gallery reaches capacity and tickets sell out, especially on the weekends so plan ahead.
What else to check out
- The We Rise LA pop-up festival is just one block away and is going on from May 19 to 28. The mental health and community focused event includes food, music, workshops, yoga, seminars, and an art exhibition.
- Sign up for a guided tour of the nearby Brewery Art Complex through LA Art Tours. The complex is home to the studios of over 500 artists and is typically only open to the public for the Brewery Artwalk events.
- After looking at the art galleries, head to Apotheke LA where cocktail masters will concoct the perfect drink for you on the outdoor patio.
Did you already visit the exhibition? Comment below with your favorite pieces and artists from the show!
Add a Comment
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
I feel you! Sometimes I can’t justify spending $30 odd dollars on an entry ticket but these pieces looked amazing and well worth the money.
Exactly! It’s sad that the exhibit isn’t accessible to everyone though. It kind of defeats the purpose of street art being public and free, but of course the artists need to make a living.
A great overview! Thanks for sharing 😀
Cool, I didn’t know about this place! I need to make my way into LA more often…thanks for the info!
Such a cool post! This art all looks amazing! I love your blog!