Exploring Cultural Themes in Los Angeles Art: Charles Gaines and More

Charles Gaines, an influential multimedia artist in LA, is exhibiting his large-scale representations of baobab trees at Hauser & Wirth from February 19 to May 24, 2025. Other notable exhibitions include installations by a Canadian-Jamaican artist at David Zwirner gallery and Crosthwaite’s works at Luis de Jesus gallery, reflecting themes of spirituality, border confluence, and cultural identity.

Multimedia artist Charles Gaines has significantly impacted Los Angeles’ art scene as a faculty member at CalArts for over 30 years, influencing many Black artists to pursue Master of Fine Arts degrees. His works are displayed in prestigious museums around the globe, including the Tate, MOMA, and the Whitney. Currently, he serves as the artist-in-residence at Hauser & Wirth gallery in West Hollywood, where an exhibition features his large-scale representations of African baobab trees.

The exhibition, titled “Charles Gaines: Numbers and Trees, The Tanzania Baobabs,” runs from February 19 to May 24, 2025. Since the 1970s, Gaines has employed tree motifs in his art, utilizing a method of numbered and colored grids on plexiglass. According to Carolina Miranda, an independent culture critic, Gaines’ meditative and mathematical technique sets him apart from other artists. The display includes nine impressive works inspired by baobab trees photographed by Gaines in Tanzania in 2023, allowing viewers to feel as though they are entering a forest.

Miranda explains that these pieces highlight the intricate systems constructing the representation of objects like trees. For example, Gaines reveals the cellular structures along with the larger systems that create the entirety of the tree, including roots and branches, making these natural phenomena visibly apparent to viewers.

The David Zwirner gallery in Hollywood features another exhibition providing a sensory experience, running from February 13 to March 29, 2025. The Canadian-Jamaican artist has crafted five towering figures encircling a circular tapestry made from various materials, including textiles and metal scraps. A specially created Spotify playlist complements this artwork, creating an environment reminiscent of a spiritual ceremony.

Each figure embodies themes associated with water and Afro-Caribbean spiritual traditions, as portrayed in Miranda’s description of their design. The artist draws inspiration from traditional ground drawings used in spiritual rituals, transforming mundane materials into heroic representations through fabric and metal.

Luis de Jesus gallery, located in Downtown Los Angeles, showcases the works of artist Crosthwaite from March 1 to April 5, 2025. Born in Tijuana and educated in the U.S., Crosthwaite utilizes his multicultural heritage to depict the border as a confluence rather than a division. His art incorporates elements from Tijuana alongside cultural symbols such as Mickey Mouse and Coca Cola, illustrating the unique blend of cultures in the border region.

Crosthwaite’s works often reference Mexican religious art, with some pieces on the surface appearing as Tijuana cityscapes. However, closer inspection reveals fantastical beings emerging from everyday objects, reflecting his longtime fascination with comic books. Recently, he experimented with black ink sketches on colored notepads, leading him to embrace vibrant color in his artwork after years of resisting it, yielding stunning results.

Miranda advocates for the addition of color in Crosthwaite’s work, recognizing its transformative impact on his artistic expression.

In conclusion, the recent exhibitions spotlighting multimedia artist Charles Gaines, alongside the works at David Zwirner and Luis de Jesus galleries, exemplify the rich tapestry of cultural influences and innovative techniques present in today’s art scene in Los Angeles. Gaines’ exploration of natural forms, the spiritual reflections of Afro-Caribbean traditions, and Crosthwaite’s borderland narratives underline the dynamic intersection of art and cultural identity, inviting audiences to engage with these multifaceted themes across various mediums.

Original Source: www.kcrw.com