The Hammer Museum in Los Angeles has opened the seventh edition of its Made in LA biennial, running until March 1, 2026. Curators Essence Harden and Paulina Pobocha selected 28 artists from over 200 studio visits, with no predetermined theme. The exhibition features works that respond to the city's recent challenges, including the January wildfires and ongoing ICE raids, as seen in pieces like Alonzo Davis's 'Eye on ’84' and Patrick Martinez's neon sign reading 'Agua Is Life; NO ICE'.
The biennial matters because it captures a pivotal moment for Los Angeles, addressing both local crises and broader national tensions around immigration and diversity policies. By allowing artists to create new works up to the last minute, the show offers a direct, unfiltered reflection of the city's current social and political climate. It also serves as a historical touchstone, connecting past Olympic optimism to the upcoming 2028 Games, while foregrounding the resilience and creative response of LA's art community.