The Hammer Museum has announced the lineup for the seventh edition of its biennial survey "Made in L.A.," curated by Essence Harden and Paulina Pobocha. Starting with a list of over 1,000 artists and no predetermined theme, the curators visited numerous studios over six months to select 28 participants. The exhibition includes artists working beyond traditional definitions, such as online archivist Jerald Cooper and DJ programmer Michael Donte, alongside experimental filmmakers, choreography, ceramics, and installations. The show features works by Pat O'Neill, Carl Cheng, Greg Breda, and others, reflecting Los Angeles's car culture, light, and evolving landscape.
The biennial matters because it offers a timely, ground-level portrait of Los Angeles's diverse art scene amid recent crises like wildfires and military invasion. By forgoing a fixed theme, the curators allowed organic connections to emerge, highlighting how artists engage with the city's shifting history, economy, and environment. The inclusion of non-traditional practitioners and cross-disciplinary works underscores the Hammer's commitment to expanding definitions of contemporary art and reflecting the complex realities of LA as a creative hub.