By Devany Harden
For a city that was once part of Mexico and nearly 50% of the Los Angeles population being Latinx, it’s fair to imagine that the number of art galleries, museums, and spaces showing Latinx work here would roughly mirror that number. Spoiler alert: It doesn’t.
L.A. ranks #3 in the nation as one of the most art-vibrant communities, yet racial disparity in the arts community is rampant.
Just take a look at these statistics about Latinx art in our community, city, and county:
- Community arts organizations employ a greater number of Hispanic and Latinx workers than larger institutions
- Only 20% of the county’s arts and culture workforce is Hispanic or Latinx
- 49% of Los Angeles’ Latinx artists do not have a studio of their own
- 35% of Latinx arts workers went without basic necessities last year
That’s why, when Latinx Heritage Month rolled around this year, all of us at Curate LA felt the need to celebrate and shine a light on the Latinx artists, curators, and spaces working hard to close the gap. All month long, we’re featuring Latinx artworks, events, and exhibitions on our social media, newsletter, and website.
To kick us off, here’s our list of 16 Latinx-owned museums, galleries, and art spaces in Los Angeles and our surrounding areas who you can show some love to this month:
The Mistake Room
1811 E 20th St, Los Angeles, CA 90058
Website | Instagram: @themistakeroom
The Mistake Room (TMR) is a non-profit space and global-reaching platform for art, culture, and ideas. They transform how art and other forms of creative expression are made; broaden who gets to make and experience them; and re-imagine where and how we encounter them.
La Galería Rebelde
688 S Santa Fe Ave. #203 Los Angeles, California 90021
Website | Instagram: @lagaleriarebeld
La Galería Rebelde is a contemporary art gallery based in Guatemala City founded by Jimena De Tezanos, a multidisciplinary creative director. As part of the gallery’s commitment to transnational and intercultural exchange, the gallery has recently opened studio spaces in Miami and Los Angeles.
Luis de Jesus Los Angeles
1110 Mateo St., Los Angeles, CA 90021
Website | Instagram: @luisdejesuslosangeles
Owned by Luis De Jesus and Jay Wingate, Luis De Jesus Los Angeles is a contemporary art gallery representing emerging and mid-career artists who are engaged in regional and global art discourse with a particular focus on intersectional diversity.
LaPau Gallery
3006 W 7th St, STE 208, Los Angeles, CA 90005
Website | Instagram: @lapaugallery
Founded in 2021 by Paulina Lara, LaPau Gallery aims to instigate dialogues through interactive and thought-provoking exhibitions of experimental art, design, and its intersections. The gallery incorporates multiple angles of creative expression with an overall goal to push boundaries and create space for alternative voices.
Morán Morán
641 N. Western Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90004
Website | Instagram: @moranmorangallery
Established in 2008, Morán Morán has locations in Los Angeles and Mexico City and represents emerging, mid-career, and historical artists.
Plaza de la Raza
3540 North Mission Road, Northeast Los Angeles, CA, 90031
Website | Instagram: @plazadelaraza
Plaza de la Raza Cultural Center for the Arts & Education is the only multidisciplinary community arts venue dedicated to serving the Eastside neighborhoods of Los Angeles. Founded in 1970 by prominent labor, business and civic leaders as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, it offers affordable after-school, intergenerational arts education programs to nearly 5,100 children, teens and adults each year. Its mission is to foster enrichment of all cultures bridging the geographic, social, artistic, and cultural boundaries of Los Angeles, and beyond.
The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture
3581 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside, CA 92501
Website | Instagram: @thecheechcenter
A new art space in a mid-century setting, it will be, as Cheech says, the “center of Chicano art, not only painting, but sculpture, photography, and video arts.” Opening on May 8, 2022, The Cheech explores Chicano culture from the barrio to the Bay, cholos to Cesar Chavez, pre-Columbian to modern murals.
Avenue 50 Studio
131 N. Avenue 50 Highland Park, CA 90042
Website | Instagram: @avenue50studio
Founded by Kathy Gallegos in 2000, Avenue 50 Studio is an arts presentation organization grounded in Latina/o culture, visual arts, and the Northeast Los Angeles area that seeks to bridge cultures through artistic expressions, using content-driven art to educate and to stimulate intercultural understanding.
Self Help Graphics and Art
1300 E 1st Street, Los Angeles, Ca, 90033,
Website | Instagram: @shg1970
Self Help Graphics & Art fosters the creation and advancement of new artworks by Chicana/o and Latinx artists through experimental and innovative printmaking techniques and other visual art forms. They are an organization rooted in community; and since 1973, have been at the intersection of arts and social justice, providing a home that fosters the creativity and development of local artists. Self Help establishes international collaborations and partnerships nation-wide and creates world-wide cultural exchanges.
Bermudez Projects
1225 Cypress Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90065
Website | Instagram: @bermudezprojects
Founded in 2011 by Julian Bermudez, Bermudez Projects’ mission is to present dynamic works by the next generation of contemporary American and international artists. Bermudez Projects is a multi-platform arts program dedicated to increasing public access to the visual arts through exhibits, publications, events, video and sound, and social media.
Casita del Pueblo
13100 Philadelphia St, Whittier, CA 90601
Website | Instagram: @casitadelpueblo
Casita del Pueblo is a cultural boutique in Uptown Whittier. They are committed to bringing art, culture, and education to its surrounding communities by making local and international folk art in its many forms more accessible.
Cactus Gallery L.A.
Website | Instagram: @cactusgallery
Cactus Gallery is a vibrant Latina-owned and operated gallery. Opened in March 2005, the space is an eclectic mix of contemporary art and folk art. The gallery is dedicated to promoting established and emerging artists, while focusing on craftsmanship, accessibility, and artistry. They work closely with many female artists in the US and internationally.
Dab Art Co.
333 S Los Angeles St Los Angeles, CA 90013
Website | Instagram: @dabart.me
With the revelation that art exposure should not be limited by physical location, Yessíca Torres independently established the Dab Art Company in 2014. This distinctive art company is dedicated to enhancing the contemporary art experience for artists, collectors and viewers in and outside the gallery setting. Dab Art embraces the relentless evolution of contemporary art by featuring experimental artists, highlighting innovative techniques and utilizing technological advances. Dab Art Co. has locations in Los Angeles, Ventura, Austin, and Mexico City.
La Plaza de Cultura y Artes
501 N Main St. Los Angeles, CA 90012
Website | Instagram: @laplazala
LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes — LA Plaza — is an institution of stories that makes known the role of Mexicans, Mexican Americans, and all Latinos in shaping the past, present, and future of Los Angeles. They share their stories through permanent and changing exhibits, educational initiatives, and a diverse range of public programming.
Latino Art Museum
281 S Thomas St, Pomona, CA 91766
Website | Instagram: @latinoartmuseum
The Latino Art Museum is a non-profit organization created to promote the works of talented Latin American contemporary artists living in the United States. They instill a sense of appreciation for Latino art from children and adults of all origins.
Textile Resource LA
Website | Instagram: @textileresourcela
Textile Resource LA is an up-and-coming textile resource center founded by Casey Baden and Minga Opazo in Los Angeles. Their goal is to open a community fiber studio that will include looms, sewing machines, tufting guns, natural dye set ups and a material garden, along with other textile resources.
Interested in supporting even more BIPOC art? Check out our list of 23 Black-owned galleries and art spaces.
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