The Art of L.A.

Los Angeles was always thought of as a film town, or a TV town, or a music town. But never as an art town.

Well, as the saying goes, never say never.

According to a recent article in the New York Times, that’s exactly what L.A. is becoming.

To quote Julia Chaplin’s recent article: ”In the last two years, more than 24 galleries have moved into the warehouses and decommissioned factories in downtown Los Angeles on either side of the desiccated Los Angeles River, including the Arts District and neighboring Boyle Heights, offering a new party destination for the city’s thriving art scene.”

The article goes on to explain how top tier galleries from New York and London are popping up alongside top tier L.A. galleries.

But is not just the wealthy, well-financed, or star-driven galleries that are thriving, as Chaplin goes on to explain: “On the scrappier end of the spectrum are do-it-yourself artist spaces tucked into sunbaked strip malls, with their free-flowing beer and taco-fueled late-night ragers.”

And it’s not just fine art that is growing in L.A, according to data compiled by the Otis College of Art and Design and the Los Angeles County Development Corporation, Los Angeles is America’s Most Creative City. The data reflects jobs that are both directly and indirectly related to such creative industries as entertainment, publishing, digital media, visual arts, fashion, architecture, and product design.

So, not only should L.A.’s individual artists promote and market themselves, the city itself should. Ever since I can remember, the City of Angeles has be relegated to the role of the poor stepsister when it came to any of the arts apart from film and TV, but this is clearly not the case.

But if this art explosion is going to continue, it needs to be both nurtured and celebrated. This is where the art of effective PR can help magnify the success and growth of L.A.’s art. If you are a participant in the city’s art scene, let the world know about it.

Actively PR and market your work, build your brand, establish your career and help L.A. continue to grow as the nation’s premiere bastion of the arts.