Numerous Artists and Art Professionals Have Lost Homes to the Ongoing Los Angeles Wildfires

Thousands of acres have burned in Los Angeles due to the ongoing Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst fires, prompting mass evacuation orders, closures, as well as damages to homes, businesses, and landmarks. Numerous artists and arts professionals have been affected by the fires, with several uploading footage of the smoke and flames and posting about evacuations and the loss of their homes to Instagram and other social media platforms.

On Wednesday evening, a new 10-acre fire also started north of Hollywood Blvd in the hills near Runyon Canyon, prompting another evacuation order of an area which included several city landmarks, including the Chinese Theatre, Dolby Theatre, and The Hollywood Bowl. The city of Santa Monica also issued a new evacuation order on Wednesday afternoon for the area north of Montana Avenue between 11th St. and Pacific Coast Highway as a result of the Palisades fire.

Multidisciplinary artist Kathryn Andrews, who just launched the gender equality nonprofit The Judith Center, recently evacuated from her home in Pacific Palisades, which has since burned down. It’s the second time she has suffered from a wildfire—in 2020, her home in Juniper Hills burned down in the Bobcat Fire.

“After the last fire, I had the equivalent of a writer’s block, a creative block. A lot of animals died in that one,” she told ARTnews. “It’s not just the loss of stuff, you know, it’s the loss of nature, it’s the loss of a community, it’s the loss of dreams. It has a very intense impact.”

“Last night on the news, I saw my neighborhood burning on CNN,” Andrews said. “It’s like, you have to start at zero again. It’s very time consuming. And there are certain things that can’t be replaced.”

In addition to her belongings, Andrews’ personal art collection, built over two decades, was in the Pacific Palisades home. It included a painting by Rashid Johnson, a portrait of her made by Jim Shaw, several drawings and a sculpture by Charles Long, a painting by Lesley Vance, multiple ceramic pieces by Peter Shire, a small sculpture by late German art curator Kasper König, a large photograph by Fredrik Nilsen as well as works by Gaylen Gerber, Evan Holloway, and Alex Olson.

“Just like a really lovely collection that’s all gone,” Andrews told ARTnews. “It’s not that those specific works have so much value in the marketplace. It’s more emotional value, or sentimental value. You can’t replace that.”

Andrews is far from the only artist to have suffered losses, as many lived or worked in the affected areas.

Abstract painter Daniel Mendel-Black told ARTnews that he lost his home and studio, posting a photo to Instagram of a home gutted by fire, with flames still burning on the collapsed roof. “More importantly to me, it was studio for the last five years,” he said. “The last five years of work gone.”

Artist Beatriz Cortez, whose science fiction-tinged sculptures were featured in the main exhibition of last year’s Venice Biennale, wrote in an Instagram post that she too lost her home in the fire. “My beautiful apartment behind the home of my beautiful friends was safe, it had good energies, i was happy when i was there,” wrote Cortez, who is an associate professor of art at the University of California, Davis. “It burned today and my heart is broken for my friends, and neighbors, for L.A. and for the things that I lost in the fire, like the one thing I had from my childhood, or my dad’s paintings.”

Artist Amir Nikravan, who opened a solo exhibition at Tyler Parks Presents last week, posted on Instagram Stories that his home and his parents’ home in Altadena were both lost to the Eaton Fire. “Thanks for all the calls and texts, we are in shock but glad to have left in time,” he wrote.

Alto Beta Gallery, also in Altadena, posted a video on Instagram that said the gallery was completely gone due to the fires. This also meant the total destruction of the work of painter Mary Anne Pomonis, whose solo show there, “Quiver,” opened on January 5.

“I have no words for the loss,” Pomonis wrote on Instagram. “I am so grateful to all of the people who showed up for the opening to see it in person and know that the work will live on in their hearts and in mine. I’m thankful I’m alive and that my daughter and husband are with me. One small triangular painting from the last year is safe and at the Wignall museum [in Rancho Cucamonga]. I will be there Sunday 12-2 please come and hold my hand I can’t stop crying.”

Others affected in Altadena included writer, critic, programmer, journalist, and video essayist Carlos Valladares, who evacuated the area of West Altadena with his mother before his home also burned down. Curator Paul Schimmel, a former partner at Hauser & Wirth and former chief curator of the Museum of Contemporary Art in LA, posted on Instagram that his family home in Altadena is “just ash.” He added, “It was much loved and filled with beautiful memories and wonderful art. This morning’s sunrise mourned for the loss.”

Painter Salomón Huerta, who shows with Harper’s in New York, posted on Instagram that he also lost his home, but was safe at his sister’s house, while art dealer John Cheim posted on Instagram that he lost his home in Malibu.

Eddie Rodolfo Aparicio, the recent winner of the ARTnews Awards’ inaugural Emerging Artist of the Year award for his “MOCA Focus” exhibition at MOCA LA, wrote on Instagram that he had evacuated his home after spending the day putting out a power line fire in his neighbor’s yard.

Other members of the art industry who evacuated Los Angeles included art adviser Kelly McGree, who previously worked at Simon Subal Gallery in New York; the artist Kelly Akashi, who is represented by Lisson Gallery; painter Whitney Bedford, represented by Vielmetter Los Angeles and Miles McEnery Gallery in New York; and painter John Knuth, represented by Hollis Taggart in New York.

Sculptor and painter Ruby Neri, who is represented by David Kordansky Gallery, evacuated with her dog and cat but posted an image on Instagram that said she wasn’t sure about her house.

Museums and Exhibitions Have Also Been Affected By the Fires

Several museums and art galleries closed Wednesday in connection to or as a result of the fires, which have blanketed Los Angeles in thick smoke. The grounds of the Getty Villa were also burned, but the institution said its staff and collection were safe.

Local artist Alex Israel was scheduled to open his solo exhibition “Noir” at Gagosian Beverly Hills on the evening of January 9, but it has been postponed “until further notice,” according to the gallery.

“All of my inspiration comes from this city that I love with all my heart. Noir celebrates our history and who we are. Let’s unite around this place we love when we can gather again,” the painter said in a statement that Gagosian posted to Instagram Stories.

The Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art at Pepperdine University in Malibu cancelled its VIP/press preview for two exhibitions scheduled for January 10 due to the ongoing fires.

While the Fowler Museum at UCLA stayed open Wednesday, the institution postponed its press preview for an art exhibition on the native ecology of Southern California until January 23. The exhibition “Fire Kinship: Southern California Native Ecology and Art” will highlight “the importance of traditional burning as a land management practice of California Indians. Indigenous science and traditional ecological knowledge are deeply relevant in addressing the challenges we face today,” according to an exhibition description.

Superchief Gallery has offered to serve as a base for collecting supplies such as air purifiers, N95 masks, clothing, phone chargers, pet food, and other items for LA fire relief on Thursday, January 9, starting at noon at 1965 South Los Angeles Street.

The gallery said on Instagram it would be hosting an art supply drive and night market on Saturday, January 11, and would continue collecting supplies then as well. “All material support will be given directly to victims of the fire from our community and through organizations working to help people directly,” Superchief gallery wrote.