The only constant thing in life
10/1/2025
Luca Cruzat, “Portrayal of a Woman,” Collagraph and colored pencil, 42 x 27”
Change is running amok in the art world. Galleries have reigned as supreme discoverers and arbiters of new and great things since the 19th century. Now, that seems to be changing, at least in cities where street traffic is influenced by crime problems.
LA Louver, one of Los Angeles’ most famous galleries, announced in September it will close its physical space in Venice, California, after 50 years — to pivot to private dealing. It is the third notable gallery with a Los Angeles presence to close this year after Blum and Clearing.
For half a century, LA Louver had run its gallery out of Venice, where it maintained a celebrity roster that today counts artists ranging from Alison Saar to Deborah Butterfield. In an interview with Art Newspaper, owner Peter Goulds said the cost of maintaining a presence at the world’s top art fairs contributed to the gallery’s demise. He said he had thought about “the deterioration of the gallery model” and noted that it cost the gallery a total of $600,000 to participate in Art Basel’s editions in Hong Kong and Switzerland.
Local scene
Des Moines galleries that operate on the traditional model of several exhibitions a year with both new and established artists seem to be doing just fine. Opening nights of new exhibitions draw large, happy crowds to Olson-Larsen and Moberg. The former represents artists with ties to the Midwest. The latter began with only Des Moines artists and has grown into an international gallery that still represents locals. Those new exhibitions are social events that draw audiences from long distances. Steven Vail and Liz Lidgett galleries operate on more individual models eschewing regular new exhibitions for viewings by appointment. Yet, both maintain gallery hours and represent international and local artists.
Barbara Fedeler, “Revenna” from the Icon Woman series, collage and gouache on vintage wallpaper, 5 x 7”
The biggest local gallery opening this month will be Oct. 10 at Olson-Larsen. That’s part of Valley Junction’s Fall Gallery Night, a tourist attraction that began in 1997. The show is called “The Female Gaze” and includes Luca Cruzat, Rachel Deutmeyer, Barbara Fedeler, Mary Jones, Ingrid Liligren, Kristen Martincic, and Susan Chrysler White. Cruzat, Liligren and Martincic are new to the gallery.
Value redefined
In another, even stranger, mode, the value of authenticity in art is evaporating. For many younger consumers, knockoffs are no longer shameful but actually cool. In 2021, the Brooklyn arts collective Mschf purchased a $20,000 Andy Warhol print and then built a machine to make 999 forgeries. The group’s so-called Museum of Forgeries then sold all 1,000 prints to the public, with no way for buyers to know whether they were buying a fine art original or a copy. Art News reported “there was a world of difference between the two, yet none was discernable.”
China’s most famous artist, Ai Weiwei, who was most gracious while visiting Des Moines in connection with projects with Des Moines Art Center, has made a piece of art out of 650,000 Lego bricks in 22 colors to emulate Monet’s “Water Lilies.” Lego refused to sell to Ai, so fans donated the bricks. The finished work cost $280,000. A law professor writing for Business News says he did the exact same assemblage with Legos that cost him $250.
Touts
Aliza Nisenbaum, current Des Moines Art Center artist in residence, brings extraordinary color and vibrancy to this year’s Day of the Dead installation at DMAC. Through Jan. 11… Chopin brings extraordinary romanticism to Des Moines Symphony’s October shows of other Chickasaw and Czech motivations. Oct. 18-19.
Curtain call
Des Moines Community Playhouse announced its lifetime achievement award winners. Honorees include: Melissa K Chavas-Miller, first show “Rodgers & The Sound of Music,” 1996; Rosalie Gallagher, a Playhouse board member since 2003; Joy Kripal, first show “A Christmas Carol,” 1986; Larry McKeever, first show “Ring Round the Moon,” 1955; Mariam McKeever, first show “The Ponder Heart,” 1961; Gerry Neugent, Playhouse board member beginning in 1990; Mary Lou Neugent, first show “The Trial of Tom Sawyer,” 1985; Irma Solar, first show “Fools,” 1984.
