Ace Gallery Beverly Hills

Went for the first time last night to see an incredible performance of Takács Quartet. Have never seen an official art exhibit here, but figure I will go back in the near future. Ambience is great, concert was given in their main large white room. Very cavernous and spacious — great setting for a quartet performance. Only reason I had to deduct a star was because of parking. Very limited parking lot (although free) and when I called the gallery for advice on the closest and most convenient place to park, they were quite unhelpful. Overall a terrific place to see a concert or an art gallery.

I came for Melanie Pullen’s 2005 High Fashion Crime Scenes exhibit. It was AWESOME! She studied vintage crime scene photos from NYPD and LAPD and created her own scenes with the victims dressed in couture.
I do enjoy anything slightly morbid, but not enough to scare me. You can see some of it here:
The Water Series scared me the most so I won’t be posting those pics here. But I loved the space of the gallery and how uncrowded it was. I felt like other than our group of three, there were maybe one or two more people there. One of the best experiences I’ve had at a gallery, hands down. The most unbelievable part? It was free.

A great gallery that knows how to do an opening! Free Booze!

*** A very impressive, open space, two levels, superb work. ***
I’ve been meaning to view this spot for over a year but rarely get
to Beverly Hills area during the day. So today was exceptional.
I was warmly greeted at the door by (Charlie, I think) cool guy.
He gave me a quick layout of the joint. He’s quite knowledgeable
of the works on display: Gary Lang and Jay Mark Johnson mostly.
Lang’s exhibit resembles huge painted bullseyes.
They’re made attractive by using a variety of paints:
flourescent, metallic, multiple layers, etc … the result
creates 3D depth perspection and sort of an optical illusion.
You’d like this exhibit only if you like geometric, painterly stuff.
JMJ’s work is an exhibit of digital photographic work. Wow!
His stuff is truly amazing. I really, really like these pieces.
Long story short: JMJ uses a very technology based
technique to capture moving objects, make them
appear still and surreal, while stationary objects
seem like an array of lines in the background.
Overall it’s a clean, yet colorful, composition.
Sh!t, I want the equipment to do this now. ;)
*** A stellar space. Jennifer (director) is quite personable. ***

Last I checked the entry fee was nothing. Zero. So off the bat, all the place takes away from me is my time, which in my case is probably less valuable than yours.
Been here a couple of times and my favorite component is actually the cool elevator operator who is a big dodgers fan and goes way out of his way to help out whether you want him to or not, but he does it in a friendly non-​offensive way. When you get into an elevator with an operator, the place automatic feels old and haunted to me, which is another plus.
Been here to see local kook Laura Bön and to see Robert Gallery, both exhibits were very different and both were pretty great in their own way (visited each one twice, felt obliged to share). Haven’t committed to it yet, but having seen those 2 exhibits, make me just want to pop in randomly.
I tend to show up during closing time, but the random security guard is always friendly about me lagging a little bit before reminding me that its time to leave.

This is based on the Martin Schoeller opening on March 5, 2008. The space is pretty large and easy to get to since Beverly Hills wasn’t too crazy around the evening time here. I’m not a local so don’t know much about the area but inside the staff and such were very nice and the work was amazing. Great show on female bodybuilders along with performances and such.
I guess you just run into lots of actors, artists, politicians at the LA art openings moreso than we get up here in SF. The mayor was there although I didn’t recognize him right off the bat.

A stuffy atmosphere with too much security considering the «art» displayed the night I went.
Look! a floor!
Yes this was one person’s «work».
A bunch of zinc squares on the floor.
They served Kombucha iced tea.
a murderous bloke.
an unfunny joke.
I almost choked.
Amazing what a rich man can do.
In 1988 Andre was acquitted (found not guilty) of murder in the death of his wife, artist Ana Mendieta. He is however duly charged with boring the shit out of me. minimalism, kiss my basic beige ass.
I dunno maybe a different show would be a whole new world. But something about the overall space: unwelcoming, felt more vacuous than spacious, and the atmosphere: felt like the dressed in black security guards could have worked for Bill Graham, they had a vaguely creepy we keep excitement down vibe.
And I don’t know– once «acquitted on account of being rich» *alleged* murderer work is up in a space, it’s like that jacket some dufus in a bar vomited on– you can ‘t dry clean away the memory.
for me, just no.
one star for showing art.
one star for having a clearly marked exit.

My friend and I went here on Saturday night for an art exhibit… Although the modern «art» we saw was truly, truly bad (I have studied art history, but I’m not super snobby about it… but this was just a complete joke!), the space is pretty nice with high-​ceilinged white walls and concrete flooring… very austere and simplistic. It’s just off Bev Drive so we had dinner there before the show… I’ll return for a better show/​an artist I’d like to see, but there are a lot of other quality art galleries in LA (And Dali at LACMA, OMG!!!) I have yet to visit that I’ll go to first.