Merry Karnowsky Gallery

Gracious gallery provides parties and events periodically all year round. They’re a sponsor (if not a driving force) of TarFest each year by LACMA. Good folks. And cool art. They have the West Coast shows for Vivian Maier as well as premieres for innumerable artists.
The handful of times I’ve been, I’ve enjoyed the friendly energized vibe of the Gallery. The staff has been generous with their time and their insights — and make you feel welcome.
I go maybe once or twice a year, and I’m hopeful to ramp that up a bit. It sometimes takes a party or some other event to get me going, but I really appreciate the opportunity to be there.
Sidenote: If you’ve never been to TarFest, look it up. Usually in the spring, I think, and it’s a fun festival of art and music. And Unilocal usually has a presence there, too!

JESSICA is AMAZING. She was so helpful with accommodating me and my requests for my recent purchase. She replied to my email in detail, made the art buying process extremely smooth, and was very pleasant to speak with over the phone. Being from San Francisco and having purchased art before, I can tell that Jessica at MK Gallery is very knowledgeable and goes above and beyond for her guests. Thank you Jessica.

I’ve only gone to this gallery for Audrey Kawasaki’s work and the last time she had a show here was 3 years ago with Stella Hultberg. Awesome show!
This year she comes back with Tara McPherson and you can see how her work has matured. I was hoping to see more interesting wood bases with laser cut outs but all works were framed without the glass.
It’s best to go when it’s not the opening night if you really want to appreciate the artwork.
I love how I can have my face an inch away from the piece to study the painting and her lines. :) can’t do that when there’s people around straining to see the piece too.
Overall very spacious gallery and I like the seating in the middle so you can stare at her work in glory.
Open Tues — Sat from 12pm-​6pm.
Look for the silver gigantic door.

I’ve been visiting the Merry Karnowski gallery for some years now. Every exhibit or opening reception that I’ve been to, I’ve enjoyed very much. They’re always showcasing some great artists! I’ve had the pleasure of seeing exhibits by Todd Schorr, Vivian Maier, Audrey Kawasaki, Edward Walton Wilcox, Craola, Todd Carpenter, and others. The space is a little smaller, and the opening receptions can get pretty packed, but it’s always worth going for the reception. Looking forward to their next reception and artist!

They currently show Audrey Kawasaki, Tara McPherson and DeeDee Cheriel’s work!!! So excited to finally see some of their work in person!
Part of me is glad I didn’t go to the opening because I heard it’s unorganized and crowded.
The best time to show up is on a non busy day so you could take your time checking out the pieces. The gallery is cozy.
It’s until August 30^th. Tuesday-​Saturday they are open noon to 6pm.
Parking: Street meter parking but make sure to read signs as some locations are permit only.
Afterwards: If you’re still craving for some artsyness then drive to gallery 1988 which is 3minutes away (across Pink’s hot dog). Or walk over a block towards this cool antique shop (it is hard to miss if you drove by it).

Oh, boy… I have a lot to say so I’ll try to sum up my experience here as best as I can. This review is strictly about the security personnel.
I came here to the opening reception for the Audrey Kawasaki + Tara McPherson + DeeDee Cheriel show. My boyfriend and I RSVP’ed to this event as it seemed that the general public must RSVP in order to attend. We arrived promptly before the show and were waiting around with three unprofessional and shall I say «inexperienced» security personnel. I suppose these three stooges were new to working with the gallery. Regardless, there was a huge confusion as to which lines to wait in as well as which shows people could gain entry to.
The event was very disorganized and the main person in charge, Jessica, came out multiple times trying to explain to them what needed to be done. We would hear these guys make comments about how they didn’t need her to come out and explain thing, but clearly they did. They were given drink tickets to distribute and they seemed very confused as they thought they were distributing raffle tickets. Thank goodness we were the first people in line because one we finished and came out the line wrapped around the entire block and I can’t even imagine waiting in line while these three stooges attempted to monitor the line, let alone figure out what they should be doing. some guy even told security he’s general public RSVP and they had him wait before us just minutes before we were let in. He was not on any of the artists guests lists nope just like us and he was allowed to wait before all of us. It was a completely frustrating experience, and thankfully the artists and artwork made up for it.
To management @ Merry Karnowsky Gallery:
Please organize these events to avoid confusion and hire competent security personnel. Provide photos or images of expected artists so they can id easily, or at least provide them with their names on a sheet of paper so they know who to expect. Provide walk-​throughs/​training for these security personnel explaining what they need to do hours before these shows start. If there are multiple art shows, provide separate lines for EACH show to avoid confusion and label accordingly. I would’ve thought this is a no-​brainer but apparently that is not the case. This almost ruined my experience here, so please guys get your events organized and hire competent security personnel.

I came to see Greg Simkins «The Good Knight» exhibition and it was very crowded. Parking is definitely a challenge since it’s all metered parking. The gallery itself had great lighting and a lot of open safe. The AC apparently was not working because it was very warm inside.

Came here for the reception for the Vivian Maier exhibit hosted by Tim Roth.
Here is more information about Vivian:
.
Parking: Metered street parking.
The rsvp line is extremely long for receptions. So be prepared to wait in the Ca winter.
Pro-​tip 1: Please rsvp with the gallery. The security guys would not let anyone in unless they were on either the VIP or rsvp guestlist.
While standing in line, I did observe several guest bringing their four legged friends.
After getting past security, we were finally in.
It was crowded as you enter due to the hosted bar.
IMO, It was nice have free drinks but right in front of the main door.
And, MOST PEOPLE were courteous to stand in the line. Most people.
I hate it when you get to the front of the line and people cut the line in front of you.
Pro-​tip: The gallery is on the first floor. They have two restrooms, one in the back corner of the first floor. And, a second one on the second floor on the left side of the hallway.
I saw people go up and down so I thought it was more artwork. My mistake.
As for the artwork, I enjoyed her works.
This gallery is pretty cozy.
The staff was pretty busy with the guest list/​security/​people inquiring about pricing/​etc.
As I was walking towards the back, I noticed Jeff Garlin.
Had to go take a picture. Do not freak out celebrities. I asked politely if I could take a picture. His stoic face turned into a big grin. I felt like I was in a bear grip.
Yeah, I got a picture.
Met up with my friends and took a look at the artwork. Talking shop about photography.
As we were leaving, my friend mentioned something about Tim Roth.
Who? Tim Roth, as from Pulp Fiction.
No, Lie to Me. Oh!?!
I mentioned that someone was walking around with a Pulp Fiction dvd but no sighting of Tim Roth.
And lo and behold, we catch Tim Roth walking towards us. People were taking picture with him. I even saw a lady giving him her phone and asking for his number. I guess I am not the lone person that likes autographs/​pictures with celebrities.
I ask him for a picture. No problem. I take a couple. Yeah.
I ask him for his autograph. Houston we have a problem.
The normal pen would not work well on the cardboard stock.
He tries several times to no avail. It does not come out well.
I rush to the counter and ask one of the staff for a sharpie pen.
Walk back and get his autograph. Success. Yeah.
This was a good night.
Overall; great place to look at art.
I would recommend this place. I have already rsvp’d to another exhibit’s reception.

I viewed the Vivian Maier exhibit with a fellow photography student and was thoroughly impressed with this cozy gallery. The staff was friendly and very helpful and made this a very pleasant experience.

I love this gallery. They have consistently had amazing artists throughout the years and the space is such that you don’t feel like you are jostling through the crowds to look at art.
I have purchased a few pieces and they are friendly and accommodating. Get on their email list for upcoming openings!
Parking is on the street.
Currently they are hosting Travis Louie’s latest masterpieces of works — please go see it before the show is over!

A great gallery with strong line ups. Popular openings will have very long lines out the door.
GALLERY SPACE: pretty good size. for smaller shows, they block off one side of the gallery and isolate the current show.
PARKING: street metered or take your chances at a nearby parking lot. be careful to read signs and not park in residential streets… those require permits. parking varies depending on the popularity of the show.

Great space. Beautiful lighting.
Saw a photo exhibition here and it still managed to feel intimate even though it was packed.
Parking can be tricky when busy.
In the middle of lots of other galleries and a few places to eat and drink. Had a lovely time.

Small but an amazing collection of urban art.

A group of friends and I all carpooled out to the Merry Karnowsky Gallery for the opening reception for Camille Rose Garcia’s new work. The gallery is located in Larchmont Village. A cute little area boasting small boutique’s and restaurants and coffee shops and this gem! The gallery is cool and it is located in a cool area. You must see this exhibit. The show is entitled «The Hydra of Babylon» and runs until October 10^th. I love Camille’s work. Her new stuff is just rad. Many items had sold by the time we arrived which was around 9. Camille herself was there as well. I am a big fan. Big enough fan that I have had three of here works tattooed.
She incorporated the use of puffy glitter glue in some of her pieces that were really good. My favorite piece was «Nature Can Be Unkind» — «Subterranean Death Clash» — «Why Can’t You Be Happy» — and those vintage glass bottles with a small painting in them was also rad.
She is now using owls in her work! I love owls! Here are some links about the show. If you are not familiar with Camille’s work or of the lowbrow art scene then I think you should pay Merry Karnowsky Gallery a visit. Check out the book store as well.
(press release)

What a wonderful gallery! I first discovered the gallery a few years back, when Camille Rose Garcia had a show at the San Jose Museum of Art. There, I noticed the name of the gallery attached to a piece I was hoping to purchase. When I contacted the gallery to inquire about available works, they were initially not very responsive to my attempts to get onto the list of collectors wishing to buy. However, they were more than helpful when I visited the gallery during a trip down to LA. A few months later, I was given the opportunity to purchase a Camille piece prior to an opening in Berlin, and am now the prowd owner of a fabulous work. They also went the extra mile to offer me an opportunity to buy an original Shepard Fairey. I recommend this gallery very highly, and Merry is a lovely person.

My merry crew and I had just come from a hohum Show at Ace Gallery where I think that maybe the Carl Andre *minimalist* art and snarky patrons had made me extra hungry and five star givin ready for the deeply saturated colors and crazy whimsical darkly politically potent paintings of the lovely Camille Rose Garcia and the laughing lively crowd she attracted. It was like coming from a lecture on embalming algorithms soaked in snobby into a party of friends laughing, drinking and loving the fabulous views all around.
There was a fun little gift shop and a bar was set up in the front just as you enter. The artist was in the center of the back room signing her recently published books and was at once shyly modest about and over-​the-​moon-​happy over her successful art opening. She was so genuinely full of joy that all around her people just beamed once they saw her. It was like witnessing the L.A. Art Rapture.
Awwwww Jeebus, I had a good time.
usually plenty of metered parking, casual dining and drinkies next door at the Sonora Café. gather your happy and go. once you come here you will return or uhhh come again.
jus like Jeebus.
and Camille Rose.

If I had a ton of money I would buy everything lining these hallowed walls.
The gallery hosts excellent receptions where the booze flows, the paintings beckon and the patrons are smart, hot and literate.
Merry Karnowsky may be a bit higher up on the snooty art totem pole in compasion to La Luz, but they are so justified by the recent shows I’ve been to.
Park on La Brea and make your way to the back end of the gallery where the libations are served. Then make your way around from the back to the front. I love to see shows backwards. Call me crazy but it feels like a well awaited crescendo to see the main piece last.
I have a crush on Kent Williams thanks to this place.

Merry Karnowsky Gallery is a great space for a show.
Lots of room for the cool kids.
Sonora Café right next door for drinks.
Her gallery represents an impressive list of artists like Shepard Fairey, Dalek, Richard Colman, Camille Rose Garcia to name a few. The gallery is located on La Brea just north of 2^nd St. There is plenty of metered parking on the street or you can valet at Sonora if you want to stop in for drinks before you visit the gallery.