L.A. Woman

Lita Albuquerque, Meegan Barnes, Jessica Taylor Bellamy, Elana Bowsher, Deborah Brown, Amanda Charchian, Sharon Ellis, Brittany Fanning, Emily Ferguson, Hopie Stockman Hill, Jay Lynn Gomez, Shana Hoehn, Kelly Lynn Jones, Nihura Montiel, Kate Pincus-Whitney, Lily Ramirez, Aidan Romick, Fawn Rogers, Laura Watters, Hiejin Yoo

With works from: Martha Alf, Vija Celmins, Mary Corse, Hilary Pecis, Nancy Reese, Alexis Smith, Austyn Weiner

PhillipsX and Penske Projects are pleased to present L.A. Woman, a group exhibition featuring contemporary and established women artists who have lived and worked in Southern California, from Vija Celmins and Mary Corse to Kate Pincus-Whitney, Hiejin Yoo, Jessica Taylor Bellamy, and Jay Lynn Gomez. The title L.A. Woman is inspired by late author, visual artist, and Los Angeles icon, Eve Babitz, a reference to her 1982 semi-autobiographical novel of the same name. Just as Los Angeles was Babitz’s eternal muse, L.A. Woman endeavors to explore the specific ways this unique city has shaped the identity of multiple generations of female artists and continues to influence and inspire the practices of artists living and working here today.

Sophia Penske, Founder of Penske Projects, said, “Historically, Los Angeles has been a vital source of creativity and artistic output, with countless artists and creators drawing inspiration from the region. With this exhibition, we hope to capture how a new generation of artists is engaging with L.A.’s increasingly vibrant and diverse cultural landscape.”

Rebekah Bowling, Senior Specialist, Head of 21st Century Art, said, “Since opening the doors of Phillips Los Angeles in the Fall, it has been a privilege to establish ourselves as part of a steadily growing network of galleries and cultural institutions in Los Angeles. Through exhibitions and partnerships like this, we endeavor to make our space a hub for engagement with the larger arts community here in L.A.”

Babitz’s 1982 novel shaped the direction of the show, taking inspiration from her unconditional love and enthusiasm for everything L.A.. In her novel L.A. Woman, she defines what it is to be a woman in a place she considers the capital of civilization. The protagonist, Sophie, navigates an L.A. which is constantly changing but essentially eternal. Through Sophie’s eyes, we see the mixture of high and low culture, obsession with youth and appreciation of nostalgia, and, of course, the pink sunsets and palm trees that are quintessentially L.A.. This same atmosphere is captured in the works displayed throughout the gallery, as each artist has experienced to some degree the essence that makes L.A. unique and captivating, just as Babitz saw and appreciated it for the cultural metropolis that it is hailed as.

L.A. Woman is a private selling exhibition and will be installed in the newly renovated gallery space at 9041 Nemo Street, situated next to iconic Los Angeles landmarks, the Troubadour and Dan Tana’s – locations also beloved and documented by Babitz.

PhillipsX is a dynamic selling exhibition platform operated by the Private Sales team at Phillips. Presenting highly curated selling exhibitions on a global scale, PhillipsX highlights notable artists and creators of the 20th and 21st centuries, creating new and important dialogues around established and emerging movements, genres, mediums, and channels.

In 2019, Sophia Penske founded Penske Projects as an art advisory, creative direction and curatorial team. As of 2023, Penske Projects has evolved into a project-based company exhibiting emerging artists and collaborating with creatives worldwide.