Charles Gaines’s exhibition at Hauser & Wirth features large-scale works showcasing baobab trees, emphasizing a mathematical representation of nature. The David Zwirner gallery presents a Canadian-Jamaican artist creating spiritual deities from found objects. Lastly, the Luis de Jesus gallery presents Crosthwaite’s artwork that reflects the cultural confluence of the US-Mexico border.
Multimedia artist Charles Gaines has made significant contributions to Los Angeles’s art scene for over three decades as a faculty member at CalArts. His impactful works, featured in esteemed museums worldwide, are currently on display at Hauser & Wirth gallery in West Hollywood. This exhibition, titled “Charles Gaines: Numbers and Trees, The Tanzania Baobabs,” showcases his grand representations of the baobab trees and runs from February 19 to May 24, 2025.
Gaines employs a meditative and mathematical approach to his artistry, utilizing a grid system to depict tree motifs since the 1970s. Miranda notes that, “Years ago, he started creating images of walnut trees using a numbered grid system,” where different grid portions represent various parts of a tree. The current exhibition features nine large-scale works inspired by photographs of baobab trees taken by Gaines in Tanzania in 2023, creating an immersive gallery experience.
In addition to Gaines’s work, the David Zwirner gallery in Hollywood presents a captivating installation by a Canadian-Jamaican artist from February 13 to March 29, 2025. The artist has handcrafted five towering figures from found materials that encircle a circular tapestry, evoking the feel of a spiritual ceremony, as described by Miranda. These deities, inspired by Afro-Caribbean traditions, engage viewers in a fantastical narrative filled with themes of water.
Luis de Jesus gallery will feature work by Crosthwaite from March 1 to April 5, 2025. Raised in Tijuana and influenced by his dual citizenship and cross-border life, Crosthwaite’s art portrays the border as a confluence of cultures. Miranda states, “You will see aspects of Tijuana materialize in his work, but then you’ll also see references to Mickey Mouse and Coca Cola.”
Crosthwaite incorporates elements of Mexican religious art in his creations. His cityscapes often reveal fantastical beings linked to Tijuana’s vibrant life. Shifting from black ink sketches on notepads to colorful paintings, his latest works astonish with their intricate storytelling, capturing unique cultural realities in vivid color. Miranda aptly summarizes this transformation: “For someone who resisted color for so long, I’m just like, ‘You should have done it much sooner.’ “.
The exhibitions at Hauser & Wirth, David Zwirner, and Luis de Jesus galleries highlight the dynamic intersection of art, culture, and identity in Los Angeles. Charles Gaines captures natural beauty through mathematical grids, while the Canadian-Jamaican artist at David Zwirner embraces spirituality with deific representations. Crosthwaite’s work merges the cultural tapestry of Tijuana, emphasizing the richness of borderland experiences. Collectively, these exhibitions enhance the discourse on the complexities of cultural identity and artistic expression.
Original Source: www.kcrw.com
