Top 10 Must-See Art Exhibitions in Los Angeles This December

This December’s curated art exhibitions spotlight contemporary social issues, often through cultural protest and visionary frameworks. “Phallus :: Fascinum :: Fascism” at The Box tackles repression with an inclusive heterogeneity, while “Horror” at Sprüth Magers translates societal dread into visual art. Daniel T. Gaitor-Lomack uses found objects from LA streets in poetic assemblages at Night Gallery, mirroring the city’s recent unrest. Alan Luna’s works at La Plaza Projects offer subversive takes on Mexican history and American modernism, and “A Tender Excavation” at Luckman Gallery delves into archival narratives to highlight migration, diaspora, and historical erasure.

Alan Luna’s “Modernisisimo” at LA Plaza Projects presents “Metametates” and “Huipiles Colorados,” challenging the essentializing lens of historic imagery and blending Mexican culture with modernism.

Edith Dekyndt & Richard Long at Okey Dokey Konrad Fischer involve natural world elements like AI-filled fossilized wood and earth-based art by Long, merging digital and analog processes.

“Phallus :: Fascinum :: Fascism” at The Box explores the intersection of sexual repression and militarism with transgressive voices from nearly 200 artists.

Sam Shoemaker’s “Mushroom Boat” at Fulcrum Arts highlights ecologically responsible art through his mushroom mycelium kayak journey, blending art and science.

Nancy Lupo at Kristina Kite Gallery reimagines everyday objects with unconventional materials and colors, suggesting fantastical possibilities.

“Casting a Glance: Dancing with Smithson” at Marian Goodman Gallery celebrates Smithson’s impermanence and site-specific work, influencing artists like Steve McQueen and Leonor Antunes.

“Horror” at Sprüth Magers revisits the horror genre through diverse artists, building on Mike Kelley’s exploration of the uncanny.

Daniel T. Gaitor-Lomack’s “You Can Hate Me Now” at Night Gallery reflects city life through found-object sculptures tied to his personal and performative storytelling.

“A Tender Excavation” at Luckman Gallery, curated by Selene Preciado, uses archives to offer alternate historical narratives, engaging with themes of migration and memory.

Enrique Martínez Celaya’s “The Sextant” at Wende Museum reconstructs his father’s Cuban modernist house, bridging personal and political narratives set against Cold War tensions.