An “L.A. Story”

Kevin Appel, UC Irvine Department of Art chair, displays work at Hauser & Wirth West Hollywood

Kevin Appel, professor and Department of Art chair at UC Irvine’s Claire Trevor School of the Arts is currently featured in the highly anticipated exhibition L.A. Story at Hauser & Wirth West Hollywood. The show opened on September 12, 2024, and is on exhibit through January 4, 2025, the group exhibition brings together artists whose work reflects the vibrancy and unique character of Los Angeles. The show takes its title and inspiration from the 1991 film L.A. Story by Steve Martin, a satirical and affectionate ode to Los Angeles’ quirky, sprawling and cultural landscape.

“I’m very excited to be a part of this show,” shared Appel. “My hometown of L.A. has threaded throughout my work for many years. As for the Steve Martin film, I remember reveling in all the idiosyncrasies and inside winks embedded in it when I first saw it – it’s time for a movie night rewatch.”

L.A. Story remains a cultural touchstone, blending surreal humor with Martin’s heartfelt love letter to the city where his career was born. Everyday moments in the film like traffic jams and museum visits are imbued with cinematic wonder. The exhibition mirrors this playful spirit, featuring a wide range of artists, including David Hockney, Eric Fischl and Calida Rawles, whose works explore the captivating contrasts of Los Angeles. Visitors to the gallery will also see artists creating new L.A. stories today, including Appel, Hilary Pecis, Jennifer Rochlin, Henry Taylor and Lesley Vance. Together, they contribute to the profile of Los Angeles as a contemporary art epicenter since the making of L.A. Story in the 1990s.

Image: Kevin Appel, Screen (ocean), 2011, Acrylic, screen ink and UV cured print on canvas over panel, 60 x 48 inches. Photo courtesy of the artist.

To learn more about L.A. Story at Hauser & Wirth West Hollywood, visit hauserwirth.com. To read more about Kevin Appel and his work, visit his Department of Art bio page here, or his website at kevinappelstudio.com.