Look closely because you may miss the site of some of the most intriguing, upcoming attractions in the art world! A hidden treasure, tucked away in-between one of the busiest intersections in Los Angeles: Gallery Nineteen Eighty Eight (G1988).
Co-owners Jensen Karp and Katie Cromwell opened this venue around the corner of Melrose and La Brea back in 2004, paying tribute to the pop-cultural 1980s era (the year when the city struck big in the entertainment industry)! Yo MTV Raps flooded the mainstream with musical mayhem that will eventually spring rappers like N.W.A. out from underground. L.A. also conquered the best of the best in sports as the Lakers took home the World Championship, beating the Detroit Pistons and the Dodgers won the World Series against the Oakland A's.
Originally, G1988 was going to be called Anthony Michael Hall-way, obviously after the well-known actor of the times, Anthony Michael Hall who starred in such cult classics as The Breakfast Club, Weird Science, and Sixteen Candles to name a few. However, as Karp explained they may still be interested in using this name for a future venue (with the actor's permission of course)!
G1988 gives the creator an opportunity to expand on their work by allowing them to use the entire room to its full capacity, some even spraypainting its white walls to illuminate their themes. In 2006, "Remixing the Magic” twisted the likeness of Walt Disney's characters and “I Am 8-Bit,” showcased pre-1995 video games attracting a star-studded crowd. The gallery’s open ceiling allows more breathing room for bigger pieces and the slabs of cement flooring provide a neutral foundation to the many vibrant colors hovering above it.
Karp and Cromwell, both UCLA Alumni's, wanted to create a space to house and highlight beautiful works of art by unfamiliar faces. Their purpose was to give unknown artists a chance to show off their talents without having to restrict themselves to rules and regulations like those set by other more popular locations. The gallery’s illustrative groups take art outside of the box, away from the stuffiness of a museum.
Gallery Nineteen Eighty Eight
7020 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles, CA. 90038
323-937-7088
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