Pop artist Kii Arens made a reputation for himself in music over time, creating live performance posters for bands and vocalists resembling Radiohead, Elton John, Dolly Parton, the Weeknd, Sonic Youth, Tame Impala, Diana Ross and extra.
That work is taking middle stage at Arens’ new downtown Los Angeles gallery, FAB LA, in a present titled “And the Winner Is.” Curated by Arens and that includes poster artwork of Grammy winners, the exhibition is ready to open Friday, two days earlier than the 2026 Grammys descend on the town, and simply in time to welcome loads of visiting superstar faces to the gallery’s third-ever occasion.
A glittering get together scene is a part of each exhibition Arens hosts, relationship again to his earlier gallery, LA-LA Land, which he opened 20 years in the past on Santa Monica Boulevard in Hollywood and ran till its lease got here up final 12 months.
FAB LA formally launched in October with “XO, LA: A Love Letter to Los Angeles,” an exhibition that mirrored the eclectic voices and existential challenges that outline L.A. tradition with work, illustrations and combined media works by Shepard Fairey, Corita Kent, Anthony Ausgang, Ashley Dreyfus, Paul Frank and others.
Pop artist Kii Arens lays on his desk in his new gallery, FAB LA, contained in the historic Tremendous Arts Constructing on seventh Road in downtown Los Angeles. Posters from his new present, “And the Winner Is,” characteristic photographs of Grammy winners simply in time for the large awards present.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Occasions)
The flamboyant “Mick Rock’s Rocky Horror Art Show” adopted in December. The exhibition was among the many final occasions marking the well-known cult movie’s fiftieth anniversary, and featured Rock’s well-known images alongside items by pop star designer Michael Schmidt and digital portraitist Plasticgod. As with earlier occasions at LA-LA Land, the opening attracted rockers, drag queens and membership world cognoscenti.
DJs Sean Patrick (Simon Says) and Chris Holmes (Paul McCartney’s touring DJ, and inventive collaborator with Cosm) manned the decks, and “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” winner and podcaster, Alaska Thunderf—, carried out as Tim Curry’s Dr. Frank-N-Furter, dancing and prancing across the grand environs.
There are galleries throughout Los Angeles, however few could be described as artworks unto themselves. FAB LA is that and extra.
Its majestic headquarters are housed inside downtown’s historic Tremendous Arts Constructing — a wide ranging palace-like construction with a 100-year historical past of expertise and creativity.
Situated close to the intersection of seventh and Flower streets, the landmark constructing was featured within the 2009 movie “(500) Days of Summer,” a hidden gem overshadowed in recent times by hectic road life, chain meals spots and bustling enterprise power. Used primarily as an workplace constructing, its ornate design, carvings and sculptures — together with a floor ground fountain with frolicking bronze youths — hadn’t invited a lot public consideration or appreciation.
Pop artist Kii Arens catches some air in entrance of the historic Tremendous Arts Constructing the place he has opened his new gallery, FAB LA. The constructing was designated a Historic-Cultural Monument in 1974 and restored in 1983.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Occasions)
That modified late final 12 months when Arens took over the primary two flooring.
“Historically, artists lived and worked inside this building,” he mentioned throughout a latest opening. “This idea really resonated with me.”
Initially from St. Paul, Minn., Arens moved to L.A. in 2004 and promptly opened LA-LA Land. The Hollywood showroom debuted on election evening 2004 with a bunch exhibition referred to as “Happy War,” that includes anti-war works and Fairey as DJ. Wild and kitschy reveals adopted with opening fetes devoted to colourful topics together with Andy Warhol, circus clowns, and Canadian tv creators and puppeteers Sid and Marty Krofft.
Along with creating artwork and DJing, Arens can be a musician, and his eclectic music initiatives mirror his nostalgic proclivities. They embrace a rock outfit referred to as FLIPP, which he describes as, “the Sex Pistols meets the Spice Girls,” in addition to a pop-duo referred to as Jinx, and solo work that counts 4 Non Blondes’ Linda Perry as a collaborator.
Arens is a largely self-taught visible artist. His work has all the time leaned towards leisure figures and musical subject material, which led to main commissions for album covers and tour poster artwork — a few of which will likely be featured within the upcoming exhibition at FAB LA.
Poster prints of Elton John, left, and Jim Morrison, by Pop artist Kii Arens are a part of his newest present, “And the Winner Is,” which options poster artwork of Grammy winners and is on show in Aren’s new gallery, FAB LA, which opened late final 12 months.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Occasions)
When LA-LA Land’s lease expired, Arens sought a brand new place that may embrace his experimental power. He additionally needed a novel backdrop for showcasing imagery that “treats pop culture as a shared memory for all to take in,” he mentioned. “Something worthy of being preserved, not just consumed.”
The Tremendous Arts Constructing’s longtime actual property consultant, Gibran Begum, was searching for the identical factor. Preservation was a part of the dialog when the 2 related, however each have been additionally targeted on revitalization and augmenting the construction’s old-world charms with one thing contemporary and trendy. The purpose was to as soon as once more deliver artwork lovers to the neighborhood.
A cohesive arts occasion had been missing within the space because the month-to-month Downtown Los Angeles Artwork Stroll scaled down within the face of visitors and allow points, and extra just lately COVID closures. The occasion just lately resumed, and although it’s a lot smaller Arens mentioned he has excessive hopes for its progress, and for FAB LA’s place in its future.
As does Begum, who calls the Tremendous Arts Constructing “a rare and special space.”
“The second you enter, you’re somewhere else, it’s almost like walking into something in Florence, Italy,” Begum mentioned. “We were looking for someone to help rejuvenate and reenergize it and who understood the culture of it.”
Pop artist Kii Arens strikes a pose contained in the historic Tremendous Arts Constructing the place he has opened his new gallery, FAB LA. The constructing was designed within the Romanesque revival type by architects Albert R. Walker and Percy A. Eisen, who additionally created the Beverly Wilshire Resort in Beverly Hills.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Occasions)
Designed within the Romanesque revival type by revered architects Albert R. Walker and Percy A. Eisen, who additionally created the close by Oviatt Constructing in addition to the Beverly Wilshire Resort in Beverly Hills, the constructing’s exterior is embellished with dramatic columns and arches. Its inside options gargoyles, griffins and different mystical figures by sculptor Burt W. Johnson, in addition to hand-crafted tiles by Ernest Batchelder and murals by Anthony B. Heinsbergen. A classic elevator ferries visitors between flooring.
The opulent constructing opened on Dec. 8, 1926, attracting an estimated crowd of 27,000, and was named a Historic-Cultural Monument in 1974.
Although varied artists have proven within the constructing over its 100-year historical past, FAB’s vibrant imaginative and prescient, targeted on the intersection of design and high quality artwork media, seems like the precise match for the present second.
“I almost feel like the ghosts of some of the artists are looking down at me and smiling, knowing that what they loved is happening here again,” Arens mentioned.
This contains immersive gatherings, that are a giant a part of Arens’ plans for FAB. “We’ll have movie premieres, live music events, poetry and I definitely want to have fashion,” Arens mentioned. “The room would make a great runway!”
Charity can be a part of the image.
“And the Winner Is,” serves as a fundraiser for Oxfam, which works to alleviate international poverty. Arens mentioned he’s been internet hosting charity occasions for the group for the final 5 years — all the time proper across the Grammys.
“We’ll have a bunch of amazing vinyl records donated by Rhino, and we’ll have clothing donated from famous musicians. Matt Pinfield is DJing and so is Jeffrey Ross,” Arens mentioned.
A poster of Liza Minnelli by Pop artist Kii Arens is a part of his newest present, “And the Winner Is” which options poster artwork of Grammy winners and opens over Grammy weekend.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Occasions)
The exhibition, which closes March 8, will characteristic a few of what Arens calls his “greatest hits,” together with an ebullient Liza Minnelli portrait, and different important prints resembling a black-light poster design of Dolly Parton, and a Van Halen print representing Eddie Van Halen’s famed red-, black- and white-splattered “Frankenstein” guitar design on a pocket book.
“I’m into simplifying images until they become familiar, immediate and emotional,” Arens mentioned of his work. “I like to strip images down to what people recognize instantly. The feeling comes first, then I’m focused on evoking optimism, color and joy.”
Up subsequent: A present in April in affiliation with the animation studio Titmouse and devoted to the artwork of animation.
“In this moment where everything feels disposable, I want to make something that is solid, something you stand in front of, not scroll past,” Arens mentioned.
