''Charlie James Gallery'' is a

contemporary art Contemporary art is a term used to describe the art of today, generally referring to art produced from the 1970s onwards. Contemporary artists work in a globally influenced, culturally diverse, and technologically advancing world. Their art is a ...

gallery located in the

Chinatown Chinatown ( zh, t=唐人街) is the catch-all name for an ethnic enclave of Chinese people located outside Greater China, most often in an urban setting. Areas known as "Chinatown" exist throughout the world, including Europe, Asia, Africa, O ...

neighborhood of

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

. The gallery’s focus leans toward political work that in some way questions or comments on issues of contemporary cultural significance. The gallery has invested in

culture jammers Culture jamming (sometimes also guerrilla communication) is a form of protest used by many anti-consumerist social movements to disrupt or subvert media culture and its mainstream cultural institutions, including corporate advertising. It attem ...

of international reputation like Steve Lambert, art world provocateurs like

William Powhida William Powhida (born 1976) is an American visual artist and former art critic. Powhida's work is critical and addresses the contemporary art world. Education Powhida received his Master of Fine Arts in painting from Hunter College in January 200 ...

, and mid-career conceptual artists like Ray Beldner and Walter Robinson. The gallery also cares about work that addresses issues of contemporary identity, exhibiting Iranian-American artists Ala Ebtekar and Taravat Talepasand and feminist artist Orly Cogan.

History

Founded in 2008 in

Seattle, Washington Seattle ( ) is the List of municipalities in Washington, most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington (state), Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the List of Unit ...

, the gallery moved to Los Angeles in November of that year, apparently undeterred by the

2008 financial crisis The 2008 financial crisis, also known as the global financial crisis (GFC), was a major worldwide financial crisis centered in the United States. The causes of the 2008 crisis included excessive speculation on housing values by both homeowners ...

. The gallery is steered by two parties: Charlie James, collector and ex-

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senior manager and Dane Johnson,

San Francisco Art Institute San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI) was a Private college, private art school, college of contemporary art in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1871, SFAI was one of the oldest art schools in the United States and the oldest west of the Mis ...

graduate and working artist. In Michelle Levy's ''ArtSlant'' report on Pulse NY 2010, she described William Powhida's and Jade Townsend's drawing ''ABMB Hooverville'', which was revealed at Charlie James booth, as a "narrative tour-de-force".Levy, Michelle
"A Hummer Stage Coach, Chaotic Egg Pendulum, and Everything in Between"
ArtSlant. March 7, 2010.

Represented Artists

Steve Lambert,

Ala Ebtekar Ala Ebtekar (born 1978; ) is an American contemporary visual artist, of Iranian descent. He is known for his work in painting, drawing, illumination, and installation. His work frequently orchestrates various orbits and cadences of time, bringin ...

, Nery Gabriel Lemus, Lars Jan, Lucas Murgida,

, Daniela Comani, Ramiro Gomez, Eske Kath, Richard Kraft, Michelle Andrade and Andrew Lewicki.

References

External links

*
Los Angeles Times review of Cogan exhibition
* {{coord, 34.066549, -118.238250, type:landmark_globe:earth_region:US-CA, display=title Contemporary art galleries in the United States American art dealers Art museums and galleries in Los Angeles 2008 establishments in California Art museums and galleries established in 2008