Lauren Halsey won the $100,000 Mohn Award honoring artistic excellence in 2018 with The Crenshaw District Hieroglyph Project (Prototype Architecture).
The Hammer Museum today announced a new partnership with The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens for Made in L.A. 2020, the upcoming edition of the Hammer’s acclaimed biennial. The announcement was made by Hammer Director Ann Philbin alongside Karen R. Lawrence, President of The Huntington, during The Huntington’s kick-off event for its year-long centennial celebration. Opening June 7 and running through Aug. 30, Made in L.A. 2020 will take place at both institutions, providing visitors across the region an opportunity to experience the singular exhibition of contemporary art in Los Angeles. Made in L.A. 2020 will debut new installations, videos, films, sculptures, performances, and paintings from Los Angeles–based artists, many commissioned specifically for the exhibition. The Hammer and The Huntington are also pleased to announce that Bank of America will be presenting sponsor for the exhibition.
Made in L.A. 2020 is the fifth iteration of the internationally lauded Hammer biennial, and the second to take place at multiple venues. The biennial’s inaugural 2012 edition presented artists at the Hammer, LAXART, the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery at Barnsdall Art Park, and the Venice Beach Biennial. The 2020 edition seizes on an opportunity to connect an institution on the west side of Los Angeles with one on the east. Partnerships are a focal point of The Huntington’s Centennial Celebration, which will include a yearlong series of exhibitions, public programs, and new initiatives.
Made in L.A. 2020 is cocurated by Tunisian-French writer and curator Myriam Ben Salah and Los Angeles– based curator Lauren Mackler. The Hammer’s Ikechukwu Onyewuenyi is assistant curator for performance.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with The Huntington on Made in L.A. 2020 to bridge the east and west sides of Los Angeles to highlight the works of art created across the region, with an emphasis on emerging and under-recognized artists,” said Hammer Director Ann Philbin. “This expression of our biennial―which spans roughly twenty-five miles―offers opportunities for discovery and surprise for Made in L.A. visitors and gives the curators and artists a new platform for experimentation.”
“Creative collaborations are a hallmark of our Centennial Celebration,” said Huntington President Karen R. Lawrence. “We will be engaging with our collections as well as with our audiences in exciting new ways. Joining forces with the Hammer for this remarkable exhibition is a perfect example of what we are setting out to do. Made in L.A. celebrates the extraordinary, groundbreaking work of contemporary artists working in Southern California. We are honored to be a part of this year’s exhibition.”
“Los Angeles is the epicenter of the creative economy, with the arts bringing Angelenos together, attracting tourism, generating cultural dialogue, and serving as an economic driver for our region,” said Raul A. Anaya, Bank of America market president for greater Los Angeles. “It’s why Bank of America invests in the arts and in institutions like the Hammer and The Huntington, and this specific partnership for Made in L.A. 2020 reflects our mutual commitment to L.A.’s incredibly diverse local artists.”
As with past editions of Made in L.A., the Mohn Awards will be presented in conjunction with the exhibition. Funded through the generosity of Los Angeles philanthropists and art collectors Jarl and Pamela Mohn, the three awards are the Mohn Award, the Career Achievement Award—both of which are selected by a professional jury—and the Public Recognition Award, which is determined through votes cast by visitors to the exhibition. Visitors will be able to vote at both exhibition locations.
During the run of Made in L.A. 2020, members and visitors to the Hammer will receive passes granting free admission to The Huntington to view Made in L.A. 2020 in full. There will also be joint programming at both the Hammer and The Huntington during the exhibition, details of which will be announced closer to the exhibition’s opening.
