Margarete Hahner, Cuts, oil on canvas, 36” x 24”
The exhibition was shaped by an unconventional and collaborative curatorial process. Curators from the Musée began by inviting women artists with roots in the legendary Al’s Bar scene. These artists were then asked to nominate other women whose work they respected and admired. The result is a dynamic, cross-generational survey of contemporary women artists working in Los Angeles today. The exhibition offers an authentic and multifaceted view of how women are expressing their artistic visions and cultural identities—ultimately serving as a vivid lens through which to view both the city’s creative pulse and the evolving landscape of contemporary art.
Musée du Al owner and chief curator, Marc Kreisel says, “We’re excited to showcase a selection of remarkable women artists from the Los Angeles area—some we recall from the legendary Al’s Bar days, and others who would have fit right in. Their work reflects the bold, diverse directions women are taking in contemporary art, exploring themes that are both deeply feminist and universally resonant.” The featured artists are: Katy Crowe, Leah Doyle, Jill Emery, Margarete Hahner, Regina Herod, Kathryn Jacobi, Ibuki Kuramochi, Linsley Lambert, Janet Jenkins, Miss Art World, Nancy Monk, Holly Phillips, Monique Safford, and Nancy Uyemura.
Inspired by Marc Kreisel’s 1979 acquisition of the American Hotel—an act that catalyzed a vibrant, grassroots creative movement—the Musée is dedicated to honoring this legacy through exhibitions, performances, and educational initiatives that foreground living artists, challenge conventional narratives, and serve as a conduit for artistic innovation in the contemporary era. The Musée’s dynamic programming reflects the punk-Dadaist ethos foundational to Al’s Bar: irreverent, anti-commercial, and defiantly original.
Opening reception for the artists will be on Saturday, July 5, from 5:00 to 8:00PM.
