Des Artistes to Present Inaugural Group Show — Post-Fire 1

A new group exhibition in Culver City is bringing together artists from Altadena whose lives and work were disrupted by last year’s Eaton fire, offering a view of how creative practices continue in the aftermath of disaster.

“Post-Fire 1,” on view at Des Artistes through June 1, marks the gallery’s inaugural show and the first in a planned annual series focused on artists affected by the 2025 fires. The exhibition includes work by 22 artists who lost homes or studios, among them Eddie Aparicio, Kelly Akashi, Maura Brewer, Jamison Carter, Evan Chambers, Kevin Cooley, Kenturah Davis, Brad Eberhard, Margaret Griffith, Olivia Hill, John Knuth, Alice Könitz, T. Kelly Mason, Ana Medina, Adam Ross, Caitlin Slegr Ross, Rachelle Sawatsky, Ross Simonini, April Street, Camilla Taylor, Diana Thater and Ariane Vielmetter.

The show reflects a period of transition for these artists, many of whom have continued working while navigating displacement, rebuilding and the preservation of what remains. Rather than presenting the fires as a discrete event now in the past, the exhibition frames them as an ongoing condition—one that continues to shape both daily life and artistic production.

Across the exhibition, that sense of continuation appears in different forms. Some works incorporate materials altered by the fire, including scorched wood repurposed into paintings and sculptural surfaces. Others revisit the landscape of Altadena through video and imagery of native plants and gardens, evoking places that have been damaged or lost. In several pieces, imagined or abstract environments suggest transformation, with layered textures and unfamiliar forms pointing toward altered ecosystems or states of mind.

Not all of the works were made after the fire. A number of pieces created beforehand are included as well, having survived the destruction. In this context, they take on new resonance, standing as reminders of what existed before and what endures.

The exhibition also highlights the role of community support in enabling artists to continue their work. Much of what is on view was produced with the help of financial assistance, temporary studio spaces and other resources organized in response to the fires. According to the gallery, the broader “Post-Fire” series is intended to provide ongoing opportunities for affected artists to present new work as their practices evolve.

Proceeds from sales will go directly to the artists.

“Post-Fire 1” is on view at Des Artistes, 6006 Washington Blvd. in Culver City.
https://www.des-artistes.com/