Kelly Wall's Sculptures Explore LA's Fabricated Nature and Nostalgia at Hammer Museum Biennial

Artist Kelly Wall presented three new sculptural works at the 2025 Made in L.A. biennial at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, running from October 5, 2025, to March 1, 2026. The exhibition features 'Fade to Black,' a fountain made of handmade black mugs; 'Wistful Thinking,' a functional penny press resembling a wishing well; and 'Something to Write Home About,' a series of powdered glass postcards depicting Los Angeles skies. Wall, who grew up in Los Angeles, creates sculptures that examine commodity culture, tourism, and entertainment, drawing inspiration from Hollywood's film industry and its prop aesthetics. Her works use materials like glass and ceramics to comment on themes of nostalgia, environmental change, and the economic challenges facing LA's creative sectors. The interview with Olivia Gauthier reveals Wall's artistic influences, including Mike Kelley and Susan Sontag, and her focus on language and materiality to convey emotional states related to urban life and natural landscapes.