Alex Prager's 'Matinee' Reimagines Los Angeles at Lehmann Maupin
The exhibition "Matinee" by Alex Prager is on display at Lehmann Maupin in New York until August 21, showcasing four large-scale photographs that portray Los Angeles as a psychological terrain. As an LA native, Prager utilizes actors, costumes, and sets to create her images, influenced by film noir, Technicolor films, and classical myths. Featured works include "Bonnie Hill (Overlook)," "Ceremony," "American West (Rehearsal)," and "Hidden Hills (Invitation)." Prager's notable career highlights include the 2010 short film "Despair" and the 2013 solo show "Face in the Crowd." Her art has been exhibited worldwide. In March 2026, she debuted her feature film "DreamQuil" at SXSW, which delves into themes of identity and reality. "Matinee" captures the alluring yet precarious essence of LA.
Key facts
- "Matinee" is on view at Lehmann Maupin in New York through August 21.
- The exhibition presents four new large-scale photographs.
- Works include "Bonnie Hill (Overlook)", "Ceremony", "American West (Rehearsal)", and "Hidden Hills (Invitation)".
- Prager constructs her scenes physically with actors, costumes, props, lighting, and sets.
- Her 2010 short film "Despair" was included in MoMA's "New Photography 2010".
- In 2013, "Face in the Crowd" was her first solo U.S. museum exhibition, at the Corcoran Gallery of Art.
- Her debut feature film "DreamQuil" premiered at SXSW Film & TV Festival in March 2026.
- Lehmann Maupin previously presented "Part Two: Run" (New York, 2023) and "Western Mechanics" (Seoul, 2024).
Entities
Artists
- Alex Prager
- Jeff Vespa
- Hieronymus Bosch
- Pieter Bruegel
Institutions
- Lehmann Maupin
- Museum of Modern Art
- Corcoran Gallery of Art
- National Gallery of Victoria
- The Photographers' Gallery
- Fotografiska
- Los Angeles County Museum of Art
- SXSW Film & TV Festival
Locations
- New York
- United States
- Los Angeles
- Hollywood
- Seoul
- South Korea
- London
- United Kingdom
- Washington, D.C.
- Stockholm
- Sweden