Boyle Heights gallery 356 Mission to close in May after 12 years

The artist-run space 356 Mission in Boyle Heights will cease operations in May. Founded in 2012 by painter Laura Owens and Wendy Yao, who also established the art bookshop Ooga Booga, the gallery has faced opposition from anti-gentrification activists including the group Defend Boyle Heights. Owens and Yao explained their decision to close was driven by the long-term sustainability challenges of maintaining an artist-run venue. They described the project as a labor of love with limited resources, never intended to be permanent. Final exhibitions will feature work by Alake Shilling and Charlemangne Palestine. The founders affirmed their belief that art spaces remain essential for cultural empowerment and that artists can support vulnerable communities. The Los Angeles Times reported the closure.