Contemporary Archives as Sites of Production in L.A. and Beyond
A recent examination of archival methods in California indicates that various organizations are embracing archives as dynamic venues for artistic creation. The Los Angeles Contemporary Archive (LACA), which has been operating for twelve years, accepts submissions, including Scott Benzel's essay 'Sonatine Bureaucratique' from 2015. At the 18th Street Arts Center, the 'High Performance: A 2-Year Conference' (2025–2027) is set to digitize issues of 'High Performance' magazine from 1978 to 1997. The Society of Art and Living Archives (SALA) has extended its reach to the Bay Area with 'LIVING PROOF / LIVING ARCHIVES' at Cirrus Gallery. In 2023, Blunk Space showcased ceramics by James Sterling Pitt and JB Blunk in the exhibition 'JSP JBB.' 500 Capp Street transitioned to collective leadership in late 2024, featuring Trina Michelle Robinson's 'Open Your Eyes to Water' in 2026. Established in 1984, the Tom of Finland Foundation continues to curate an open collective archive dedicated to queer art.
Key facts
- LACA builds collection through open submission and community authorship
- Scott Benzel created 'Sonatine Bureaucratique' for LACA in 2015
- 18th Street Arts Center runs 'High Performance: A 2-Year Conference' (2025–2027)
- SALA expanded from Los Angeles to the Bay Area
- Frances Stark's 'Spotted Lantern Moth' (2026) responds to Chris Burden at Cirrus Gallery
- Blunk Space exhibition 'JSP JBB' (2023) paired James Sterling Pitt with JB Blunk
- 500 Capp Street shifted to collective leadership in late 2024
- Trina Michelle Robinson's 'Open Your Eyes to Water' (2026) at 500 Capp Street
- Tom of Finland Foundation established in 1984
- Yinon Avior Philivsohn's 'Torn Suspense' uses discarded archive materials
Entities
Artists
- Luchita Hurtado
- Lee Mullican
- Diego Borgsdorf Fuenzalida
- Scott Benzel
- Erik Satie
- Muzio Clementi
- Douglas Huebler
- Charles Gaines
- Guy de Cointet
- Seth Siegelaub
- Linda Frye Burnham
- Steven Durland
- Frances Stark
- Chris Burden
- JB Blunk
- James Sterling Pitt
- David Ireland
- yétúndé olagbaju
- Trina Michelle Robinson
- Tom of Finland
- m black
- Yinon Avior Philivsohn
- Jacques Derrida
Institutions
- Wolfpack HQ
- Serpentine
- LACMA
- Los Angeles Contemporary Archive (LACA)
- 18th Street Arts Center
- Performance Art Museum
- Astro Artz
- Society of Art and Living Archives (SALA)
- Cirrus Gallery
- Cirrus Print Editions
- Blunk Space
- 500 Capp Street
- Root Division
- Tom of Finland Foundation
- Getty Research Institute
- Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions
- Highways Performance Space and Gallery
- Carla
Locations
- Los Angeles
- California
- Santa Monica
- Point Reyes
- San Francisco
- Mission District
- Bay Area
- Ohio
- Chicago
- United States