MOCA exhibition examines LA's 1970s-80s art scene amid contemporary gentrification tensions

The Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles has unveiled 'Mapping an Art World: Los Angeles in the 1970s-80s', featuring artists such as Mike Kelley, Chris Burden, Ilene Segalove, Betye Saar, and Gregory Wiley Edwards. This exhibition emphasizes the Brockman Gallery in Leimert Park, which currently houses Mark Bradford's Art + Practice. The event comes amid rising tensions as galleries like David Zwirner move into economically disadvantaged neighborhoods like Melrose Hill. Robert Goff, Zwirner's director, describes LA as 'international', while local gallerist Davida Nemeroff expresses concerns over commercial interests. Curator Hamza Walker highlights the city's 'pluralist' nature, as artists like Lucy Bull advocate for LA's distinctiveness. The exhibition illustrates how midcentury disinvestment spurred artistic innovation, a trend that persists today.