Tanya Bonakdar Gallery has announced the closure of its Los Angeles location, marking the third significant gallery with a presence in LA to shut down over the past two months. The decision reflects ongoing challenges facing the contemporary art gallery sector in the West Coast market.
The gallery has been a prominent fixture in the contemporary art scene, representing notable artists and hosting significant exhibitions. Recent shows have included "Living in a Lightbulb," curated by Mia Locks and Jenny Jaskey, which ran simultaneously at both the New York and Los Angeles locations. The exhibition showcased the gallery's commitment to presenting innovative contemporary art across both coasts.
Tanya Bonakdar Gallery has maintained a strong roster of internationally recognized artists, including recent additions such as Hong Kong-based video artist Wong Ping, who joined the gallery's representation in 2019. Wong Ping has been identified as one of the most closely watched emerging artists from China and the surrounding region. The gallery has also represented the collaborative duo Nathalie Djurberg and Hans Berg, who had a solo exhibition at the Moderna Museet in Stockholm.
The gallery's exhibition history includes significant solo presentations by renowned artists such as Olafur Eliasson, whose show "O Say Can You See?" explored investigations of perception and vision. Material-focused artist Analia Saban has also had notable exhibitions at the gallery, including "Punched Card," which demonstrated the material ingenuity associated with her practice.
Additionally, the gallery has showcased work by Icelandic musician and visual artist Jónsi, the frontman of Sigur Rós, who transformed the New York gallery space into what was described as a "Volcanic Transport Station" for his first gallery exhibition in the city. The closure of the Los Angeles space represents a significant shift in the gallery's operations, consolidating their presence while maintaining their New York headquarters as they navigate the evolving art market landscape.
