Rose Wylie, 91, Exhibits Solo Show at Royal Academy
Rose Wylie, at 91, becomes the first female British painter to exhibit a solo show in the main galleries of the Royal Academy of Arts in London, featuring over 90 works that span her decades-long career. The exhibition showcases her unique style that blends influences from art history, cinema, and everyday life, alongside new paintings and previously unseen drawings. Wylie, who returned to painting in the mid-1980s after a 25-year hiatus to raise a family, emphasizes the importance of memory and observation in her work.
Santa Monica Advances Redevelopment of Bergamot Station
The city of Santa Monica is moving forward with plans to redevelop Bergamot Station, a 5.6-acre arts complex that has housed 18 galleries and cultural venues since 1994, into a site for housing mandated by California Senate Bill 79. Following the reclassification of the property as 'surplus land' in February 2025, tenants were notified they would have approximately two years to vacate, as the city seeks proposals for private development that would replace the existing galleries. The redevelopment efforts have faced criticism from tenants, who argue that their contributions to the arts community have been overlooked and that the city's management has created a hostile environment.
New Satellite Art Fairs Launch During L.A. Art Week
During L.A. Art Week from February 26 to March 1, 2026, a variety of new and relaunched satellite art fairs have emerged across Los Angeles, providing lower-cost alternatives to the main Frieze Los Angeles event. These indie fairs, including Butter LA and the Black fine art expo, allow artists to showcase their work without the costs associated with traditional galleries, with Butter LA emphasizing a no-censorship, no-commission model that returns 100% of sales proceeds to artists. The Frieze event remains the central attraction, featuring prominent galleries and installations from notable artists.
