Too Hot for Facebook: R. Crumb & Bill Ward

I posted a few days ago on Facebook and Twitter that we recently acquired a second Robert Crumb drawing for consignment sale. I was able to tweet the image, but hesitated to post it to Facebook, knowing that their draconian guidelines could result in an account suspension.

Many of our Facebook friends requested that I blog post it, so here it is:

Robert Crumb
"I Wouldn't Kick Her Out of Bed"
7 x 10.25"
Ballpoint on paper placemat
Feb. 1985
Inquire for price

Robert Crumb is the undisputed king of the underground comix artists, and drawings like this are generally auction pieces. The last piece we had sold for five figures within days of posting it, and this one is priced far below that range, so don't hesitate to get in contact.

We also have a few pieces that I added to the Black Friday page that didn't quite make it in time for that re-sale event. There are some Joe Coleman drawings, and some great Bill Ward, Robert Williams and Basil Wolverton art, as well.

Speaking of Bill Ward, here's an awesome Bettie Page color drawing from 1985. It comes with a hand-written letter that explains the unusual provenance–basically that this was done as a gift for the reclusive Miss Page and was eventually printed in World of Ward and the Bettie Page 3D Special.


Bill Ward
"Bettie Page: Martini and a Lariat"
11 5/8 x 14 5/8 in.
Gouache on paper
$3,500.00

Contact gallery director Matt Kennedy for more info:
info[at]laluzdejesus[dot]com
(323)666-7667

Happy 70th Birthday, Robert Williams!

We hope you enjoy this tribute from Peter Adamyan, featured in LALUZAPALOOZA!

Peter Adamyan
The Fat Ass Saves the Day as the Artist
Contemplates the Fate of Coochy Cooty
and America's Over Consumption
of Non Kosher Delicacies
Oil on wood relief
18" x 20"
$800.00

La Luz de Jesus 25 Part 1: Pictures from an Exhibition

Here are a few of my favorite pics from the first La Luz de Jesus 25 exhibition. Richard Salazar documented the whole weekend, and his pictures are viewable here, here, here & here. Join the Friends of La Luz de Jesus Gallery group on Facebook to access everything!

And did I mention we have a Dali?

The Secret La Luz de Jesus X-Mas Art Sale is on!

People who signed up for our email list and checked off the boxes next to their favorite artists got a heads up on this, but we sold some Shepard Fairey, Robert Williams, and Marion Peck paintings a few days ago.

I ran out of available work from them, but I've restocked with H.R. Giger, Joe Sorren, Clive Barker and Salvador Dali.

Yes, you read that correctly. We've got a signed Salvador Dali piece!
We've also got three Syd Mead paintings! Click the image and check out the sale. This art is going fast...

There is a lot of stuff I couldn't list to preserve the anonymity of certain collectors and estates who have provided these choice selections. Shoot me an artist want list, and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

All the small things...

On Friday night Rick Araluce debuted his latest collection of painstakingly crafted miniatures -his first area exhibition in over a decade and a half. There hasn't been an art event this important in a good long time, and the names that come to mind by way of comparison are Koons, Hirst, Murakami and Ruscha.

If you haven't visited the New La Luz de Jesus, you really need to get in here!

Rick's miniature masterpieces are crafted with a level of detail that would drive lesser (ie. most) men mad. Handwritten letters are rendered in nano script. Wallpaper, tiles and bricks are each designed by hand to maintain the illusion achieved in these micro-scale decors. Araluce has built working light switches, bulbs and clocks that wouldn't dwarf an insect, and designed end pages for books stacked 42 high, barely thick as a thumbnail. He makes everything -including the boxes that house the pieces, by hand. Inside the opened doorway of the piece pictured is a microscopic painting, that can only be seen from the extreme left side. Rest assured that tiny is the next big thing!

Also on display are works by Bonni Reid, JAW Cooper, Jessica Dalva, and Krystopher Sapp (who also has a piece in the 100 Artists See Satan fundraiser at Grand Central Art

Center).

On Thursday, from 6-9PM we'll be hosting a book signing for L.A. Weekly "Night Ranger" columnist Lina Lecaro's Los Angeles's Best Dive Bars, a testimonial to this city's best watering holes. This event will feature special guests and special cocktail concoctions courtesy of Sino Tequila.

In Los Angeles’ Best Dive Bars, you’ll get the scoop and the poop on the city’s liveliest, lowlife n’ liquor-soaked landmarks. This essential booze bible has the lowdown on which bars serve free food, which have great—and not so great—karaoke, bars that appear in your favorite movies and much, much more. Whether you’re looking for a friendly spot where “everybody knows your name,” a filthy blackened cave where nobody ever will, a gently-gentrified hole specked with dive-obsessed hipsters or a dusty relic full of hip-replacements, you’re sure to find a spot to soak up—and get soaked in—here in these pages.

And we know how to party! Check out these shots from Friday night's opening. The steely-eyed among you may notice (in addition to the artists whose work was on display) Billy Shire, Robert Williams, Nathan Ota, Andrew Hem, Jon Beinart, Daniel Lim, Misato Otake, and a few other La Luz de Jesus Alumni.

Photo credit: Isabele Craik