Previous Exhibitions
Fostering Photovoice
January 25 – March 8, 2025
Fostering Photovoice is a group photography exhibition that reflects the lives and experiences of youth impacted by foster care. The project was conceived by a photovoice research collective that included six artists—all former foster youths between the ages of 18 and 25 who reside in Los Angeles County.
Fostering Photovoice is a group photography exhibition that reflects the lives and experiences of youth impacted by foster care. The project was conceived by a photovoice research collective that included six artists—all former foster youths between the ages of 18 and 25 who reside in Los Angeles County. Several UCLA undergraduate and graduate students were involved, among them, participants who have had lived experience in foster care, or had expertise in using the arts-based empowerment method called photovoice for research and social policy.
The collective came together over 7 weeks during the summer of 2023. The exhibition is organized by prompts and considers the differences in the views of each artist. It includes reflections on who the youth are, how they think about family, and how they would have liked the system to respond to and support their needs.
The series invites the viewer to beliefs about foster youth and the foster care system, including any biases they may have. It is also an opportunity to reflect on how to best support foster youth who enter state care through no fault of their own—both as children and as they transition to adulthood.
Day of the Dead
November 2 – 23, 2024
Dia De Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a Mexican holiday that observes the omnipresent relationship between life and death. Each year, friends and families gather together to spiritedly celebrate the lives of those departed. These joyous days remind us of how fleeting life is, while also reminding us to care for our future generations.
Dia De Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a Mexican holiday that observes the omnipresent relationship between life and death. Each year, friends and families gather together to spiritedly celebrate the lives of those departed. These joyous days remind us of how fleeting life is, while also reminding us to care for our future generations.
The Barnsdall Junior Arts Center Gallery has a long tradition of inviting community members, families, and artists to create altars that encapsulate the spirit of the holiday. From small, personal altars that explore one’s ancestry to large, abstract installations on the effect of global warming on our planet, our community of artists has created art installations that look at both our pasts and futures as a means of trying to understand who we are as individuals, our relationships with each other, and our place in the world.
Synthesis
July 10 – September 21, 2024
Biologically speaking, synthesis occurs when varying elements come together to create a new form. The varying elements of this showcase represent the individual creative expressions that make up the current teaching body of the Barnsdall Arts Center and Junior Arts Center, as well as a synthesis between old and new.
Biologically speaking, synthesis occurs when varying elements come together to create a new form. The varying elements of this showcase represent the individual creative expressions that make up the current teaching body of the Barnsdall Arts Center and Junior Arts Center, as well as a synthesis between old and new. After three years of having our doors closed due to the pandemic and construction, we are beginning again with a new experience to add to the rich history of this creative community. This includes our Teaching Artists, students, families, and visitors who have come together to create a unique environment. We anticipate seeing this collective evolve into yet another expression of community and art at the Barnsdall Junior Arts Center Gallery.
Showcasing artworks by previous and current Teaching Artists, the show represents the breadth of individual teacher’s personal works related to/or not related to their teaching focus.
We’d like to acknowledge the creativity, and ingenuity of all previous Barnsdall teachers who have served in furthering the imaginations of children and adults throughout the years, and cultivating the community that makes the BAC and BJAC a unique place.
We also acknowledge our current teachers who are planting seeds of potential creations that will transform the community in the coming years.
4814 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
BAC: (323) 644-6295
BJAC: (323) 644-6275
Barnsdall Arts Center (BAC), Barnsdall Junior Arts Center (BJAC), and BJAC Gallery are facilities operated by the City of Los Angeles, DCA
Public Land Acknowledgment
It is important that we prioritize respect for both the historic culture and the contemporary presence of indigenous peoples throughout California, and especially in the Los Angeles area. To that end, and particularly as a public and civic institution, we acknowledge that our facility resides on what was historically the homeland of Kizh, Tongva, and Chumash peoples who were dispossessed of their land.
4814 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
BAC: (323) 644-6295
BJAC: (323) 644-6275
Barnsdall Arts Center (BAC), Barnsdall Junior Arts Center (BJAC), and BJAC Gallery are facilities operated by the City of Los Angeles, DCA
Public Land Acknowledgment
It is important that we prioritize respect for both the historic culture and the contemporary presence of indigenous peoples throughout California, and especially in the Los Angeles area. To that end, and particularly as a public and civic institution, we acknowledge that our facility resides on what was historically the homeland of Kizh, Tongva, and Chumash peoples who were dispossessed of their land.
Barnsdall Arts Center (BAC), Barnsdall Junior Arts Center (BJAC), and BJAC Gallery are facilities operated by the City of Los Angeles, DCA
Public Land Acknowledgement
It is important that we prioritize respect for both the historic culture and the contemporary presence of indigenous peoples throughout California, and especially in the Los Angeles area. To that end, and particularly as a public and civic institution, we acknowledge that our facility resides on what was historically the homeland of Kizh, Tongva, and Chumash peoples who were dispossessed of their land.