China Art Objects Galleries

Named after a box sign that had been left behind by the space's previous tenant, China Art Objects was founded by a group of friends that included Peter Kim, Amy Yao, Mark Heffernan, Steve Hanson and Giovanni Intra. Shortly after its opening however, the gallery became mainly a project of critic Intra and musician/librarian Hanson (with Heffernan staying on as a silent partner).[1] The gallery was instrumental in bringing about a renaissance in Los Angeles art and in particular the Chinatown district where they were the first gallery to set up shop along Chung King Road.[2] Designed by artist Pae White, the gallery officially opened its doors in January 1999, though parties and other events were held in the space prior to that.[3] Their first year established a special identity for the gallery and proved to a larger audience the increasing importance of the space. Early exhibitions included Laura Owens & Scott Reeder, Jorge Pardo & Bob Weber, Sharon Lockhart & George Porcari. Alongside the exhibition program in that first year, the gallery hosted a record release party for Stephen Prina, a poetry reading with Mike Kelley, and a Mia Doi Todd concert in an alleyway adjacent to the gallery. Influential indie label Kill Rock Stars donated their discography for the basement record library, housed in a secret room designed by Andy Ouchi and Andy Alexander.[4]

Other galleries and alternative art spaces were attracted to Chinatown, among them Black Dragon Society, Diannapruess Gallery, Goldman-Tevis and Lord Mori..[5] Exhibitions have included solo and two person presentations by Jorge Pardo, Andy Ouchi, Frances Stark, Jon Pylypchuk, Sharon Lockhart, Laura Owens, Andy Alexander, Mason Cooley, Kim Fisher, David Korty, Eric Wesley, Jonathan Horowitz, David von Schlegell, Angus Fairhurst, JP Munro, R.H. Quaytman, Jennifer Moon, Andy Alexander, Morgan Fisher, Sean Landers, Isa Gensken, Walead Beshty, and Mark Hagen.[6]

In 2002, co-founder of China Art Objects and influential critic Giovanni Intra unexpectedly died in New York after attending the opening for one of the gallery's artists.[3] His death was widely considered a tragedy by the art community, with Will Bradley of influential British art magazine Frieze writing at the time of Intra's death, "Giovanni Intra died much too young on 17 December 2002 in Manhattan. He will be remembered for his achievements as an artist, writer and co-founder of China Art Objects Galleries in Los Angeles, and equally for his enthusiasm, intelligence, integrity, warmth and all-around obvious decency in an art world where those characteristics can sometimes be in short supply."[7]

Currently run by original founder Hanson with wife Tuesday Yates, China Art Objects moved from its landmark Chinatown location in 2010 to Culver City,[8] but Chinatown remains as legacy to CAOG a vibrant art community since their departure, especially for young art and new galleries in Los Angeles.[9]

The most definitive history of the space up to 2005 is available as a chapter in Recent pasts: art in Southern California from the 90s to now.[10]