As of our favorite painters to emerge from Los Angeles in the last decade, we are excited to see Mario Ayala's works be part of the fifth iteration of the Hammer Museum's biennial, Made In L.A. His paintings, acrylic and airbrush works with such an incredible details and layered storytelling, feel quintessentially Southern California to us, in the legacy of car culture and low brow, but something completely fresh and original. 

Read our interview with Mario here

About Made In L.A.: The fifth iteration of the Hammer’s acclaimed biennial bridges east and west with complementary presentations at the Hammer and The Huntington. The opening date of this exhibition is dependent on L.A. County guidelines for museums to reopen. Works by 30 Los Angeles–based artists are presented at both institutions—two versions that make up the whole. The exhibition features new installations, videos, films, sculptures, performances, and paintings, many commissioned specifically for the exhibition.

Funded through the generosity of Los Angeles philanthropists and art collectors Jarl and Pamela Mohn, three awards totaling $150,000 will be given to artists in the exhibition: the Mohn Award, the Career Achievement Award—both of which are selected by a professional jury—and the Public Recognition Award, which is determined through votes cast by visitors to the exhibition. Visitors will be able to vote at both exhibition locations.

During the run of Made in L.A. 2020, members and visitors to the Hammer will receive passes granting free admission to The Huntington to view Made in L.A. 2020 in full.

Made in L.A. 2020 is organized by independent curators Myriam Ben Salah and Lauren Mackler, with the Hammer’s Ikechukwu Onyewuenyi, assistant curator of performance.