Image creditAlonzo Davis, Self Portrait Inside Series, 1974, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, purchased with funds provided by the Modern and Contemporary Art Council Acquisitions Endowment, © Alonzo Davis Studio, photo © Museum Associates/LACMA

At a glance

A comprehensive look at how a single South L.A. gallery fostered a generation of Black artists and reshaped the city’s cultural landscape after the Watts Rebellion.

Why go

It highlights the essential role of the Brockman Gallery as a pioneer for multicultural art in Los Angeles, bringing together rare archival documents with works by major artists who started their careers there.

You'll see

Archival documents · Multi-media artworks · Early pieces by David Hammons · Suzanne Jackson paintings · Photography by Carrie Mae Weems

Pace of visit

The extensive selection of archival materials and historical context encourages a slower pace to fully grasp the gallery's community impact.

Don't miss

The archival section documenting the gallery's founding by Alonzo and Dale Brockman Davis following the 1965 Watts Rebellion.

Artlovers Tip

Take time to read the archival letters and posters, as they reveal the personal connections and community effort required to keep the gallery running for over two decades.

Inside the exhibition

Meet the artist

Alonzo Davis, Dale Brockman Davis, David Hammons, Suzanne Jackson, Carrie Mae Weems

Description

The Brockman Gallery: Los Angeles, 1967–1990 at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) in Los Angeles, United States, examines the legacy of a vital hub for artists of color. Founded by brothers Alonzo and Dale Brockman Davis, the gallery became a sanctuary for creative experimentation and intellectual exchange during a transformative period in American history.

The presentation features more than 60 artworks across various media, including painting, sculpture, and photography. These works are paired with significant archival material that traces the gallery's evolution from its origins in South L.A. to its role as a launchpad for figures like David Hammons and Carrie Mae Weems.

By focusing on the Davises' community-driven model, the exhibition shows how a grassroots project can influence the broader art world. It offers a clear view of how this specific space fostered multicultural dialogue and provided essential support for careers that would eventually gain international recognition.

Worth travelling for?

A significant and informative exhibition for those interested in the history of Black art in California and the power of grassroots cultural spaces.

Experience as an Artlover

Start by reviewing the historical timeline of the Watts Rebellion to understand the social atmosphere in which the gallery opened, then move through the works chronologically.

Exhibition

The Brockman Gallery: Los Angeles, 1967–1990

Upcoming
Contemporary Art

Artlovers relevance

60-90 mins

Plan your visit

Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)

Los Angeles, United States

4.6· 20,854 reviews

Hours & rating from Google

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