La Luz De Jesus Gallery — Attraction in Los Angeles

I am at a 4.5 but rounding up for all the amazing shows in past years. I love, love, love this place for decades, I don't particulaly love the last few shows. I am a low brow art dan and this gallery has exposed me (through the years) to some the most famous and also lesser known but amazing talents in this space. Art is subjective but when art looks like my 6 yo niece has more artistic merit than some of the artists of late (see Oct 2023 show for context), you lose credibility. The quality of artists on exhibition has gone way down since reopening after nearly a 1.5 year lockdown/semi lockdown (minus the Everything but the Kitchen Sync show). I still enjoy shopping the best curation of niche art books and trinkets, etc.. I guarantee you will not get such a diverse range of small run books in CA. In the event you see a book there, buy it because you support the store AND you may not find it anywhere else. I personally always shop local for just this reason. Buying books online is soulless. You enter La Luz and you are in another realm. There is quite literally a category for everyone. I always make time in my visit to browse (also buy). Great place to shop for your friends and family with more eclectic tastes. Very unlikely that anything you gift here will be given by someone else. Lots of affordable and UNIQUE gifts. You would be hard pressed not to find something for everyone here! *Extra points if you visit and catch a glimpse of Billy Shire in all his incognito greatness. The third photo is sooo kisch that I...

I would give this palce a 4.5. This is by far on my top three things to do/visit recommendations to friends and anyone reading this. This is a gallery and store like no other. I feel really blessed to have seen sooo many iconic shows with world famous low brow artists over two plus decades. I have photos from as far back as 18 years! Now let me get to the bookstore: The curation of niche art books and knick-knacks is unmatched. Any niche subject matter related to art, fashion, architecture, design, is going to be here. Additionally, the book offerings continue for people into low brow master's famous and beyond. The gallery ebbs and flows. Over the years I have taken in dozens of shows, some even worth a second visit but (of course) they vary and some will hit others will miss but you will always be elevating your taste and palate regardless also, you always have the store if the show doesn't do it for you. This is the magic of art and honestly, just dropping in is a pure dopamine hit. I would take off a half star for lack of parking and some of the staff are not friendly (some have been there for years which is unfortunate) but I am too busy looking at the art and moving around the store to really care. Give yourself time to find parking if you are there during the weekend/evening because the area is...

Overall great place with beautifully inspiring art and cool things to buy from their shop. I let myself splurge and bought almost $100 worth of books and items for myself and a friend. However, I was very obviously being followed around in the store area as I shopped. Employees would come and seem to arrange the items I had just looked at, and I was approached and asked if I needed help about three times. Another employee said she needed to take the items I had in hand (the items I planned on buying so far) to keep at the front counter until I was done shopping. None of the other people in my group of five got the same treatment, and I was the only person in my group that was of a particular...