Poker is big business. Invitations to poker games are generally seen as serious affairs that attract high rollers and the most tactical, strategic of players. However, there’s also a subtler side to the game. Artist Jonas Wood is one LA resident who has worked hard to create new types of games for creatives in LA. We discuss the Art Poker scene in the article below.
The 2021 Tournament
The first game was held in 2021 and was known as an invitational specifically for artists and celebrities. It included art dealers and artists, such as Richard Price, with Wood himself getting knocked out fairly early in the tournament. However, it also had a host of celebrities, some of whom already had a track record in poker. These included Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire.
This first tournament coincided with Frieze Los Angeles. This is an ongoing, week-long celebration of the dynamic culture of LA. Specifically focusing on the visual arts, it takes place every year. There are often over 100+ galleries showcasing work, and even spaces such as airports become exhibition centers.
The Enduring Popularity of Poker
Poker became really popular in the early noughties and was its boom period. Games started to become televised on syndicated sports channels, bringing it to a whole new audience. At the same time, online poker rooms were growing. It was now easier than ever to watch, learn, and play poker games.
A second surge came with the advent of mobile technology and its connectivity improvements. People could connect to poker rooms through a device and learn how to play poker with a host of videos and blogs, all through a small screen in the palm of their hand. Entire websites let people know the basics of the game, from different rulesets to how to read other players, when to bet high, and when to fold. These people could then put their tactics into practice, without having to go into casinos or intimidating private games.
LA Art Poker VisitorsÂ
Wood began organizing games way back in this original boom period, around the year 2000. His wife and sometime artistic partner Shio Kusaka is a very good player. The pair often share artistic motifs, which move from her ceramics to his paintings, and back again. While they avoid poker-themed artworks and concentrate on nature, people, and even sports, they do share a love of the card game.
Jonas himself has actually appeared on television playing poker. However, he did not fare so well and is estimated at having an onscreen winning total of -$49,050. Luckily, his tournaments are not always about the wins but mostly about who turns up. Ellen DeGeneres has attended before using an invitation from an art dealer friend. One winner, Jason Koons, donated all of his winnings to the Echo Park Bookstore.
To get an invite, you probably need to be part of the Los Angeles art scene. You can start by taking a look at Wood’s outstanding work, found in galleries in and around Los Angeles.