[NoHo Arts District, CA] – This month’s LA Art blog: Launch LA presents Luna Anaïs artist Kiara Aileen Machado through May 13.
Launch LA is hosting the Luna Anaïs exhibition, Refugio en Las Flores, by Kiara Aileen Machado. Luna Anaïs is one of the burgeoning galleries which opened up during the pandemic. Nomadic in its location, it is directed in its focus. Emphasizing and showcasing contemporary women, trans, and non-binary artists, building community in Los Angeles is a primary goal.
Refugio en Las Flores brings Machado’s skill and textured identity to life. Featuring thicketed, tropical flora and muñecas quitapenas (handmade figurines with origins from the Mayan people of Guatemala), Machado brings us into the complexity of LatinX identity.
Confronting erasure of post-colonial, Latin American identities, Machado’s colorful depiction of flora features hidden figures. Rather, these figures aren’t so much hidden, as they are taking refuge from those who would remove their agency.
Objects in Machado’s work are meant to pay homage to a historical, cultural connection. Machado continues this work of interconnectivity between color, artistry, visual culture through these objects.
Machado finds autonomy, strength, and community through ancestral touchstones which have long been colonized and sidelined. Machado shares this vibrant sanctuary with Los Angeles.
Artist:
Kiara Aileen Machado
Where:
Launch LA
170 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90036
When:
March 26 – May 13
Gallery Hours:
Thursday & Friday 12-4pmPST
Saturday 12-5pmPST
Parking:
Street parking (metered) or neighborhood parking with restrictions (Free)