Los Angeles magazine’s Tastemakers exhibit showcases the best in style, design, and the arts

What started as a column in Los Angeles magazine is now a living, breathing artistic installation at L.A.’s famed Hollywood & Highland complex. “Our goal was to showcase the critical mass of creativity here in Los Angeles in all disciplines of style, design, and the arts. Tastemakers, the exhibition showcasing world-class talent made in LA, does just that,” explains June Miller Richards, Los Angeles magazine’s Vice President of Marketing.

And showcase, does it ever! The chic exhibit takes the ideology of mainstream artistry and turns it on its pretty little head, giving a voice and a stage to local artisans of all crafts. From a sneaker designer to a music label owner, to a goldsmith and an architectural fashion designer, all genres of out-of-the-box creativity are artistically edible at Tastemakers.

Sixteen you-have-to-see-it-to-believe-it talents are featured, in total, and each installation is as unique as the talented individuals that it represents. For example, out artist Marc Friedland (left), dubbed the “Godfather of the Invitation” and “Stationer to the Stars,” has on display samples from his lifetime of work: his party invitations. You won’t find Hallmark here; no, Friedland’s pieces are, in and of themselves, works of art. Hand-painted, three-dimensional and individually crafted to eye-popping perfection, his display features commissions from Oprah (Governor’s Ball), Microsoft, Elton John, Jennifer Lopez, John Travolta, and a slew of other historic Los Angeles events.

More than “just another showroom”, each exhibition (conceptualized and designed by FIDM’s Lyn Tobman) is a stimulating and multi-sensory showcase, highlighting more than just high-end artistry (although it does do that and it does it extremely well). Tastemakers is a history lesson; it’s homage to our city’s style-makers of past and present.

The Tastemaker gallery is open at Hollywood & Highland Wed., March 19th – Sun. March 30th, noon–6 p.m. daily; free of charge. Visit www.lamagtastemakers.com for more.