David Kordansky Gallery to open on La Brea with Rashid Johnson show

The David Kordansky Gallery of Culver City is moving to a larger home near Hollywood, where it will stage a Rashid Johnson show as its inaugural exhibit.

The gallery is moving to the corner of Edgewood Place and South La Brea Avenue. The new gallery is more than 20,000 square feet, which effectively triples its size. The space was designed by wHY, the Los Angeles office of Kulapat Yantrasast, and includes two large galleries as well as offices, a library and gardens.

Kordansky first opened his gallery in Chinatown more than a decade ago, focusing on emerging local artists. He moved the gallery to Culver City in 2008 when it began to show artists of international interest.

For its inaugural show in the new space, the gallery will open an exhibition of new work by Johnson titled “Islands.” The artist is known for his socio-political work, with nods to African American culture, history and literature.

This two-part exhibition is no exception. Featuring a variety of sculptures, including a minimalist pyramid made of identical steel cubes welded together, the work was inspired in part by Richard Wright’s novel “Native Son.” The book tells the story of a poor African American youth driven to murder by his sense of isolation, anxiety and fear.

The gallery’s second room will feature sculptures in the form of wood tables and wall-mounted shelves. The table tops are filled with Shea butter that Johnson inscribed with abstract designs and topped with glass. The shelves are jagged and layered with spray paint, branding and scratch marks, poured soap and wax.

“Islands” opens Saturday and runs through Oct. 29. The address is 5130 W. Edgewood Place, Los Angeles.

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