May 14-15, 2026 Art Parties & Events
Thursday, Friday, May 14-15, 2026 Art Parties & Events offer a some truly fun experiences in LA’s art happenings kicking off another fantastic weekend of arts and entertainment in the City of Angels. Beginning on Thursday, enjoy a screening at the Fowler Museum at UCLA, or a performance from Brassroots District. More theatre is taking place both days. Also on Friday, several two day events begin. LightFest 3.0 celebrates UNESCO International Day of Light as well as CIACLA’s The Irish Contemporaries {V}. Matter Studio Gallery hosts a music event tonight and you have another chance to catch Brassroots District.
Thursday, May 14, 2026
Frank Gehry, Bear with Us 2014, 316L stainless steel, 45 ½ × 84 ¾ × 43 ¾ inches (115.6 × 215.3 × 111.1 cm), edition of 4 © Frank O. Gehry. Photo: Benjamin Lee Ritchie Handler
Gagosian presents a posthumous exhibition of Frank Gehry. While this is the artist’s first exhibition Beverly Hills gallery since his death, it’s technically his second exhibition at Gagosian Los Angeles. Read the Gagosian Frank Gehry Feature for more info. Art Party: 6-8pm; Gagosian, 456 North Camden, Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210; https://www.gagosian.com/
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The Fowler Museum at UCLA hosts a screening of The Old Kiyyangan Story: Oral Histories and Archaeological Findings from the Old Kiyyangan Village, Ifugao, Philippines. The animation is written by Stephen Acabado and Marlon Martin, and directed by Armando Burgos. The project is a collaboration between archaeologists and also Ifugao descendant communities. Furthermore this rare and important narrative combines oral history and archaeological research to highlight a crucial chapter of Philippine Indigenous history. Screening: 6-8pm; Fowler Museum at UCLA, 308 Charles E Young Dr N LA 90024; https://fowler.ucla.edu/programs
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Mid City
Brassroots District performances have one more weekend to continue the party. The shows take place in conjunction with its self titled album Brassroots District: LA ’74. The immersive theater-concert takes place at Jewel’s Catch One and brings audiences back to the year 1974. Moreover the band released a new single, “Takin’ Back Day Dreamin’,” featuring Robert Randolph. The release follows growing buzz around fan favorite “You Caught Me Baby.” One of our staff attended this experience and absolutely loved it, moreover, he is going back with his wife. For more info, see the Brassroots District Feature. Or call 323-596-1973; Tickets begin at $49, fees may apply; Performance: 6:30pm; Jewel’s Catch One, 4067 W. Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90019; http://BrassrootsDistrict.com
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Downtown
The Robey Theatre Company continues its run of Colored People’s Time: A History Play by Leslie Lee. The play, directed by Ben Guillory, is an examination of the lives of Black Americans from 1865-1958. This is a wonderful theatre founded by Danny Glover and Ben Guillory.
Danny Glover and Ben Guillory. Photo courtesy of The Robey Theatre Company
The theatre is located on the third floor of the building, with nearby parking often listed at the Los Angeles Garage Associate Parking Structure. Performance: 8pm; Admission starts at $34; The Robey Theatre Company is located at the Los Angeles Theatre Center (LATC) in Downtown Los Angeles at 514 S. Spring St, LA, 90013; https://www.therobeytheatrecompany.org
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Friday, May 15, 2026
Westwood…UNESCO International Day of Light: LightFest 3.0, a two day celebration of arts and science runs today and tomorrow. Needless to say, it features AI microscopy and spectroscopy as well as media arts, sustainability, and creative expression. The event is presented by UCLA Art|Sci Center in collaboration with the Advanced Light Microscopy & Spectroscopy (ALMS) Lab at the California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI) and the Smart Image Content Research Center at Chung-Ang University, Korea. Find out more about LIghtFest 3.0 and view the schedule and also purchase tickets. Event: 9:30am-7pm; California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI), UCLA Campus, 570 Westwood Plaza, LA 90095; https://alms.cnsi.ucla.edu/
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Santa Monica
In partnership CIACLA (Contemporary Irish Arts Center LA) and MART Gallery & Studios, 18th Street Arts Center, and Angels Gate Cultural Center debuts The Irish Contemporaries {V}.
Dee Mulrooney, Growler, 2025. Photo by Kyle Ferguson
Curated by Matthew Nevin & Ciara, the 2 part exhibition will offer duo openings at two different venues today and tomorrow. 18th Street Arts Center will be hosting the first art party today at 1pm. Attendees will be treated to a live Performance by Deirdre Mulrooney. Additional artists at 18th St Arts Center include: Anselm and Joan McClain, Barbara Lavery, Bren Holmes, Katie Thibault, Mary J Sheridan, Robert Fox, and Sheila McMullin & Sean McGuirk. Runs through June 6, 2026; Event: 1pm; 18th Street Arts Center, 1639 18th St, Santa Monica, CA 90404 https://18thstreet.org/
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Mid City
Brassroots District performances continue. Presented in conjunction with its self titled album Brassroots District: LA ’74. While the immersive theater-concert takes place at Jewel’s Catch One it also brings audiences back to the year 1974. See more info on the Brass Roots Extended Feature for additional information. Or call 323-596-1973; Tickets begin at $49, fees may apply; Performance: 6:30pm; Jewel’s Catch One, 4067 W. Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90019; http://BrassrootsDistrict.com
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Also in Mid City…Matter Studio Gallery hosts a music event today in conjunction with its current exhibition – Maria Greenshields-Ziman’s Illuminating Matter. Enjoy a fusion of Afro-jazz, Kwasa-Kwasa, Makosa, as well as Latin music by talented musicians from Congo, South Africa, and Argentina. Moreover, they are part of the Playing for Change family, a non-profit bringing music to South African townships.
Performance 7-9pm; Admission is $25- Visit the website to purchase tickets; Matter Studio Gallery, 5080 W. Pico Blvd., LA, 90019; https://matterstudiogallery.com/
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Downtown
You have one more chance to see Colored People’s Time: A History Play at the Robey Theatre. Check the listing above for additional info. Performance: 8pm Admission starts at $34; The Robey Theatre Company is located at the Los Angeles Theatre Center (LATC) in Downtown Los Angeles at 514 S. Spring St, LA, 90013; https://www.therobeytheatrecompany.org
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West Hollywood
Jetpack Comedy is LA’s best Friday stand-up comedy showcase. Comics from HBO, Netflix, and also SNL cast members, all drop-in for a night of laughter. Headliners and surprise drop-ins have included: Sarah Silverman, Kevin Nealon, Fred Armisen, Bob Odenkirk, Pete Holmes, Hannibal Buress, Kumail Nanjiani, Maria Bamford, Hasan Minhaj, Jeff Garlin, Ali Wong, Demetri Martin, as well as many more. Event begins: 8:30pm; Admission starts at $20; Visit the website to RSVP for events (multiple dates); FB Page; Bar Lubitsch, 7702 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, 90046; https://jetpackcomedy.com/
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For additional art exhibitions, and performances as well as culinary events, see LAArtParty’s Upcoming Events Page.
Read more about Arts and Entertainment throughout the world on our sister site EatTravelGo.com, an art inspired travel site.
Or enjoy artist / gallerist interviews on our Art Talk Page.
