April 16-17 Art Parties and Events

Thursday, Friday, April 16-17 Art Parties and Events offer a fetching group of arts and entertainment. While Leica Gallery in West Hollywood hosts an opening, guests can enjoy the Art Talks at Brand series in Glendale. Plus we have some theatre in Beverly Hills for both days. Then on Friday, head to Chinatown for three gallery openings on one street. Plus more openings take place in West Hollywood and mid-city.

Thursday April 16, 2026

In West Hollywood…Leica Gallery celebrate the work of two photographers Olaf Heine, and Nikki Reed with an opening art party. Olaf Heine: Hawaii features the work of German photographer. It brings together photographs from his many years of photographing the islands of  Hawaii. Nikki Reed: Sustainable Switzerland spotlights Reed’s travels through Switzerland. The exhibition takes a look at Switzerland’s sustainability initiatives as well as how we affect the earth. Runs through June 1, 2026; Art Party: 6-8pm; LEICA, 8783 Beverly Blvd. West Hollywood, 90048; https://leicagalleryla.com

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Glendale

Time for Art Talks at Brand once again. The series holds conversations with Los Angeles contemporary artists so that they may tell the public about their work and how it is created, or influenced. The talks are moderated with a Q&A with Brand staff member, artist, and writer Jennifer Remenchik. Tonight’s art talk features the LA based artist Danny Angel Escalante. Growing up as a catholic, his work is both inspired by religion and his indigenous heritage. Art Talk: 7-8pm; Brand Library & Art Center, 1601 W Mountain St, Glendale, CA 91201; https://www.brandlibrary.org/

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Beverly Hills

The Unexpected Guest recently opened at Theatre Forty. Written by Agatha Christie, and directed by Warren Davis, it is a classic “whodunit?” The wealthy Richard Warwick has been murdered, needless to say, there is no shortage of suspects. Inspector Thomas is on the case – find out how the story ends.

The Unexpected Guest  runs through April 19, 2026; Performance: 7:30pm; Theatre Forty, 241 S. Moreno Dr., Beverly Hills 90212; https://theatre40.org

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Friday, April 17, 2026

Chinatown…Nehemiah Cisneros: Burning Desires opens at Charlie James Gallery tonight. This is the debut exhibition for the Los Angeles-based artist. While this in an entirely new series for Cisneros, the work is more vulnerable and transparent. He focuses on the elements of serenity within moments.  Time is everywhere. The artist chooses to self reflect while portraying himself as the main character. Thus revealing even more of himself within his work.

Nehemiah Cisneros, Reflections, Acrylic on Canvas, 38 x 47 inches, 2026. Photos: Yubo Dong, ofstudio

Nehemiah Cisneros: Burning Desires runs through May 23, 2026; Art Party: 5-8pm; Charlie James Gallery, 969 Chung King Rd, LA, 90012; https://www.cjamesgallery.com/

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Also in Chinatown (just steps away)…Noon Projects hosts an opening art party for Sun. The two-person exhibition features Kristan Kennedy as well as Marcus Fischer. The artists work in different mediums – Kennedy in painting and Fischer with sound. Sun will remain on view through May 20, 2026; Art Party: 6-9pm; NOON-Projects, 951 Chung King Rd, LA 90012; https://noon-projects.com/

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Another in Chinatown…IZZY LEE presents Circular Ruins by Beverly Acha, a NY and  Bennington, VT-based artist. This is the painter’s first show with the gallery. Acha has created a new body of work that spotlights spirals, infinity symbols thus pointing to the symbolism of time. While drawing on magical realism, the title of the solo show is from Jorge Luis Borges’s short story from 1940. Beverly Acha: Circular Ruins will remain on view through May 30, 2026; Art  Party: 6-9pm; IZZY LEE, 508 Chung King Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90012; https://izzyleegallery.com

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West Hollywood

Jeffrey Deitch debuts Celeste Dupuy-Spencer: BURNING IN THE EYES OF THE MAKER with an opening art party. The artist takes a departure from her previous way of approaching the work. In a way she learned to talk with her paintings, hence the work in return guided her to a new unknown place. Sadly, I received an email on April 11, 2026 saying Celeste Dupuy-Spencer has died. Needless to say her spirit will live on through her art. Check with the gallery for updates about the opening.

Runs through May 30, 2026; Art Party: 6-8pm; Jeffrey Deitch, 7000 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, 90038; https://deitch.com/

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Mid City

Beyond The Streets brings us an opening art party for Punx: The Art Of Dead City & Friends. The group exhibition includes a various group of artists: visual, musical who are both outsiders and cultural renegades. Punx: The Art Of Dead City & Friends will remain on view through May 30, 2026; Art Party: 7-10pm; Beyond The Streets, 434 N La Brea Ave, LA, 90036; https://beyondthestreets.com

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Beverly Hills

The Wallis presents the Pulitzer Prize winning play English by Sanaz Toossi and directed by Knud Adams. This acclaimed Atlantic Theater Company & Roundabout Theatre Company production runs for a limited engagement of 24 performances at the Wallis’ Bram Goldsmith Theater on April 4 to 26, 2026. Moreover, the play spotlights four Iranian adults preparing for an English language exam in a storefront school near Tehran. Due to  family separations and travel restrictions they are now prompted to learn a new language that may alter their identities.

Needless to say, the plot of English is ironically pertinent in 2026 and tells a touching story of young people caught in the crossfire of political assimilation. Runs through April 26, 2026; Performance: 7:30pm; Admission begins at $53.90; Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Bram Goldsmith Theater, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills, 90210; https://thewallis.org/

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Also in Beverly Hills…You have another chance to catch the Unexpected Guest at Theatre Forty. See above listing for more info. Performance: 7:30pm; Theatre Forty, 241 S. Moreno Dr., Beverly Hills 90212; https://theatre40.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.