On August 1, 2015, LAArtParty visited Gallery 825 in West Hollywood for the Los Angeles Art Association’s Annual Auction, whose proceeds go to LAAA and the Los Angeles emerging art community. This year the LAAA was celebrating its 90th birthday, and the artists contributing work to the auction viewed the fundraiser as an opportunity to give back to the LAAA, anorganization that has played a critical role in the professional growth of ten of thousands of L.A. artists.

The event was jam-packed with art lovers and collectors, and was chaired by Shula Nazarian and Bruce Adlhoch. The auction was presented by Bonham’s, one of the world’s oldest and largest auctioneers of fine art and antiquities, and featured works by such luminaries as Shepard Fairey, Ed Ruscha, Ed Moses, Analia Saban, Richard Tuttle, and numerous others. Of course, the icing on the cake were the wonderful trays of passed sushi rolls from Nobu and the open bar!

LAArtParty spoke with one of the participating artists, Diane Silver:

LAARTPARTY: Diane, how long have you been a member of the Los Angeles Art Association?
DIANE SILVER: Three years.
LAARTPARTY: What is their selection process?
DIANE SILVER: You submit images, and they decide if you are a good match for the gallery
space.
LAARTPARTY: How did the auction go for you?
DIANE SILVER: Fantastic! I had a few bids on my piece, which was quite nice.
LAARTPARTY: Were you happy with the event overall?
DIANE SILVER: Yes, it gets better every year, and so does the art.
LAARTPARTY: Did you bid on anything yourself?
DIANE SILVER: It was too crowded this year, but we usually do.
LAARTPARTY: How long have you been creating art?
DIANE SILVER: My entire life.
LAARTPARTY: How often do you paint?
DIANE SILVER: I go to the studio six or seven days a week for approximately five hours.
After that, I am tired.