Narrative, Kitsch, and the Avant-Guard — Opening July 11 · 5–8PM 425 E Pico Blvd · Unit 206 · DTLA Painting in Plein Air — Coming Soon materialprojects.dtla@gmail.com Narrative, Kitsch, and the Avant-Guard — Opening July 11 · 5–8PM 425 E Pico Blvd · Unit 206 · DTLA Painting in Plein Air — Coming Soon materialprojects.dtla@gmail.com
Est. 2025  ·  Downtown Los Angeles  ·  Artist-run nonprofit

Material
Projects

DTLA

2025

Artist
Run

Supporting artist-driven dialogue & experimental work across mediums
425 E Pico Blvd
Unit 206
Los Angeles CA
Opening Reception  ·  July 11 · 5–8PM  ·  425 E Pico Blvd
Narrative,
Kitsch,
and the Avant-Guard

A group exhibition curated by John Dewey. Opening reception July 11, 5–8PM at the DTLA space.

Gwyneth Bulawsky  ·  Trevor Coopersmith  ·  Cezar Cozianu  ·  Shannon Freshwater  ·  Jose Galvan Martinez  ·  Christina Garland  ·  Christopher Graham  ·  Quinn Mathiews  ·  Hallie McNeil  ·  Bella Pettengill  ·  Anthony Rico  ·  Rob Sato  ·  Nadine Schelbert  ·  Masha Sheinina  ·  Alex Ehmer

Get Directions →

Index

All programming to date
1
Soft Launch
Aug – Sep 2025
22 Artists DTLA
Open Call
2
House Party
Oct 2025
Round & Dewey DTLA
2-Person
3
The Medium is the Message
Mar – Apr 2026
9 Artists San Diego
Prebys Funded
4
Narrative, Kitsch, and the Avant-Guard
July 11, 2026 — Opening 5–8PM
15 Artists DTLA
Curated by Dewey

About
Us

We run an art space in Downtown LA. We show work that takes its materials seriously.

Founded summer 2025 by artists John Dewey and Andie Ryan Round. Operating out of 1,100 sq ft in the Fashion District. Programming includes juried open-call exhibitions, two-person and solo shows, guest-curated exhibitions, hands-on workshops, and public panel discussions.

We are currently building toward 501(c)(3) status. Most funding goes directly into stipends, supplies, and programming.

John Dewey
Co-founder / Curator
Painter & sculptor. BFA Art Center (2012), MFA Claremont Graduate University (2025). Work focuses on environmental issues across the western US — water, wildfire, pesticide use, and landscape transformation.
Andie Ryan Round
Co-founder / Curator
Artist & curator based in LA. Co-curator of Soft Launch, featured artist in House Party. Practice engages everyday ritual, social gathering, and the materials of ordinary life.

Submit

No fees. No gatekeeping.

We run open calls for artists, curators, and workshop proposals. If the work is serious, we want to see it.

Open Call
for Artists
Submissions for our current show are now closed. Watch this space for future open calls.
Next call TBA
01
Guest
Curated Show
A separate forthcoming exhibition organized by an outside curator. Curator selected — announcement coming soon.
Date TBA
02
Teach a
Workshop
Got a skill worth sharing? Canvas stretching, framing, crit nights, anything material. Drop us a note.
Rolling basis
03

Workshops

Next up: Crit Night
Ran Feb 2026 · Returns Summer 2026
Canvas
Stretching

A hands-on afternoon demo in the studio. From measuring bars to the final tack — everything you need to stop overpaying for bad painting surfaces.

Bring: canvas clamps, staple gun, canvas, stretcher bars, tack hammer, screwdriver. We can share if you're short.

Refreshments: lukewarm beer and a bottle of white left over from our last show.
Coming Soon
Crit Night

A monthly casual critique night for artists in the neighborhood. Bring work, bring opinions.

Also Cooking
Framing 101

How to frame your own work without losing a weekend. Date TBD.

Show
Up.

425 E Pico Blvd
Unit 206
Los Angeles CA 90015

Open during exhibitions, and by appointment. Email us to arrange a visit.

Enter from Pico by the torta lady. 2nd floor, take two rights — we're the corner unit by the elevator.
Get in touch
Say
Hello.

For press, partnerships, artist inquiries, and general questions.

materialprojects.dtla@gmail.com ↗