#labartgallery

In our perfect world, every blank wall of every ugly concrete building would be covered in street art. Wouldn't it make the world such a happier place to live in? At the very least, it would be colorful! Until laws regarding street art begin changing, the best we can do is cover our own walls with the vibrant, modern art. That is where Lab Art gallery owner Iskander Lemseffer comes in. Three years ago, Iskander began to realize the awesome potential in this underground art form. He created a haven where street artists could display and sell their work, without the the threat of it being buffed off the walls just a few days later. Essentially, Lemseffer is enabling street artists to have something that many of them have never experienced before: a lasting presence. With a longer 'wall life', if you will, more and more people are able to see the gritty beauty and hear the messages of this previously belittled culture. We were lucky enough to sit down with Iskander himself and hear a little more about the life of a street art entrepreneur.

A+A: What inspired you to start Lab Art?

I: I used to go to art openings and galleries all the time. After a while, I began to notice that they always only displayed one or two street artists, at the most. I didn’t see any galleries that were specializing only in street art. I worked in the fashion industry for 17 years and I wanted to get out of it, because when the Zaras and the H&Ms of the world came, you couldn’t sell high end denim anymore. A friend of mine had a 5500 square foot showroom in downtown LA which was basically a just an empty, white box. So I thought to myself, “Okay, I'll do a one night show, fill it up with artwork and see what happens.” Alec Monopoly was doing live painting during the event as well. Three hundred people showed up, I sold 11 paintings, and I thought, “Maybe I should be doing this. This is my ticket.” So the next day I went out looking for locations and about two or three weeks later I found this space on La Brea. It did not look like this when I found it. It used to be an auto body shop. Now, we’re in our third year in this space and we’re the nation’s largest street art gallery. I never expected it to be the biggest one, but here we are. 

A+A: What a great story! Well, you’ve really done an amazing job with the space. And especially to have the foresight to open in this area! La Brea Corridor is really turning into quite the hotspot. So how do you find your artists?

I: My artists find me. We get five to ten submissions a day and there is a three month waiting list. We have 25 different artists right now. We used to have 64 at a certain time but with street art, you know, some people come and go. You always have your usual suspects; your Alec Monoply, your Thank You X, your Mar, your Annie Preece, your Louis XXX. They’re always around. Most of our artists are local and from LA as well.

A+A: Do you find that you’re more drawn to certain styles of street art, or do you keep yourself pretty open in terms of who you display here at Lab Art?

I: I’m pretty much open. However, we don’t carry artists like Shephard Fairey, Banksy and Mr. Brainwash. The reason is, I always wanted to give the little guy a chance. But I'm starting to notice that all these little guys are becoming big guys right now. When I did that event where Alec was live painting, the press came and I told them, “Go interview that guy. He is going to be huge,” and they kind of brushed it off and didn’t bother to go talk to him. Now look where he is. 

A+A: There are several contemporary street artists right now, like Mr. Brainwash and Alec Monoploy, who are appropriating old, popular images and making it their own by painting versions of it on street walls. Granted, we do live in the age of appropriation, but what are your thoughts on this recycling of images and pop culture?

I: I actually like it. There’s a certain comfort to it because it’s recognizable. The Annie Preece condensed soup painting over there? Of course we’ve seen that image a million times but the play on words there says, “Yeah, this has already been done, but we’re going to do it again.” It's sending a different message. Street art has the ability to bring these old images back into the mainstream, where they weren't before. Street art has always been frowned upon and has never been respected by the fine art community. Although, I have good news regarding that because we’ve always wanted to give street art the place it deserves in art history. I’ve just been accepted as a member of the Art Dealers Association of California, which legitimizes all of this.

A+A: Congratulations! That’s such a huge accomplishment, especially since you are such a pioneer in the street art world. So, are there any cool trends you see happening between the street art world and the contemporary art world, in general?

I: I’m going to be very honest with you, I am so enclosed in this place that I don’t even look at what other people are doing. Before I opened Lab Art, I saw a lot of galleries that, again, had one or two street artists. Nobody carried only street art. After we opened, they just started mushrooming everywhere. And now, they’re all closed. People would call me and ask if I’d seen what this guy done and what that guy had opened, and I’d say no, because I’m just doing my thing. Whatever they are doing is their deal. I just go with my gut feeling on things and support what I think is the best out there.

A+A: That makes a lot of sense actually. This space is really cool as well because, on the street you can only see on piece at a time, whereas here, you can see multiple pieces at a time. It makes each artist seem more like an ‘artist’, or what we normally associate with the word artist.

I: Well that’s another thing. In the beginning, each section was dedicated solely to one artist. And then I thought, no, I should be like in the streets: all mixed.

A+A: Who are some of your favorite local, up and coming artists that you are featuring right now?

I: Skyler Grey, who is a 13 year old LA street artist. We are hosting his debut party here on September 19th. Everyone else… no one is really  up and coming anymore! 

A+A: Is there anyone that you have found that you are really excited about?

I: I can honestly say that I discovered Skyler Grey. He’s been trying to get in here for two years. Every time he’d come in, I’d tell him that he wasn’t ready. One day, he posted something on Facebook and I called his dad and said, “We need to have a meeting next week.” He brought in two Queen Amys and they both sold within less than 24 hours. A month later, he brought in two more, different colors and different styles (everything we sell is one of one, no reproductions, no prints), and both of those sold within 24 hours as well. It’s been crazy.

A+A: What did you see in his work that had changed? What was that shift?

I: There was something about him… something in his work. When you go the extra step in your work, people notice it. Louis XXX, when he first started, was doing very small pieces. I called him one day and said, I need you to come here, pick up all of your stuff, take it home and paint over it. It needs more layers. He brought them back and we started selling them like hot cakes. When you see more work put into something, it speaks more to people.

A+A: That makes a lot of sense, actually. In anything, really, when there are more layers, there’s more depth and it makes it that much more interesting. It gives it more history.

I: And the way I curate, if I see a piece and I think, “this can hang in my living room”, I put it in here.

A+A: So why did you decide to start Lab Art in LA as opposed to another city?

I: Well, I live here so that was a major factor. In my early twenties I was going to move to New York but then… there’s the cold. I don’t do cold, simple as that. I’m from Morocco, and Casablanca is on the same meridian on the planet as LA, so it’s the exact same weather, which is perfect. Also, LA is the capital of street art around the world, so this really is the right place to do this.

  A+A: What are some of your favorite neighborhood spots around LA? 

I: I love Larchmont. I also love Cross Creek in Malibu. I went to Pepperdine for a little while, so that’s why I love Malibu. It reminds me of my college years. There’s also a little hidden gem in LA called the Petit Ermitage Hotel. That is my home away from home. If I don’t answer my phone and you want to find me, I’m there.

A+A: Where are your favorite areas or walls to find new street art?

I: Downtown, on Mateo and 7th. They’re called the LA Freewalls. They are constantly changing. That’s how I actually got into street art because, being in the fashion industry, I was always downtown. Everyday I would drive by, and what I was looking at in the beginning was Shepard Fairey’s Andre the Giant. I remember thinking, “What is this thing? Is it an ad?” Then, a couple years later, I started seeing Brainwash’s face, holding a camera, appearing on the walls. I actually knew him from the clothing industry, because I’m French-Moroccan and he is too. From that moment on, I started to become curious about what this street art movement was. Two years before the show I hosted downtown, I was seeing the Alec Jack Nicholsons pop up in LA. I looked Alec up and sent him and email asking to buy one of his Jack Nicholsons. I never got a response. Two years later, we’re doing the event, he’s there doing live painting, and he comes up to me and asked if I had sent him an email a while back asking to buy his work. I said yes, and he says, “give me a second”. He goes to his car, comes back and says, “this was Seth Rogen’s but you can have it, I’ll just make him another one.”

  A+A: Um... that is a rad story! Have you ever made any art yourself?

I: Yes, but I don’t show it. I am an artist, which is why I am attracted to all of this, but no, I don’t show my work.

  A+A: Where do you picture yourself on your 85th birthday?

I: Hopefully in the south of France with my kids and my grandchildren all around me.

A+A: If you could live in any era, when would it be and where?

I: 50s and 60s, the Mad Men era, in LA or New York. Everything was impeccable during that time.

  A+A: What are your future hopes for the company and the growth of Lab Art?

I: Hopefully opening more Lab Arts around the world and exposing the world to LA street art. We’re actually hosting an exchange in April 2014 with Graphic Gallery in London, during Brit Week here. Lab Art will invade London at Graphic and we’ll send them 5 of our LA artists, and Graphic will invade LA at Lab Art and they will send us 5 of their London based artists.

  A+A: Sounds great. We’ll definitely be there! The more spreading of street art around the world the better! It makes our cities so much more beautiful and colorful to exist in.

I: It brings happiness! That’s why it makes me so upset that they keep buffing everything off the street walls!

  A+A: Us too! But hopefully, thanks to people like you, these artists and these murals will start to be recognized as true works of art, just with a different sort of canvas. Any upcoming events?

I: Skyler Grey on September 19th, 2013!