MISSION
LA Artcore is a non-profit art space dedicated to the creative exploration, discovery, and expression of Los Angeles and global residents while supporting the careers of established and emerging contemporary artists.
Artcore reflects Los Angeles' global perspectives by engaging contemporary artists as the visual and performing conduits of and for the residents and communities in which they live, work, and serve. Since 1979, LA Artcore has mounted twenty-four exhibits in the two gallery spaces and supporting programs.
LA Artcore is committed to cultivating an environment that values the voices of artists, curators, staff, volunteers, visitors, and its surrounding community/ecology. The gallery embraces the diversity of all identities, including race, gender, sexuality, socio-economic background, and ability; it also proudly champions equity through inclusion and accessibility. Artcore’s endeavor toward programming a space that reflects its values remains continuous and expansive – as shown by its efforts in shifting the curatorial and programmatic current through collaboration and radical learning.
This gallery space acknowledges that it operates on the native land of the Tongva tribe. The organization honors the prominent connections of the Tongva people to this land. It recognizes the horrific abolishment caused by local and national governments – including but not limited to colonization, forced removal, and erasure. LA Artcore additionally recognizes its operation within Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo Historic District, acknowledging the precarious history of the historic Little Tokyo community. This gallery aims to conserve its elaborate history through mutually shared community support. Artcore is devoted to respecting the Tongva and Little Tokyo peoples and their ongoing contributions to the cultural fabric of Los Angeles. This organization strives to listen, learn, and amplify local and Indigenous voices and narratives in our programming, exhibitions, and community outreach.
LA Artcore is committed to ensuring accessibility for all. The gallery provides wheelchair accessibility and designated parking spaces, and service animals are welcome. The website aims to follow WCAG guidelines. Feedback is highly valued in improving LA Artcore and its dedication to providing an inclusive environment.
LA Artcore welcomes feedback to help meet our goals. To reach us, please contact us at info@laartcore.org.
TEAM
Pranay Reddy - Executive Director
Dominique Go - Systems Administrator
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Joyce Kohl - President
Joyce Kohl was a professor of fine art at Cal State Bakersfield beginning in 1997 and is now Emeritus. Kohl received her master’s in fine art at Cal-State University Fullerton. Grants and fellowships include a Fulbright African Regional Research Grant in Zimbabwe, and a John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Fellowship in 1986. Kohl has exhibited her art nationally and internationally. Her public art has included a sculpture for a Park n ’Ride in Washington State and a bronze sculpture for Equitable City Center on Wilshire in Los Angeles. She is currently working on the artwork for the Claremont Metro Station. Kohl has served as an LA Artcore board member for over 12 years.
Nicholette Kominos - Vice President
Nicholette Kominos is a sculptor who has regularly exhibited in galleries and alternative spaces nationally and internationally. Nicholette has worked in varied capacities within the nonprofit arts sector, including roles as a museum educator and curatorial assistant at the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery from 1987 to 2005, and as an artist-educator with Friends of the Junior Art Center's Artists In Residence program from 1995 to 2005. She has run the office of her partner’s foundry and art fabrication business, coordinating with teams of artists using classical and contemporary casting techniques to complete artists’ sculptures and custom fabrication projects. Kominos studied at the University of Illinois, Chicago, and Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, earning degrees in Psychology and Studio Art. She received a post-graduate degree in Classical Greek from Trinity Saint David College, University of Wales, Lampeter, U.K.
Alicia Doddy – Secretary
Alicia Doddy is an arts educator in the Downey Unified School District and has a cumulative service on Artcore’s board of over 14 years. Since rejoining in 2020, Doddy has led the special events fundraising committee and led the cataloging of Artcore’s Founder, Lydia Takeshita’s estate, donated to Artcore by the Takeshita family. Doddy has taught at an elementary level for the Downey Unified School District for over 20 years.
Krishna Malhotra
Krishna Malhotra has over forty years of experience as a practicing lawyer. Malhotra received his Master's in Law (LL.M) at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law. He is currently on the board of the Inglewood Photo Festival and is a published photographer, including Interpublique Photography Magazine and LensWork Magazine, and exhibits at Diana Berger Gallery and the Walt Girdner Gallery.
Young Ku Park
Young Ku Park is an artist and arts educator based in Santa Ana. Park is a graduate of Seoul National University and works with the Korean and Korean-American community as an arts mentor. Park leads Artcore’s organizing committee for special events.
SUPPORT
Kaman Foundation, Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts, California Arts Council, LA County Arts Commission, Department of Cultural Affairs, Los Angeles Visual Arts Coalition (LAVA), Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, Los Angeles County Creative Recovery LA Initiative, Jim Cox Jr. Foundation
HISTORY
LA Artcore evolved out of students' social and artistic interactions at Cal State LA’s fine arts department under the tutelage of Founding Director Lydia Takeshita during the 1960s and 1970s. Regular gatherings were held at Central Park in Pasadena to further engage in critiques and discussion outside of class. This became the "core" of LA Artcore and manifested into a student-run space at Cal State University. This activity coincided with Downtown L.A.’s fine arts renaissance of the late 80s and early 90s in what is now the Arts District, where LA Artcore relocated to San Mateo Street and was incorporated as a 501-c 3 nonprofit corporation in 1981. LA Artcore produced numerous exhibits along with its in-house publication, Visions Art Quarterly, which covered local and regional artists and exhibits until 1991.
At the same time, LA Artcore established its International Exchange Program and enjoyed partnerships with artists, Kamol Tassananchalee, Yoshio Ikezaki, and Nobu Kano. This collaborative exchange that has been on covid-related pause, allows artists to travel and exhibit in a foreign hosting country. LA Artcore has conducted exchange programs with Thailand, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Italy, San Luis Obispo, and Albuquerque.
In addition to its Downtown space, LA Artcore opened its second space in 1998 at the Brewery Arts Colony, the country’s largest artist's live-work complex.
In 1993, with help from the City of L.A., the Little Tokyo Service Center administered the redevelopment of a church building at 120 Judge John Aiso St. into a multi-use arts complex where LA Artcore, East West Players, and Visual Communications currently reside.
With over 1600 exhibits in its exhibition history, LA Artcore maintains a schedule of at least twelve exhibits per year across its two spaces and conducts related artist receptions, group tours, and workshops.
With the passing of its Founder and Director, Lydia Takeshita, at 92 in 2019, Artcore's board of directors reconstituted the organization. It tasked its leadership to the current Executive Director, Pranay Reddy, who had grown within the organization since 2006. Reddy has since recalibrated the organization with a progressive arts vision that combines boundary-breaking artistic expression with community arts, youth arts programming, and adult arts education.
