Microgreens at La Loma Projects

It’s summer, and the group show abounds across the city. A new group exhibition at La Loma takes the well-trodden theme of landscape to new, playful realms. Notably, the five artists utilize nature in their work, but render their flora and fauna in smaller scales — the exhibition is cheekily titled Microgreens. JP Munro’s pint-sized paintings draw you in with their thickly painted surfaces. In them, loosely-rendered plants and figures can barely be seen amongst the darkly-painted hues and thick impasto lending to a subtly spooky air. Emily Marchand’s contributions sway toward a more lighthearted direction: her colorful, ceramic cribbage game includes a peg board that winds through various art history touch points, like Monet’s garden, until finally reaching the winning peg which resides on a beach towel beside a champagne glass (presumably for the winner to lounge poolside in her victory). Sarah Ippolito’s pedestal-raised ceramic sculptures take their influence from various natural forms, mimicking repetitive patterns and forms found in nature, and translating them into almost architectural structures, like sci-fi monoliths. Together, the artists remind us to spend some time appreciating nature’s offerings this summer and to remember that small things can have a big impact.

To receive the full weekly coverage from Lindsay Preston Zappas, subscribe to our Art Insider Newsletter at kcrw.com/newsletters.

Photo: JP Munro, Battle of Israelites and Amalekite ( 2023). Oil on linen on board, 4 x 6 inches. Image courtesy of the artist and La Loma Projects.