The opening of the LA Art Show Wednesday night attracted thousands of art lovers, collectors and celebrities who came to meet artists and view artworks from around the globe. Visitors of should expect an endless stimulation of artistic imagination and creations that will reward the trip to downtown’s Los Angeles Convention Center where the show its staged in the West Hall.

There are more than 120 galleries participating in the show that include for the first time the Japanese Pavilion, the European Pavilion and 14 galleries from Korea, the largest contingent of Korean galleries ever. Producer and director of the LA Art Show Kassandra Voyagis admits that she is “blown away by the scope of the work represented at this year’s show and incredibly honored to help bring it all together.”

Painter Aida Murad, photo by Vasilis Papoutsis

With a plethora of amazing artworks, it is very difficult to highlight just a few of them but here are few worth checking out. Aida Murad, participating with MRG Fine Art Gallery, is an inspirational artist whose story is one of resiliency and courage. Suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis that left her semi-paralyzed for over four years turned to art to help her heal. Left with permanent damage to her hands she could not hold paintbrushes, so she began painting with her fingers. Presently she can use her right hand but continues to paint with her fingers as a “symbolism to anyone who is struggling, to remember they can still create beautiful art even when they are confined.” Today she is an acclaimed artist chosen in 2022 to be the Georgetown University Artist in Residence, created healing art for the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center and has been featured in 28 exhibitions. Her two paintings in the show are KNOWING IN THE UNKNOWN about learning to love the unknown and BEING is a reminder of the importance of dealing with our complex emotions joyful or sorrowful.

Rock legend Robby Krieger, photo by Vasilis Papoutsis

Song-Word Art House’s exhibit is based on the song “LA Woman” by The Doors. Legendary guitarist Robby Krieger has created an original artwork inspired by the mysterious words “MR MOJO RISIN” an anagram to the name “Jim Morrison.” This is the first time that Robby Krieger is selling his original artwork—there were not prints made of this creation. Krieger who attended the opening is a polite and humble man who said that “performing with Jim Morrison was a delight. When he was sober he was the nicest guy but when he started drinking his behavior was intolerable. It was a love-hate relationship.” That would explain the snakes coming out of Jim’s head, symbolizing the demons that Morrison carried his entire life until his tragic death.

Photographer Alfredo De Stefano, photo by Vasilis Papoutsis

In continuing to raise awareness of climate change for the second year in a row, “DIVERSEartLA” curated by Marisa Caichiolo, presents a video and sound installation The Pulse of Silence. It was created by Alfredo De Stefano, one of Mexico’s best conceptual photographers who is also known as the “poet of the desert.” His installation comprises desert images from around the world and De Stefano says that “life and death interweave in the desert.” Considering how close Los Angeles is to the desert, the prolong water shortages and the shrinking Colorado River, this installation attempts to alert us of the urgent need to re-imagine our interactions with nature. Also worth mentioning is Devon’s exhibit that is merging painting with photography of world-famous movie stars, musicians and artists along with collages from the pages of modern magazines and books.

Lastly, Ramona Otto’s Holy Cow, a homage to peaceful coexistence that combines religious artifacts and iconic peace symbols is worth seeing. The art show will go on until the weekend and you can find more details at their web site, www.laartshow.com