Arcana Book Signing with Ave Pildas
2026-07-25 16:00 - 18:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Arcana: Books on the Arts, 8675 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA, 90232
Please join Arcana: Books on the Arts on Saturday, July 25 between 4:00 and 6:00 PM as they host a book signing with iconic Los Angeles photographer Ave Pildas to celebrate the arrival of the first title from the Pildas / Green Foundation, Africatown – Sunday Market: Leimert Park, Los Angeles. Arcana has known Ave and his work for decades, and are excited to share his latest essay on the vibrant neighborhood of Leimert Park.
“More than just a collection of photographs, Africatown serves as both a tribute and a resource, documenting a community while also supporting the people who make it up. Many of the vendors featured have used the images to promote their businesses, reinforcing the project‘s collaborative spirit.”
If you cannot attend and would like to purchase a signed copy of Africatown, please place your order below.
Born and raised in Cincinnati, Ave Pildas worked early in his career as a photo stringer for Downbeat magazine in the 1960s, and has been a successful photographer and educator for the past forty years. In 1971 Pildas became the Art Director at Capitol Records in Hollywood, designing and photographing album covers for the label.
Soon after he launched a career as a freelance photographer and designer specializing in architectural and corporate photography. His photographs have been exhibited in one-man shows at the Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati; Photographers Gallery, London; Janus Gallery, Los Angeles; Gallerie Diaframma, Milan; Cannon Gallery, Amsterdam; Gallerie 38, Zurich; and numerous group shows. Photographs by Ave Pildas are included in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, New York, Bibliotheca National, Paris, University of Arizona as well as numerous other public and private collections. He is a Professor Emeritus at Otis College of Design.

PURCHASE A COPY OF THE BOOK

dear artists...Los Angeles: Open Gallery Hours
2026-07-25 11:00 - 17:00, 2026-07-18 11:00 - 17:00, 2026-07-11 11:00 - 17:00 | Helms Design Center, 8745 Washington Boulevard, Culver City, CA, 90232
Band of Vices and Helms Design District are proud to present dear artists… Los Angeles – Streets, Structures & Stories, a collaborative exhibition bringing together 100+ artists to explore the layered narratives that shape Los Angeles.
From iconic architecture and neighborhood landmarks to personal histories, cultural traditions, and everyday moments, the exhibition examines how the city is experienced, remembered, and imagined. Through painting, photography, mixed media, sculptural works and other mediums, participating artists offer a collective portrait of Los Angeles—one built not only by its structures, but by the people and stories that animate them.
Presented across town in two exhibition spaces, Band of Vices (located in the Historic Downtown Los Angeles Arts District) and the Helms Design Center (on the campus of Culver City’s historic Helms Bakery campus), the exhibition creates a dialogue between art, architecture, design, and community. Together, Helms and Band of Vices invite visitors to consider how creative expression shapes our understanding of place and how the stories we tell become part of a city’s evolving identity. The exhibition opens in both spaces the same weekend, but on different days with completely different works in each location:

Open Gallery Hours
Helms Design Center
8745 Washington Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232
Saturdays: 11:00 am to 5:00 pm
Fridays: By appointment only; please email HELLO@BandofVices.com to schedule a time.
The exhibition continues on view through August 15, 2026.
Artwork at top: Kaye Freeman, CORNER OF 12TH AND MAPLE

Valerie Diaz, LIMINAL BEAUTY

Connie Kurtew, STOP

Luis Lopez Vasquez, METRO COMMUTE

ABOUT dear artists…
dear artists… is an ongoing exhibition initiative created to foster connection, participation, and creative dialogue through large-scale thematic exhibitions. Open to artists of varying backgrounds, disciplines, and experience levels, the program serves as an invitation to respond to shared ideas while contributing to a larger collective narrative. Each exhibition celebrates the power of many voices coming together to tell a richer story than any single perspective could achieve. dear artists… Los Angeles — Streets, Structures & Stories marks the third installment in Band of Vices’ ever-evolving exhibition series. Conceived as both a response to the current art market and a reimagining of how exhibition spaces can invite participation, the series creates a new point of access for emerging collectors while continuing to engage seasoned collectors with limited “wall estate” for new works. Much like its first two installments, A Figurative Story and Be Still – a still life experience, all participating artists have created works specifically in a 12” x 12” x 1.5” format, with prices ranging from $500 to $2,500. The result is an intentionally accessible, collectible, and deeply considered exhibition model that centers artists, expands opportunity, and invites a broader community into the act of collecting.

ABOUT BAND OF VICES
Established in 2015, Band of Vices is an internationally recognized art and culture platform dedicated to championing emerging and mid-career artists while creating space for voices that have historically been overlooked. Through exhibitions, strategic partnerships, publishing, and community-focused programming, Band of Vices advances conversations around culture, identity, and contemporary life. Founded by Terrell Tilford, the gallery has built a reputation for presenting work that is fearless, thought-provoking, and deeply connected to the communities it serves.

ABOUT HELMS DESIGN DISTRICT
Helms is a gathering place for creativity in Los Angeles. What began as the historic Helms Bakery has evolved into a destination where design, architecture, culture, dining, and community converge. Through exhibitions, lectures, installations, and public programming, Helms creates opportunities for people to engage with ideas, discover new perspectives, and experience the ways design influences everyday life.

Book Signing with Christopher Anderson
2026-07-18 16:00 - 18:00 | Arcana: Books on the Arts, 8675 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA, 90232
Please join Arcana: Books on the Arts on Saturday, July 18 between 4:00 and 6:00 PM as they host a book signing with Christopher Anderson to celebrate the release of INDEX.
A life isn’t a straight line, it doesn’t conform to an easy narrative. Christopher Anderson’s career has spanned conflict zones, presidential campaigns, near-death experiences, and moments of quiet domestic tenderness, all captured with a rare poetic sensibility. His new Stanley / Barker publication INDEX gathers nine from across his career, each presented as an individual volume.
From his early images in Afghanistan, where he was already working as a journalist on 9/11 and continued to document events through the span of the second Gulf War, to Haiti, where he boarded a wooden boat with hopeful migrants bound for America until it began to sink, a story that earned him the Robert Capa Gold Medal. From volumes that chart the places he has called home, such as France and New York, to places that have left their mark on him, like China. From books that record tender moments with his family on holiday to immersive accounts of conflict in some of the world’s most troubled corners, even his fascination with cars finds its place here. Gathered as nine volumes housed in a slipcase by the acclaimed designer Brian Roettinger, INDEX is a breathtaking way to experience the defining events and fleeting intimacies that shaped the first decades of the millennium.
“I suppose, from the outside, it looks as if I stopped being one kind of photographer to become another. To me, the same photographer who boarded a boat with Haitians trying to sail to America showed up to photograph Trump’s inner circle in the West Wing… continual points on a spectrum, colors bleeding together in the rainbow. The previous works inform and shape the photographs that follow.” – Christopher Anderson
A limited quantity of INDEX will be available for sale only at Saturday’s event starting at 4:00 PM – first come, first served, one per person. We’re sorry, but due to the fact this is now sold out with the publisher in the US, we are unable to offer advance sales. If you cannot attend and would like to purchase a signed copy, please send us an email request below to be placed on a waiting list. Should there be any remaining following the event, we will fulfill requests in the order in which they have been received. Thanks for understanding.

EMAIL US TO BE ON THE WAITLIST

A Summer Saturday Well Spent.
2026-07-18 11:00 - 16:00 | Helms Walk, 3270 Helms Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, 90034
There are plenty of ways to spend a Saturday. This one comes with sunshine, great company, and something new around every corner.
Join us for another Sunshine Makers Market at Helms, where local artists, independent makers, and creative small businesses come together for a day of discovery. Browse a thoughtfully selected collection of handcrafted goods, art, home décor, jewelry, apparel, specialty foods, and other unique finds while getting to know the people behind the work.
No two Sunshine markets are ever quite the same. Each gathering brings a fresh mix of vendors, new conversations, and plenty of opportunities to stumble upon something unexpected. Throughout the day, enjoy a live soundtrack from DJ Benofficial, whose eclectic mix of feel-good beats keeps the energy flowing from your first stroll through the market to your last stop of the afternoon.
As you explore the market, take time to enjoy everything that makes Helms a destination—from inspiring showrooms and gallery exhibitions to great places to grab lunch or an afternoon treat. Bring the family, meet friends, linger a little longer, and settle into the easy rhythm of a summer day with us.

LET US KNOW YOU’RE COMING!

A partial list of participating artisans and activations:
The Sunny Studi0
Spalted Figure
Canyon Crystals
Bindaas Arts
Purposely Repurposed Jewelry
La Taza Co

dear artists...Los Angeles Opening Reception
2026-06-28 14:00 - 17:00 | Helms Design Center, 8745 Washington Boulevard, Culver City, CA, 90232
Band of Vices and Helms Design District are proud to present dear artists… Los Angeles – Streets, Structures & Stories, a collaborative exhibition bringing together 100+ artists to explore the layered narratives that shape Los Angeles.
From iconic architecture and neighborhood landmarks to personal histories, cultural traditions, and everyday moments, the exhibition examines how the city is experienced, remembered, and imagined. Through painting, photography, mixed media, sculptural works and other mediums, participating artists offer a collective portrait of Los Angeles—one built not only by its structures, but by the people and stories that animate them.
Presented across town in two exhibition spaces, Band of Vices (located in the Historic Downtown Los Angeles Arts District) and the Helms Design Center (on the campus of Culver City’s historic Helms Bakery campus), the exhibition creates a dialogue between art, architecture, design, and community. Together, Helms and Band of Vices invite visitors to consider how creative expression shapes our understanding of place and how the stories we tell become part of a city’s evolving identity. The exhibition opens in both spaces the same weekend, but on different days with completely different works in each location:

Opening and Artists Reception
Band of Vices – DTLA
1700 S. Santa Fe Avenue, Suite 371
Los Angeles, CA 90021
Saturday, June 27 2026, 2pm – 5pm
Opening and Artists Reception
Helms Design Center
8745 Washington Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232
Sunday, June 28, 2026, 2pm – 5pm
The exhibition continues on view at both locations through July 25, 2026. Hours to be posted soon.
Artwork at top: Kaye Freeman, CORNER OF 12TH AND MAPLE

Valerie Diaz, LIMINAL BEAUTY

Connie Kurtew, STOP

Luis Lopez Vasquez, METRO COMMUTE

ABOUT dear artists…
dear artists… is an ongoing exhibition initiative created to foster connection, participation, and creative dialogue through large-scale thematic exhibitions. Open to artists of varying backgrounds, disciplines, and experience levels, the program serves as an invitation to respond to shared ideas while contributing to a larger collective narrative. Each exhibition celebrates the power of many voices coming together to tell a richer story than any single perspective could achieve. dear artists… Los Angeles — Streets, Structures & Stories marks the third installment in Band of Vices’ ever-evolving exhibition series. Conceived as both a response to the current art market and a reimagining of how exhibition spaces can invite participation, the series creates a new point of access for emerging collectors while continuing to engage seasoned collectors with limited “wall estate” for new works. Much like its first two installments, A Figurative Story and Be Still – a still life experience, all participating artists have created works specifically in a 12” x 12” x 1.5” format, with prices ranging from $500 to $2,500. The result is an intentionally accessible, collectible, and deeply considered exhibition model that centers artists, expands opportunity, and invites a broader community into the act of collecting.

ABOUT BAND OF VICES
Established in 2015, Band of Vices is an internationally recognized art and culture platform dedicated to championing emerging and mid-career artists while creating space for voices that have historically been overlooked. Through exhibitions, strategic partnerships, publishing, and community-focused programming, Band of Vices advances conversations around culture, identity, and contemporary life. Founded by Terrell Tilford, the gallery has built a reputation for presenting work that is fearless, thought-provoking, and deeply connected to the communities it serves.

ABOUT HELMS DESIGN DISTRICT
Helms is a gathering place for creativity in Los Angeles. What began as the historic Helms Bakery has evolved into a destination where design, architecture, culture, dining, and community converge. Through exhibitions, lectures, installations, and public programming, Helms creates opportunities for people to engage with ideas, discover new perspectives, and experience the ways design influences everyday life.

Sunshine Makers Market Returns to Helms
2026-06-20 11:00 - 16:00 | Helms Walk, 3270 Helms Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, 90034
Clear your afternoon.
Sunshine Makers Market returns to Helms Design District with local makers, artists, creative workshops, kids activities, music, food, and plenty of reasons to stay longer than planned.
Think of it as your favorite neighborhood market, celebrating independent brands, handcrafted goods, creative talent, and the kind of shopping experience that feels personal and fun, stretched across one of the Westside’s most iconic design destinations. Between shopping and exploring, strike a pose at our Pride Photo Booth—because every great Saturday deserves photographic evidence.
Good finds. Good people. Good way to spend a Saturday.

LET US KNOW YOU’RE COMING!

A partial list of participating artisans and activations:
The Sunny Studio
Sulai Ceramics
Canyon Crystals
Candle By Design
Mack and Myyles Jewelry
Off Center Studio
Ingridients
Unfinished Stories
Chroma
Flour’d

Living Art: An Integrated Art Exhibition
2026-06-20 11:00 - 15:00 | Helms Design Center, 8745 Washington Boulevard, Culver City, CA, 90232
Living Art, an inclusive exhibition presented by Helms Design District, L.A. GOAL and Inside Out Productions (IOP), celebrates creativity, imagination, and the power of artistic expression.
Bringing together artists of all abilities and backgrounds, Living Art showcases a vibrant collection of work inspired by the voices and visions of L.A. GOAL’s artists. From whimsical scenes and imaginative landscapes to bold textures, unexpected perspectives, and expressive forms, the exhibition reflects a world where creativity knows no boundaries.
More than an art exhibition, Living Art is an invitation to connect. Through painting, mixed media, and other creative practices, participating artists share unique stories and experiences while demonstrating how art can build understanding, spark conversation, and bring communities together.
Join us for the Closing Reception on Saturday, June 20, and experience an inspiring exhibition of imagination, inclusion, and the many ways art helps us see the world—and one another—more fully.
Closing Reception
Saturday, June 20, 2026
12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
The exhibition will be open to the public during the opening and closing receptions. Between June 15–18, it will be available for viewing by appointment from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. The gallery will be closed on June 19 in observance of Juneteenth. If you are interested in scheduling a visit, please contact Apinya at apinya@insideoutproductions.com.

Arcana x Burntsienna Artbook Review
2026-06-20 11:00 - 13:00 | Arcana: Books on the Arts, 8675 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA, 90232
Calling all artbook collectors, design enthusiasts, and lovers of the beautiful game.
Join Arcana: Books on the Arts for a special gathering with Jason E.C. Wright exploring the intersection of global soccer culture, design, fashion, and publishing. Centered around the theme Fútbol: Design & Fashion, this intimate event invites guests to share books from their personal collections, discover new references, and engage in thoughtful conversation with fellow creatives.
The program begins with a moderated review of two selections from the Burntsienna Research Library led by Jason, followed by a participant-led discussion in which guests are invited to share up to two artbooks, design books, or periodicals that have informed or inspired their practice.
Afterward, the tables are opened for browsing, reading, note-taking, photography, and conversation, creating space for meaningful exchange across disciplines and perspectives.
Whether your interests are in graphic design, architecture, photography, fashion, publishing, or sport, Burntsienna Artbook Review offers a unique opportunity to connect through books and ideas.
Space is limited to 18 participants. RSVP is required.
Guests are encouraged to bring up to two books, artbooks, or periodicals from their personal collections to share with the group.

RSVP REQUIRED

Living Art: An Integrated Art Exhibition
2026-06-13 11:00 - 16:00 | Helms Design Center, 8745 Washington Boulevard, Culver City, CA, 90232
Helms Design District is proud to welcome Living Art, an inclusive exhibition presented by L.A. GOAL and Inside Out Productions (IOP), celebrating creativity, imagination, and the power of artistic expression.
Bringing together artists of all abilities and backgrounds, Living Art showcases a vibrant collection of work inspired by the voices and visions of L.A. GOAL’s artists. From whimsical scenes and imaginative landscapes to bold textures, unexpected perspectives, and expressive forms, the exhibition reflects a world where creativity knows no boundaries.
More than an art exhibition, Living Art is an invitation to connect. Through painting, mixed media, and other creative practices, participating artists share unique stories and experiences while demonstrating how art can build understanding, spark conversation, and bring communities together.
At Helms, we believe creativity thrives when diverse perspectives are welcomed and celebrated. We are honored to partner with L.A. GOAL and Inside Out Productions to provide a platform for these talented artists and the meaningful work they create.
Join us for the Opening Reception on Saturday, June 13, and experience an inspiring exhibition that celebrates imagination, inclusion, and the many ways art helps us see the world—and one another—more fully.
Opening Reception
Saturday, June 13, 2026
11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Closing Reception
Saturday, June 20, 2026
12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
The exhibition will be open to the public during the opening and closing receptions. Between June 15–18, it will be available for viewing by appointment from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. The gallery will be closed on June 19 in observance of Juneteenth. If you are interested in scheduling a visit, please contact Apinya at apinya@insideoutproductions.com.

LET US KNOW YOU'RE COMING

An Evening with Michael Murphy and Lily Kwong
2026-06-02 17:30 - 19:30 | Helms Design Center, 8745 Washington Boulevard, Culver City, CA, 90232
Please join us for a talk and book signing with Michael Murphy and Lily Kwong on June 2 at 5:30 pm to celebrate the launch of Our World In Ten Buildings: How Architecture Defines Who We Are and How We Live.
We’ve been led to believe that purposefully designed spaces are something reserved only for those that can afford them. But in reality, all the spaces we inhabit—to work, to learn, to heal, and to live—have been planned and built to influence our lives. They sway our emotions, nudge our behaviors, protect us from disease, and do more, or less, to support shared prosperity and our sense of the common good. Our World in Ten Buildings unpacks this hidden but ever more important element of our lived experience. As author and architectural designer Michael Murphy takes us through ten milestone projects in his career as he lays bare the physical, political, and intellectual labor at work shaping the world we live in.
The evening will include a conversation with author Michael Murphy and landscape artist Lily Kwong. Light refreshments. Books will be available for purchase from Arcana: Books on the Arts.

RSVP TO RESERVE YOUR SEAT!

ABOUT MICHAEL
Michael P. Murphy is an architect, educator, and writer, and is the founder and president of AMMA, a design and development collaborative focused on the ways in which space shapes our minds, bodies, and communities. His new practice rethinks the role of the architect and value of design by acting as systems artists for governments, institutions, non-profits, and developers who believe spatial change is possible and urgent. In 2007, he founded the architectural non-profit firm, MASS Design Group, and was CEO until 2022, leading the design of projects including the Butaro District Hospital, The National Memorial for Peace and Justice, and The Embrace, to name a few. Michael’s previous book, “The Architecture of Health”, traces the history of medical design and its attempt to align architecture with health outcomes. His new book, “Our World in Ten Buildings” explores how buildings shape our lives and hold our stories. Together, these books extend Murphy’s work beyond practice, offering a compelling case for design as a force in shaping a more just and humane world. He is currently the Thomas Ventulett Distinguished Chair of Architectural Design at The Georgia Institute of Technology. Originally from Poughkeepsie, New York, he lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two children.
ABOUT LILY
Lily Kwong is a multidisciplinary artist whose work explores plant life as both an artistic medium and a platform for community building and collective care. Informed by her background in urban studies, horticulture and sustainable design, Kwong’s practice seeks to reestablish a social awareness of the landscape as both a repository of ancestral knowledge and wellspring of future innovation — a complex language as much as a habitat for human civilization. EARTHSEED DOME marks Kwong’s first installation in the Bay Area and her most ambitious work to date. Installed in Transamerica Redwood Park, it extends her practice into new material and technological territory. Other recent projects include Gardens of Renewal, Madison Square Park, New York, NY (2025); Solis, Night Gallery, Los Angles, CA (2024); Subterrestrial, Night Gallery, Los Angeles, CA (2024); The Orchid Show: Natural Heritage, New York Botanical Garden, New York, NY (2023) and the Summer Solstice botanical art installation for St.Germain, The High Line, New York, NY (2017). Gardens of Renewal and Natural Heritage each broke attendance records at their respective institutions.

Fresh Perks: June Instagram Giveaway
2026-06-01 17:00 - 2026-06-30 17:00 | Online, CA
June Fresh Perks: Enter to Win a Taavi Bar Cart from Scandinavian Designs

Summer has a way of bringing people together. Whether it’s an impromptu gathering on the patio, a leisurely brunch with friends, or a quiet evening spent outdoors, the right piece can make hosting feel effortless.
This month, we’ve partnered with our friends at Scandinavian Designs to give away a Taavi Bar Cart, a beautifully crafted piece inspired by clean mid-century lines and contemporary functionality. Featuring two walnut trays, warm wood details, and locking casters, the Taavi is designed to move easily wherever the occasion takes you.
Of course, a bar cart doesn’t have to hold cocktails. Use it as a coffee station, a plant display, a mobile serving cart, or a stylish catch-all for your favorite books and objects. Versatile, timeless, and thoughtfully designed, it’s the kind of piece that adapts to the way you live.
Giveaway Dates
June 1 at 9:00 am — June 30 at 5:00 pm
One winner will be contacted after the giveaway closes.
How to Enter
• Follow us on Instagram
• Tag two friends in the comments
• Optional: How would you use the Taavi Bar Cart in your home?
Newsletter subscribers receive an automatic second entry and early notice when the next Fresh Perk arrives.

ENTER ON INSTAGRAM

Rules & Regs
No purchase is required to enter.
Winners will be selected randomly, contacted after each giveaway closes, and announced in our comments on Instagram.
Open to US residents only, 18 years and older. By entering, entrants confirm they are at least 18+ years of age.
This is a “GIVEAWAY” and is not eligible for return, refund, or exchange at any of our showrooms or restaurants.
The “Fresh Perks” giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with Instagram. Entrants release Instagram and all brands of all responsibility and agree to Instagram’s terms of use.
One entry per Instagram user. Duplicate entries will not be considered.
This giveaway is open to residents of Los Angeles County.

Book Signing with Bruce W. Talamon
2026-05-30 16:00 - 18:00 | Arcana: Books on the Arts, 8675 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA, 90232
Please join Arcana: Books on the Arts on Saturday, May 30th between 4:00 and 6:00 PM as they host a book signing with Bruce W. Talamon to celebrate the arrival of the hot-off-the-press, compact edition of his iconic survey of black popular music from the 70s and 80s, Soul R&B Funk.
“Get down with Marvin Gaye, Earth, Wind & Fire, Stevie Wonder, Al Green, The Jackson 5, Diana Ross, James Brown, Chaka Khan and many more music legends in this collection of largely unseen images from the golden age of soul, R&B, and funk. This volume gathers the glamour and groove captured by Los Angeles based photographer Bruce W. Talamon.”
Arcana has known Bruce for more than fifty years, and are super-excited to share this latest iteration of his classic book with you! If you cannot attend and would like to purchase a signed copy, please place your order below.

PURCHASE A COPY OF THE BOOK

Book Signing with Andrew MacPherson
2026-05-23 16:00 - 18:00 | Arcana: Books on the Arts, 8675 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA, 90232
Please join Arcana: Books on the Arts on Saturday, May 23rd between 4:00 and 6:00 PM as they host a book signing with Andrew MacPherson to celebrate his exquisite new volume of floral images from the West, Synchronicity. Come and meet the iconic fashion and celebrity photographer and snap up a perfect gift for Mother’s Day. If you cannot attend and would like to purchase a signed copy, please place your order here.

Over the last thirty years living in Los Angeles, noted fashion and celebrity photographer Andrew MacPherson marveled at the flora and fauna that thrive and survive in our harsh, often drought-stricken climate.
“However, it wasn’t until embarking on this project in earnest that I really began to appreciate them. What began as a daily diary of the flowers seen on hikes soon morphed into a celebration of the beauty of all the flowers I’d see on my travels across the Southwest. As I discovered more and more flora and fauna, the idea germinated that these pictures should become a book to share their fabulous fleeting beauty. Arranged loosely by color, these pages are bookended by purple flowers as it’s the predominant color of the flora across the Southwest. This book was never meant to be a complete catalog of cultivars, it is an invitation to walk with me amongst the glorious flowers of the American Southwest. While Los Angeles is famous for its glitz, glamour, and sunshine, its mild Mediterranean climate is also home to a stunning array of both native wildflowers and cultivated imports. Some ephemerals blossom for just a day or two every few years, while others blanket vast swaths of the hills, mountains, and deserts for weeks at a time. Many ornamental cultivars have jumped their garden fences to spread out along the roadsides and hills, some have even penetrated deep into the wilderness. Most pose no threat to the indigenous plants, but several have become destructively invasive. In a city of migrants that was all wild open land not that long ago, their spread seems to mirror our own.” – Andrew MacPherson

Upcoming Arcana Events
Saturday, May 30th, 4:00 – 6:00 pm
Bruce W. Talamon: Soul R&B Funk: Photographs 1972-1982
Book Signing
Continuing Exhibition Thru Friday, May 8th
Eric Doeringer: Books & Co.
Wednesday – Sunday 11:00 am – 6:00 pm

PURCHASE A COPY OF THE BOOK

A reception, lecture, discussion, and book signing with Lydia Kallipoliti
2026-05-14 18:30 - 20:30 | Helms Design Center, 8745 Washington Boulevard, Culver City, CA, 90232
Please join us on Thursday, May 14th, 6:30-8:30 pm, for a special evening with Lydia Kallipoliti.
In collaboration with the Helms Design District and the Cal Poly SLO/LA Metro Program in Architecture and Urban Design
Helms Design Center
8745 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232
Free Parking is available at the corner of Helms Ave. and Venice Blvd.
Lecture is Free and Open to the Public with RSVP

RSVP HERE

Lydia Kallipoliti is an architect, engineer, and scholar whose research focuses on the intersections of architecture, technology and environmental politics. She is the Director of the MS in Advanced Architectural Design and an Associate Professor at Columbia University [GSAPP] in New York.
Kallipoliti is the author of The Architecture of Closed Worlds, Or, What is the Power of Shit (Lars Muller Publishers, 2018), Histories of Ecological Design: An Unfinished Cyclopedia (Actar, 2024) and the editor of EcoRedux, an issue of Architectural Design in 2010. Her work has been awarded, published and exhibited widely including the Venice Biennial, the Istanbul Design Biennial, the Shenzhen Biennial, the Oslo Architecture Trienalle, the Onassis Cultural Center, the Lisbon Triennale, the Royal Academy of British Architects, the Storefront for Art and Architecture in New York and the London Design Museum. She is the principal of ANAcycle research think tank, which has been named a leading innovator in sustainable design in Build’s awards, Design Educates Awards and the Architect’s Newspaper among others. Kallipoliti was Head Co-Curator (with Areti Markopoulou) of the 2022 Tallinn Architecture Biennale with the theme “Edible, Or, The Architecture of Metabolism.” She holds a Diploma in Architecture and Engineering from AUTh in Greece, a Master of Science (SMArchS) from MIT and a PhD from Princeton University.
Follow link for book purchases: Building Metabolism: Recipes for Food and Resource Cycles (Actar, 2026); The Architecture of Closed Worlds, Or, What is the Power of Shit (Lars Muller Publishers, 2018); Histories of Ecological Design: An Unfinished Cyclopedia (Actar, 2024).

Introduced and moderated by Stephen Phillips, FAIA, PhD, of Stephen Phillips Architects (SPARCHS) and professor, director, Cal Poly LA Metro Program in Architecture and Urban Design (California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo).

Photos: Lydia Kallipoliti; Cover Image, Building Metabolism © Actar; Image of the Metabolic House, Histories of Ecological Design © Actar; The Metabolic Home, Photo by Petros Pettakos.

SPONSORED BY

Book Signing with Shaniqwa Jarvis
2026-05-09 16:00 - 18:00 | Arcana: Books on the Arts, 8675 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA, 90232
Please join Arcana: Books on the Arts on Saturday, May 9th, from 4 until 6 pm, to celebrate the launch of Shaniqwa Jarvis’ beautiful new book GUTS.
GUTS (Super Labo, 2026), with an introduction by Essence Harden, is a 120-page offering of Jarvis’ inner world; an unfolding of florals, self-portraits, double exposures, and editorial images that resist a fixed narrative. Instead, they function as reflective pauses, grounded in the act of noticing beauty in unexpected places.
Flowers signal perseverance and the instinct to grow against all odds, while editorial portraits blur into self-portraiture, shaped by Jarvis’ hand and presence. Water, windows, and reflections recur throughout, holding a tension between how we believe we are seen and how we see ourselves.
Made across South Africa, Greece, Korea, New York, Japan, California, and the Pacific Northwest, GUTS is a meditation on reflection, perseverance, and veneration—of nature, emotion, and the quiet moments that shape how we move through the world.
* Books will be available for sale at the event
* Shaniqwa will be on hand to sign books and generally make everyone’s day brighter with her presence.
* If you cannot attend and would like a signed copy of GUTS, please send Arcana an email. Should there be copies remaining after the event, we will fulfill requests in the order in which they have been received.
* Thanks to Las Jaras Wines for their support!

Upcoming Arcana Events
Saturday, May 23rd, 4:00 – 6:00 pm
Andrew MacPherson: Synchronicity
Book Signing
Saturday, May 30th, 4:00 – 6:00 pm
Bruce W. Talamon: Soul R&B Funk: Photographs 1972-1982
Book Signing
Continuing Exhibition Thru Friday, May 8th
Eric Doeringer: Books & Co.
Wednesday – Sunday 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Arcana urges you to visit the
Printed Matter LA Art Book Fair
at Art Center College in Pasadena this week!

After Dark at Helms: Thresholds 2026 with LACP
2026-05-07 - 2026-05-31 | Helms Design Center, 8745 Washington Boulevard, Culver City, CA, 90232
As the district settles into the evening each night this month, Helms becomes the backdrop for Thresholds 2026: Up Close and Personal, a projection exhibition presented in partnership with the Los Angeles Center of Photography.
Projected nightly on the entrance of the Helms Design Center from 8:00 pm to 2:00 am, this year’s exhibition brings together photographers from around the world whose work captures the spontaneity, tension, humor, movement, and humanity of everyday life. Rooted in the tradition of street photography, the exhibition reflects on what it means to truly observe one another at a time when so much of daily life is filtered through screens, algorithms, and curated digital experiences.
What makes this collaboration especially meaningful at Helms is the way the work becomes part of the environment itself. The projections shift the experience of the district after hours, turning the sidewalk along Washington Boulevard into a moment of discovery. Visitors may encounter the work while heading to dinner, walking past showrooms, or simply spending time in the neighborhood after sunset.
This year’s top prize winners, Eric J. Smith, Rick Musto, and Carl Young, each bring a distinct perspective to the exhibition, using photography to document candid moments that feel deeply connected to place, emotion, and the complexity of public life. Their work, alongside a wide range of honorable mentions and participating photographers, creates an exhibition that feels layered, immediate, and deeply human.
At Helms, we’ve always believed cultural experiences should feel accessible and naturally woven into everyday life. Thresholds 2026 reflects that idea beautifully; contemporary photography presented not inside a traditional gallery setting, but out in the open, integrated into the rhythm of the city and the experience of the district itself.
We’re grateful to continue our partnership with the Los Angeles Center of Photography and to provide space for artists, storytelling, and public art to live alongside design, architecture, dining, and community gathering at Helms.
Thresholds 2026: Up Close and Personal will be projected nightly through May 31st.
Top Prize Winners
1st Place: Eric J. Smith
2nd Place: Rick Musto
3rd Place: Carl Young
Honorable Mentions
Eliot Allen, Hanna Armour, Mia Baccala, Melanie Chapman, Jeff Evans, George Feucht, Rohitha Gunetilleke, Richard Hay Jr, Dean Hendler, David Herman, Avery Junius, Nancy Kaye, Poul Lange, Patricia Lemke, Dana Lina, Suz Lipman, Rick Musto, Carl Pfirman, michael rababy, Christopher Reale, Eric M. Renard, Brian Roberts, Bradley Ross, Landon Takano, Greg Tamura, Jack The Wolfman, James Yocuté
Juror
Michaela Norah Mohrmann, is the assistant curator at UC Irvine Langson Orange County Museum of Art
Top photo by Eric J. Smith, First Place Winner. Below: a selection of work from the exhibition.

MORE INFO

Rick Musto - 2nd Place

Carl Young - 3rd Place

Jack The Wolfman

Eric M Renard

Michael Rababy

Nancy Kaye

Patricia Lemke

Greg Tamura

Poul Lange

IKEA Opens at Helms on May 2nd
2026-05-02 11:00 - 16:00 | IKEA, 3225-A Helms Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, 90034, United States
Join us on Saturday, May 2, as we celebrate the grand opening of IKEA Culver City at Helms Design District. This new, thoughtfully scaled store brings IKEA’s approach to everyday living into a walkable, design-forward setting in the heart of Los Angeles.
The day will feature music, pop-up activations, and a lively, open-air atmosphere on our campus. Explore the new store, spend time in the district, and enjoy a day designed around community and connection.
Please note: Helms Avenue will be closed to traffic for the event. Plan ahead and allow extra time for parking and arrival.
See you there!

Fresh Perks: May Instagram Giveaway
2026-05-01 17:00 - 2026-05-31 17:00 | Online, CA
A Warm Welcome (and a Little Fun) from IKEA

The doors are open, the carts are rolling, and the community showed up in a big way. After an incredible grand opening weekend on May 2, we’re celebrating our newest neighbor with this month’s Fresh Perks.
In partnership with IKEA, we’re giving away a $100 gift card plus one of their most beloved icons: the orangutan plushie. Equal parts practical and playful, it’s a pairing that captures what we love most: design that works beautifully and doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Whether you’re planning your first visit or already mapping out your next one, this is your chance to bring a little IKEA home.
Giveaway Dates
May 1 at 9:00 am — May 31 at 5:00 pm
One winner will be contacted after the giveaway ends.
How to Enter
• Follow us on Instagram
• Tag two friends in the comments
• (Optional) What’s the first thing on your IKEA list?
Newsletter subscribers receive an automatic second entry and early notice when the next Fresh Perk arrives.

ENTER ON INSTAGRAM

Rules & Regs
No purchase is required to enter.
Winners will be selected randomly, contacted after each giveaway closes, and announced in our comments on Instagram.
Open to US residents only, 18 years and older. By entering, entrants confirm they are at least 18+ years of age.
This is a “GIVEAWAY” and is not eligible for return, refund, or exchange at any of our showrooms or restaurants.
The “Fresh Perks” giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with Instagram. Entrants release Instagram and all brands of all responsibility and agree to Instagram’s terms of use.
One entry per Instagram user. Duplicate entries will not be considered.
This giveaway is open to residents of Los Angeles County.

CANCELED - A reception, lecture, and discussion with Winka Dubbeldam
2026-04-30 18:30 - 20:30 | Helms Design Center, 8745 Washington Boulevard, Culver City, CA, 90232
Due to unforeseen circumstances, this event has been canceled. We’re grateful for your understanding and look forward to welcoming you to a future gathering soon.

Please join us on Thursday, April 30th, 6:30-8:30 pm, for a special evening with Winka Dubbeldam.
In collaboration with the Helms Design District and the Cal Poly SLO/LA Metro Program in Architecture and Urban Design
Helms Design Center
8745 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232
Free Parking is available at the corner of Helms Ave. and Venice Blvd.
Lecture is Free and Open to the Public with RSVP

RSVP HERE

Winka Dubbeldam is the Director and CEO of SCI-Arc, Los Angeles, following a decade as Professor and Chair of Architecture at the University of Pennsylvania (2013–2023), where she received the Louis I. Kahn Award for Outstanding Leadership and was named one of DesignIntelligence’s 30 Most Admired Educators (2015).
She previously taught at Columbia, Harvard, and Cornell, and currently serves as RIBA External Examiner for the DRL at the Architectural Association (2024–2027), and the Bartlett, UCL (2018–2023). An active voice in global architectural discourse, she frequently serves as juror and chair for major awards including the Prix de Rome, SARA, ULI, and AIA Awards, and has spoken at the UIA World Congress, CTBUH Conference, COP28, and the United Nations Headquarters on architecture’s social and environmental agency. She is Creative Director of the CityX Exhibition at the Venice Architecture Biennale (2021–2025) and serves on the Editorial Board of PLAN Journal.
In 1994, Dubbeldam founded Archi-Tectonics NYC, a research-driven design studio with offices in New York, Los Angeles, and Hangzhou. Together with partner Justin Korhammer, she leads a multinational team working across scales and typologies through a methodology that integrates systems thinking, advanced computational design, and performance-based fabrication; from parametric modeling and 3D printing to full-scale manufacturing and user-experience optimization, bridging historical intelligence with future innovation.
Archi-Tectonics has received numerous international honors, including the SARA Excellence Award, CTBUH Excellence Award in Urban Habitat (2023), Architizer A+ Architecture Innovation Award (2023), and AIA Award (2022). The firm has exhibited at Aedes Berlin, MoMA, MoCA, and multiple Venice Architecture Biennales (2000, 2023, 2025). Its publications include Strange Objects, New Solids, and Massive Things (Actar, 2021), with Monsters & Mutants: Explorations in the Architecture–Nature Continuum forthcoming Spring 2026 (Park Books). Dubbeldam holds memberships with AIA SARA, ULI, and CTBUH, and is WBE Certified.

Follow link for pre-sale purchases: Monsters & Mutants: Explorations in the Architecture–Nature Continuum forthcoming Spring 2026 (Park Books)
Strange Objects, New Solids, and Massive Things (Actar, 2021) will be available at the Helms lecture for purchase and signing.

Introduced and moderated by Stephen Phillips, FAIA, PhD, Principal of Stephen Phillips Architects (SPARCHS) and professor, director, Cal Poly LA Metro Program in Architecture and Urban Design (California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo).

Photos: (Top) Winka Dubbeldam; Hybrid Stadium & Concert Hall Facade. (Bottom) Hybrid Stadium & Concert Hall Facade Sunset View © Archi-Tectonics; Festival City Masterplan Aerial View © Archi-Tectonics.

SPONSORED BY

Book Signing + Discussion with Brad Donenfeld
2026-04-25 16:00 - 18:00 | Arcana: Books on the Arts, 8675 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA, 90232
Please join Arcana: Books on the Arts on Saturday, April 25th between 4:00 and 6:00 pm as they host a book signing and discussion with Los Angeles-based artist and photographer Brad Donenfeld in conjunction with the publication of Looking. Seeing.
Beautifully produced and printed, it is a comprehensive survey of fifty years of his creative visual work beginning with his iconic sixties headshop poster Peace Man – produced as a teenager – through his own recent personal color photography. He will be joined for what promises to be a thought-provoking discussion of his artistic evolution with gallerist and art consultant Eli Consilvio.
If you cannot attend and would like to purchase a signed and numbered limited edition copy of Looking. Seeing., please place your order below.
Upcoming Arcana Events
Saturday, May 2nd, 4:00 – 6:00 PM
Andres Macpherson: The Flower Book
Book signing
Saturday, May 9th, 4:00 – 6:00 PM
Shaniqwa Jarvis: Guts
Book signing

PURCHASE A COPY OF THE BOOK

A reception, lecture, and discussion with Paul Lewis
2026-04-23 18:30 - 20:30 | Helms Design Center, 8745 Washington Boulevard, Culver City, CA, 90232
Please join us on Thursday, April 23rd, 6:30-8:30 pm, for a special evening with Paul Lewis.
In collaboration with the Helms Design District and the Cal Poly SLO/LA Metro Program in Architecture and Urban Design
Helms Design Center
8745 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232
Free Parking is available at the corner of Helms Ave. and Venice Blvd.
Lecture is Free and Open to the Public with RSVP

RSVP HERE

Paul Lewis, FAIA, is a Principal at LTL Architects based in New York City and Professor / Interim Associate Dean at Princeton University School of Architecture. LTL are the 2019 NY State AIA firm of the year, have received a National Design Award, and were inducted into the ID Hall of Fame.
The firm’s recent work includes All Straw House, First Place in The Resilient Campus an International Design Competition for University of Buffalo, Ithaca Straw House, Poster House, The Helen R. Walton Children’s Enrichment Center, and a new residence hall at Carnegie Mellon University. Their current focus is on the architectural potentials of plant and earth-based materials which is explicated in their most recent book Manual of Biogenic House Sections (2022). LTL Architects are also the authors of Intensities (2013), Opportunistic Architecture (2008) and Situation Normal….Pamphlet Architecture #21 (1998) and Manual of Section (2016) which has been translated into seven languages. Paul received a BA from Wesleyan University and a M.Arch from Princeton University, and is a recent past president of The Architectural League of New York.
Follow Link To Purchase: Manual of Biogenic House Sections (ORO Editions, 2022) by authors Paul Lewis, Marc Tsurumaki & David J. Lewis.

Introduced and moderated by Stephen Phillips, FAIA, PhD, of Stephen Phillips Architects (SPARCHS) and professor, director, Cal Poly LA Metro Program in Architecture and Urban Design (California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo).

Photos: All Straw House section perspective; Manual of Biogenic House Sections book cover; All Straw House construction image.

SPONSORED BY

ULI Hosts a Meet and Greet Focused on Transit-Oriented Development
2026-04-21 17:30 - 20:00 | Helms Design Center, 8745 Washington Boulevard, Culver City, CA, 90232
Join the ULI Los Angeles Programs Committee for an exclusive Meet & Greet event focused on the future of transit-oriented development in our city.
Hear directly from Nicholas Saponara, LA Metro Executive Officer, Transit Oriented Communities, and other Metro representatives as they highlight their active joint development pipeline and provide insights into the impactful 10K Home Program.
This is a must-attend event for the ULI community to gain a comprehensive understanding of Metro’s current projects and their vision for increasing housing and community benefits around transit hubs. Learn how these initiatives are shaping the urban landscape of Los Angeles.
MODERATOR
Hilary Norton, Executive Director FASTLinkDTLA
SPEAKERS
Nick Saponara, Executive Director, LA Metro
Attendees are eligible to receive AIA and AICP credits.

TICKET INFO + REGISTRATION

LA Rebuilds Symposium: Exhibition + Panel Discussions
2026-04-12 13:00 - 16:00 | Helms Design Center, 8745 Washington Boulevard, Culver City, CA, 90232
The Eaton Canyon and Palisades fires transformed the lives of so many here in Los Angeles. One year later, the rebuild effort is well underway, but it has not been easy. Insurance, permitting, infrastructure, and inflated costs have proven challenging. No simple solution has clearly manifested. Instead, a variety of real-world approaches have developed for bringing our communities back together.
Please join us on Sunday, April 12th from 1:00 to 4:00 pm during the symposium as we take account of some of the best architectural projects permitted and being constructed in the city and county. Engage in a conversation of varied building approaches alongside a discussion from our grass-roots leaders spearheading change within our city and county.
Poster Design by Thy Truc Ho
RSVP required below

EXHIBITS BY:
Ameen Ayoub Design Studio AADS
Andy Kim
Bestor Architecture
Byben
Cal Poly LA Metro Students
Casey Hughes Architects
Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chaney Architects
Filosa Vol Architects
Florencia Pita
Geoffrey von Oeyen Design
John Friedman Alice Kimm Architects
Lehrer Architects
Marmol Radziner
Morphosis
M-Rad
Office of Mobile Design (OMD)
Plant Prefab
Scott Prentice Architects
Sorensen Architects
SOTO
SPARCHS
Studio Antares A + E
Tighe Architecture
WTARCH
XTEN Architecture

SPEAKERS:
Barbara Bestor
Joy Chen
Roseanne Landay
Sam Lubell
Leo Marmol
Stephen Phillips
Jennifer Siegal
Steven Somers

SPONSORED BY

Book Signing + Discussion with Eric Doeringer
2026-04-11 16:00 - 18:00 | Arcana: Books on the Arts, 8675 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA, 90232
Please join Arcana: Books on the Arts on Saturday, April 11th between 4:00 and 6:00 PM for a very special presentation of Books & Co. – an exhibition of publications by appropriation artist Eric Doeringer. Doeringer recreates iconic books by artists such as Ed Ruscha, Richard Prince, Sol Lewitt, and Dieter Roth. For example, his edition of Some Los Angeles Apartments presents photographs of each of the buildings in Ed Ruscha’s book of the same title, but shot by Doeringer forty years after the original.
Featuring more than twenty-five publications, this will be the most comprehensive exhibition of Doeringer’s books to date. In addition to the opportunity to meet the artist and get a book – or books – signed, the artist will be producing an exclusive sixteen-page publication to accompany the event.
Eric Doeringer is a Los Angeles-based artist who remakes work by other artists. He has exhibited at institutions including MoMA PS1, The Whitney Museum, The Brooklyn Museum, MassMoCA, and La Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris. Doeringer’s artwork and books are in the collections of MoMA, The New York Public Library, The Whitney Museum, The Brooklyn Museum, The Getty Center, SFMOMA, The National Gallery of Canada, The Baltimore Museum, and numerous university libraries.
Upcoming Arcana Events
Saturday, April 25th, 4:00 – 6:00 PM
Brad Donenfeld: Looking. Seeing.
Book signing + discussion with Eli Consilvio
Saturday, May 2nd, 4:00 – 6:00 PM
Andres Macpherson: The Flower Book
Book signing

LA Rebuilds Exhibition: Cal Poly LA Metro Saturday Docent Hours
2026-04-11 11:00 - 14:00 | Helms Design Center, 8745 Washington Boulevard, Culver City, CA, 90232
The Eaton Canyon and Palisades fires transformed the lives of so many here in Los Angeles. One year later, the rebuild effort is well underway, but it has not been easy. Insurance, permitting, infrastructure, and inflated costs have proven challenging. No simple solution has clearly manifested. Instead, a variety of real-world approaches have developed for bringing our communities back together.
Please stop by to view the exhibition and engage in a conversation with the Cal Poly student docents during the open studio hours, as we take account of some of the best architectural projects permitted and being constructed in the city and county.
RSVP Below and let us know you’re coming!
Poster Design by Thy Truc Ho

EXHIBITS BY:
Ameen Ayoub Design Studio AADS
Andy Kim
Bestor Architecture
Byben
Cal Poly LA Metro Students
Casey Hughes Architects
Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chaney Architects
Filosa Vol Architects
Florencia Pita
Geoffrey von Oeyen Design
John Friedman Alice Kimm Architects
Lehrer Architects
Marmol Radziner
Morphosis
M-Rad
Office of Mobile Design (OMD)
Plant Prefab
Scott Prentice Architects
Sorensen Architects
SOTO
SPARCHS
Studio Antares A + E
Tighe Architecture
WTARCH
XTEN Architecture

SPONSORED BY

LA Rebuilds Exhibition: Cal Poly LA Metro Friday Docent Hours
2026-04-10 11:00 - 14:00 | Helms Design Center, 8745 Washington Boulevard, Culver City, CA, 90232

LA Rebuilds Exhibition: Cal Poly LA Metro Opening Reception
2026-04-09 18:30 - 20:30 | Helms Design Center, 8745 Washington Boulevard, Culver City, CA, 90232
The Eaton Canyon and Palisades fires transformed the lives of so many here in Los Angeles. One year later, the rebuild effort is well underway, but it has not been easy. Insurance, permitting, infrastructure, and inflated costs have proven challenging. No simple solution has clearly manifested. Instead, a variety of real-world approaches have developed for bringing our communities back together.
Please join us on Thursday, April 9th from 6:30 to 8:30 pm during the opening reception as we take account of some of the best architectural projects permitted and being constructed in the city and county. Engage in a conversation with the participating architects and studios working to spearhead change within our city and county.
Poster Design by Thy Truc Ho
RSVP required below

EXHIBITS BY:
Ameen Ayoub Design Studio AADS
Andy Kim
Bestor Architecture
Byben
Cal Poly LA Metro Students
Casey Hughes Architects
Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chaney Architects
Filosa Vol Architects
Florencia Pita
Geoffrey von Oeyen Design
John Friedman Alice Kimm Architects
Lehrer Architects
Marmol Radziner
Morphosis
M-Rad
Office of Mobile Design (OMD)
Plant Prefab
Scott Prentice Architects
Sorensen Architects
SOTO
SPARCHS
Studio Antares A + E
Tighe Architecture
WTARCH
XTEN Architecture

SPONSORED BY

A reception, lecture, and Q+A discussion with Thom Mayne of Morphosis
2026-04-02 18:30 - 20:30 | Helms Design Center, 8745 Washington Boulevard, Culver City, CA, 90232
Please join us on Thursday, April 2, 6:30-8:30 pm, for a special evening with Thom Mayne of Morphosis.
In collaboration with the Helms Design District and the Cal Poly SLO/LA Metro Program in Architecture and Urban Design
Helms Design Center
8745 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232
Free Parking is available at the corner of Helms Ave. and Venice Blvd.
Lecture is Free and Open to the Public with RSVP

RSVP HERE

Thom Mayne founded Morphosis in 1972 as a collective practice engaged in architecture, urban planning, and design. Working globally, his work represents a wide variety of scales and typologies.
Mayne cofounded the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) in 1972 and continued to play an active role in architectural education. He has held teaching positions at UCLA, Yale, Harvard GSD, Columbia, the Bartlett School of Architecture, and the University of Pennsylvania. He co-directed the NOW Institute, a division of Morphosis that collaborates with communities, cities, and academic institutions to research and enhance urban environments. Mayne was awarded the Pritzker Prize in 2005 and the AIA Gold Medal in 2013. From 2009 to 2016, he served on the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities under President Barack Obama.
In addition to built work, Mayne maintains active art and research practice. His recent publications include Strange Networks (Rizzoli, 2020), a monograph of his recent studies of combinatory systems, and M3: modeled works [archive] 1972-2022 (Rizzoli, 2023), a survey of 50 years of Morphosis models. These investigations continue at Stray Dog Café, his personal studio, where he leads a team of emerging designers and students. His work is held in the permanent collections of MoMA, SFMOMA, the Art Institute of Chicago, and other institutions.
Mayne’s practice reflects a sustained commitment to advancing architectural discourse through built form, speculative research, and civic engagement.

Introduced and moderated by Stephen Phillips, FAIA, PhD, of Stephen Phillips Architects (SPARCHS) and professor, director, Cal Poly LA Metro Program in Architecture and Urban Design (California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo).

Photo: Thom Mayne of Morphosis

SPONSORED BY
