How four Los Angeles artists are doing a year after the wildfires

"Akashi had lost both her house and studio in the Eaton fire. She rebounded quickly because she had to-she had an upcoming show at Lisson Gallery, originally scheduled to open in late January 2025. She managed to salvage work from the ashes of her studio and make enough new art to open her show on 20 February-just in time to overlap with Frieze Los Angeles."

"Determined to keep working, she has had to make art "in many different places" this past year, including "in the basement of my new rental; a studio donated by the Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles; extra space the foundry I worked with gave me; and recently, my new studio in San Gabriel"."

"Like many artists, Akashi says she was severely underinsured and that it will take another six months to a year to sort out when and how she might rebuild. Of course, finances are a major consideration."

Four Los Angeles-based artists—Kelly Akashi, Christina Quarles, Adam Ross, and Kathryn Andrews—lost homes and studios in devastating January 2025 fires in Altadena and Pacific Palisades. Despite these catastrophic losses, all four artists returned to work rapidly, showcasing remarkable resilience and resourcefulness. Kelly Akashi salvaged fire-damaged bronze and glass pieces for her Lisson Gallery show in February 2025 and is creating work for the Whitney Biennial. She worked in multiple temporary locations including a rental basement, donated studio space, and foundry facilities. All artists faced severe underinsurance and complex insurance claims. The fires and their aftermath continue affecting their lives and creative practices, with rebuilding timelines extending six months to a year or longer.

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