Highlights from Los Angeles Design Week/end

Founder Holland Denvir reflects on the independent festival’s third year

In large cities with major cultural institutions, supporting independent artists and makers strengthens the vitality of the creative community. While the openings of the David Geffen Galleries at LACMA and the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art make worldwide headlines, the recent LA Design Week/end (LAD/W) hosted group shows, tours and events in studios and galleries throughout the city. LAD/W began three years ago with 40 sites and has grown across the city to feature more than 140 activations and extending the original weekend format to a longer five-day celebration.

Three years ago, LAD/W founder Holland Denvir remembers the lightbulb moment that sparked the idea. They believed that Los Angeles needed a community-oriented design festival to champion the work of independent artists and makers. Denvir envisioned visitors touring galleries and studios rather than a fluorescent lit convention hall floor. The first year, 40 locations opened to the public by word of mouth with no participation fees or tickets. This accessibility garnered an enthusiastic reaction with more than 8,000 attendees.

Holland Denvir, Photo by Shelby Nico Diamond

In the last few years, LAD/W has grown to showcase more than 140 locations and spans 5 days—hence the new name ‘week/end’—to allow attendees time to see more of the festival. LAD/W’s open calls for artists and first-time curators created the opportunity to shine a light on a wide array of voices, originally focusing on local talent and now open to submissions throughout the US and globally.

The recent heatwave in Los Angeles added a sweltering wrinkle to the proceedings. When visitors showed up in record numbers, Denvir felt thankful that the heat did not dampen the attendance and enthusiasm. At ceramic artist Peter Shire ’s studio, Denvir and Shire beamed with enthusiasm surrounded by his colorful and whimsical creations. “Color makes me feel good,” said Shire with a big smile.

“Peter has been a part of LAD/W since the first year,” says Denvir. “He is so quirky and cool.” While the festival focuses on many news voices each year, Shire has been a fixture of the creative community in Los Angeles for decades. “We are happy to have his stamp of approval.”

Peter Shire, Photo by Julie Wolfson

Just outside the door chef and artist Natalia Pereira was preparing a special lunch. Next door Ava Shire, Peter Shire’s daughter, was showing her ceramics at Neighborhood Salon . Nearby Dusk showed its rustic and refined wood furniture with a mirror of concentric circles hung above a large console table made with geometric layers inspired by Josef Albers’ “Homage to the Square.”

Attendees braved the heat to visit over a hundred studios, galleries and storefronts opened with special activations. In East Hollywood, Daniel Dooreck hosted a ceramics open studio at his Danny D’s Mud Shop . The Future Perfect house was the site for a design brunch. Interior designer Amy Sklar offered tours of her house. Block Shop previewed new fabric and wallpaper collections.

“Our Joy is Resistance,” Photo by Sydni Stearns

Midcentury furniture designer Paul McCobb is now the subject of a private home museum that is open to the public by appointment in Silver Lake . During LAF/W , museum founder Yogi Proctor offered daily tours to view a special exhibition that debuted for the festival. Proctor fully outfits his home with McCobb furniture, ephemera and an extensive collection of magazines and books that feature the prolific designer’s impact on 20th-century design.

LAD/W supports the work of curators with several group shows throughout the city. In partnership with Alabaster Projects , “Our Joy is Resistance” was curated by Sarah Al-Qatou featuring paintings, photography, sculpture and assemblage focusing on the power of joy and wonder.

Small Green Door’s “Rhythm of the Night,” Photo by Sydni Stearns

Small Green Door’s “Rhythm of the Night,” Photo by Sydni Stearns

Small Green Door’s “Rhythm of the Night,” Photo by Sydni Stearns

Small Green Door ’s Rhythm of the Night event in Boyle Heights hosted a group show, installations, hands on workshops, and DJ sets by dublab . “The host of a workshop pointed out to me that people were not on their phones,” says Denvir. “I was getting tattooed while my friends were making pom poms. It is important for me that we’re the present moment with LA Design Weekend. It’s fun to see it explode on Instagram, but those moments that we don’t get to see through social media, where people are enjoying the experience and making things, is even more important.”

While planning for 2027, Denvir looks forward to igniting even more energy and excitement. As the founders and team will be gathering support for their endeavors, LAD/W will host community workshops throughout the year and offer opportunities to apply to be part of year four, creating an evolving map of inclusive site specific art and design experiences all over the city.