Up Close: Art, Identity and Body Positivity at TAG’s ‘Nothing to See Here: Nudes, The Human Form’
Discover powerful exhibitions at The Artists Gallery Los Angeles – exploring identity, human form and resilience through contemporary art and community
June in Los Angeles brings a refreshing opportunity to connect with art that feels genuinely personal. At The Artists Gallery on Miracle Mile, six solo artists are opening their creative diaries to visitors through exhibitions that explore the human form, identity and resilience in ways that feel both intimate and empowering.
The dual exhibition ‘Nothing to See Here: Nudes, The Human Form’ alongside these solo shows creates something more meaningful than your typical gallery visit. Rather than keeping art at arm’s length, TAG invites you to step closer and discover the personal stories behind each brushstroke, each textile choice, each artistic decision.
The Artists and Their Stories
The six featured artists – Marianne Baker, Laurence Barbera, Somaya Etemad, Pedrin Garcia, Sally Lamb and Gina Leon-Gutiérrez – each bring their own perspective on what it means to inhabit a human form, to carry memories and to find strength in vulnerability.
Marianne Baker’s feminist fibre art celebration titled ‘I am flying a UFO without a navigator’ embraces imperfection as a form of resilience. Her contemporary approach to textiles challenges traditional notions of perfection, turning what might be seen as flaws into statements of strength and identity.
Somaya Etemad’s paintings in ‘A Life Rebuilt Alone’ offer perhaps the most personal narrative in the collection. Merging her architectural background with storytelling that transforms intimate moments into art, her work reflects the layered experience of building a new life as a woman, mother and immigrant. Her canvases become maps of survival, where hope emerges in harsh conditions through whimsical scenes that speak to anyone who has ever started over.
Laurence Barbera’s contemporary approach to the nude in ‘Figures’ uses colour and expressive brushwork to fill his subjects with complexity and vulnerability, moving far beyond traditional figure studies. Pedrin Garcia’s ‘The Way She Moves’ captures the emotional weight of human connections through stylised portraits of people who have shaped his life.
Sally Lamb transforms places into personal diaries through her ‘Santa Monica Series’. Her paintings of hometown skies, oceans, trees and shadows create compelling relationships between expansive space and dramatic lighting, proving that place and identity are inextricably linked. Meanwhile, Gina Leon-Gutiérrez reimagines the timeless symbol of the dove through paintings that show places both ravaged by fire and regenerated with new growth.
Body Positivity and Contemporary Perspectives
The timing of this exhibition coincides with a broader cultural conversation about reclaiming the nude through a contemporary lens. Recent exhibitions like ‘NUDE’ at Fotografiska and ‘Vital Signs: Artists and the Body’ at MoMA have highlighted how contemporary artists are challenging traditional depictions of the human form, focusing on identity, body positivity and personal narrative rather than objectification.
The Gallery Girls Live Nude Model Drawing Studio Session on 22 June offers visitors a chance to experience this perspective firsthand. For $33.85, participants can spend three hours engaging with professional models in a respectful, creative environment. Gallery Girls has been serving the LA art community since 2006, creating welcoming spaces for artists of all experience levels to practice figure drawing.
First-time life drawing participants often worry about awkwardness or skill level, but these sessions focus on observation and respect rather than creating perfect artwork. The professional models are experienced in holding poses for various skill levels, and the atmosphere emphasises learning and creativity over judgment.
Why Visit TAG
Founded in 1993 as an artist-run gallery, TAG represents over 50 contemporary artists and maintains a genuinely welcoming atmosphere that doesn’t feel intimidating or exclusive. The diversity in media – from Baker’s fibre art to Lamb’s painted places to Garcia’s portraits – means visitors encounter multiple artistic languages in one visit.
The free reception on 21 June from 5.00pm–8.00pm provides an ideal opportunity to meet the artists and understand their work in context. Unlike many commercial galleries, TAG’s cooperative structure creates space for diverse artistic voices and maintains a more relaxed environment focused on community over commerce.
For those interested in the broader art scene, TAG also presents Made in the USA: Comics to Counterculture, a juried exhibition celebrating illustrative and genre-based art that bridges traditional fine art with contemporary visual culture.
The Invitation
The exhibitions run through 11 July, giving visitors plenty of time to return and see how the work resonates differently on subsequent visits. The real invitation here extends beyond viewing art – it’s about recognising yourself in the stories these artists tell, whether through Etemad’s immigrant narrative, Baker’s celebration of imperfection as a form of cultural expression, or Garcia’s portraits of human connection.
In a city where art can sometimes feel like a luxury reserved for insiders, TAG offers something more accessible and genuine. The combination of personal storytelling, diverse media and interactive experiences creates space for visitors to discover not just what the artists have to say, but how their own stories might connect to the larger human experience these works explore.
Visit TAG’s website for exhibition details and information about upcoming events, including opportunities for aspiring artists to become involved in this welcoming creative community.
