LOS ANGELES, CA.- Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (ICA LA), AvalonBay Communities, and Griffin Capital Company, LLC have teamed up to provide studio space to artists impacted by the recent Palisades and Eaton wildfires in Los Angeles. Many artists who live and work in Altadena and the Pacific Palisades not only lost their homes but also their studios, gravely impacting their livelihoods and capacity to make art. Artists’ works in progress and older works stored in their studios were engulfed in flames—some experienced the loss of decades of artwork—as well as essential equipment, archives, and documents.

Artists' vision, generosity, and empathy are ICA LA's guiding principles, and since its founding, the museum has been dedicated to supporting Los Angeles artists in myriad ways. During this difficult time, ICA LA is dedicated to finding ways to have an immediate and direct impact on LA’s creative communities. For the past several years, ICA LA has been working directly with AvalonBay Communities and Griffin Capital to explore ways to incorporate artists’ creativity into their development in this downtown neighborhood originally named for the artists who lived and worked here. Located on the north side of ICA LA, AVA Arts District, which hosted its grand opening in May 2024, includes apartments, retail, and green spaces. AvalonBay partnered with Griffin Capital, a leading private real estate investment manager, to raise capital for and construct the 475-unit multifamily community.

A key priority of ICA LA’s current strategic plan is the launch of an Artist-in-Residence (AIR) program, slated to open in the fall of 2025. In advance of this program and in response to the losses sustained in the fires, ICA LA, AvalonBay Communities, and Griffin Capital acted quickly to partner and provide eight artist studio spaces at no cost to the artists for six months.

“Over the past forty years, the Arts District has undergone a remarkable transformation, evolving from industrial warehouses to an enclave of artistic expression, complete with galleries, studios, and murals throughout its streets,” said Mark Janda, SVP of Development at AvalonBay Communities. “AvalonBay was excited to honor this vibrant history through the intentional design and development of AVA Arts District, and we’re pleased to now offer studio space on site to support local creators during this difficult time.”

Artists will be provided with studios at AVA Arts District, the mixed-use community owned by AvalonBay and Griffin Capital and operated by AvalonBay. AvalonBay and Griffin Capital will cover the cost of rent, utilities, and maintenance for 6 months. Through its strong ties to the local community of artists, ICA LA has identified ten visual artists in immediate need of studio space, including Kelly Akashi, Patty Chang, Jane Orr, Sam Richardson, Bret Nicely & Jill Spector, Camilla Taylor, and Diana Thater & T. Kelly Mason. Artists will move into their new spaces throughout the month of February.

"We cannot tell you how much this means to us. It is incredible that this was set up and happened so quickly,” said pioneering film and video artist Diana Thater, who was offered the free studio space for herself and her artist husband T. Kelly Mason. “The best thing for artists who have lost everything is to get back to work. Even though we’ll be entering the studios with practically nothing, we’ll emerge with something soon."

ICA LA Executive Director Anne Ellegood says of the initiative, “When the fires erupted in Los Angeles, we immediately considered how ICA LA could support artists in this moment. Having developed a strong relationship with AvalonBay Communities, my first thought was to approach them about offering studio space to artists who had lost so much. We are grateful to AvalonBay and Griffin Capital for their partnership and thrilled to be able to welcome artists to the Arts District and to be in community with ICA LA as we all continue to navigate the yet unforeseen impacts of the devastating fires. Despite the unspeakable loss, what is abundantly clear is that the arts community of Los Angeles is just that, a community, in which people care deeply for one another. The outpouring of support for artists is especially meaningful, as it indicates that Angelenos recognize that creatives are the heartbeat of our city.”

Paul De Martini, Chief Investment Officer at Griffin Capital, said, “We genuinely understand the struggles artists in our community are facing due to these devastating fires. We are happy to offer them the support they need as they work through their recovery and begin to rebuild.”