LOS ANGELES, CA.- ART LA 2009, the New Los Angeles International Contemporary Art Fair, attracted over 8,000 collectors, curators, artists and contemporary art lovers from around the globe. The opening night reception benefiting the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (MOCA) drew art enthusiasts, collectors, Hollywood notables and celebrities alike, including Albert Brooks, Rachel Griffiths, David Alan Grier, Jeff Garland, Neil Patrick Harris, John Hensley, Brittany Snow, Dean Valentine, and others who were spotted eying pieces from the exclusive selection of 60 exhibitors on site that were hand picked by the ART LA 2009 selection committee, overseen by Tim Fleming, director, ART LA. Throughout the weekend, Justine Bateman, Adrien Brody, Dennis Hopper, Toby Maguire, Keanu Reeves and Joel Silver joined Blake Byrne, Los Angeles collector; Daniel Hug, Los Angeles gallery owner and Art Cologne director; David Hoberman, Hollywood producer and Los Angeles collector; Henrietta and Alexander Hollaender; New York collectors Susan and Michael Hort; Dominic Malone, curator at the MCA, Chicago; Shamim Momin, branch curator of the Whitney Museum; Michael Ovitz, Los Angeles-based collector; Dallas Price, Los Angeles-based contemporary art collector; Alisa and Kevin Ratner; Ali Subotnick, adjunct curator at the Hammer Museum; Jill Kraus, The Museum of Modern Art (MOMA); Charles E. Young, MOCA’s new CEO, MOCA Host Committee members including Maggie Kayne, Karyn Kohl, Stefan Simchowitz, and other notables who marveled not only at the quality and level of works on display at ART LA 2009, but also the turn-out. Many commented on the number of collectors from all over the world who came to buy and the number of media representatives from all over the world who covered ART LA 2009.

Participating galleries, show management, art collectors and the media were unanimous in pronouncing an incredible year for ART LA 2009. 1301PE, Galerie Ben Kaufmann, Klosterfelde/ Meyer Riegger, David Kordansky Gallery, Mesler & Hug, Peres Projects, Rogue Wave Projects at L.A. Louver, Sister, Fredrick Snitzer Gallery and Susanne Vielmetter, who confirmed that ART LA is an LA based fair with an international resonance, were among the many galleries that found buyers for their works. Many found new clients and some reported selling works by featured artists on display that are still being finished.

ART LA 2009 Conversation Series and Signings featured Ed Templeton; Richard Hertz; Jonathan Maghen, Michael Wells and Jennifer Doyle discussing subjects ranging from the buzz inside the LA art world to art and sport meeting on LA’s soccer fields. A premiere screening of Agathe Snow’s CHINATOWN: EVERY SQUARE HAS ITS ROUND also took place at the fair on Saturday, January 24.

ART LA 2009 expanded programming included an opening night after party at Royal/ T, owned by collector Sue Hancock, where Dave Muller and Andrew Beradini provided entertainment; a private event with Jon Brion and friends at Largo; a tour of the Broad Art Foundation by blogger (and BAF staffer) Ed Schad; a tour of the Watts Towers with artist Edgar Arceneaux; a private tour by top collector, Eugenio Lopez and artist Jorge Pardo who re-created his Chinatown Mountain Bar in a 50x60-foot tent- a hot spot for fairgoers throughout the weekend.