The Hammer Museum's acclaimed "Made In L.A." biennial exhibition is making its highly anticipated return this October after a two-year hiatus. The seventh edition of this prestigious showcase will celebrate artists whose work is "conceived or made in Los Angeles," highlighting the diverse creative talent flourishing throughout the greater Los Angeles area.

Scheduled to run from October 5, 2025, through March 1, 2026, the exhibition will feature 28 participating artists working across multiple mediums. According to the museum's press release, the works presented in this year's biennial encompass film, painting, theater, choreography, photography, sculpture, sound, and video. Each piece engages with the city of Los Angeles "in ways alternately literal, formal, material, and metaphoric," representing art that is uniquely "of this city and nowhere else."

Zoë Ryan, director of the Hammer Museum, expressed her enthusiasm for the exhibition's potential impact on both local and international audiences. "I hope this exhibit offers a chance for local and international audiences to celebrate the incredible work being made by artists in this city," Ryan stated. She acknowledged the recent challenges facing Los Angeles, noting, "Los Angeles is still grappling with the terrible fires of the last few weeks but, as we look ahead to the fall, I hope this biennial can demonstrate the resilience of artists and this city."

The exhibition features an impressive roster of 28 participating artists, including David Alekhuogie, Black House Radio/Michael Donte, Greg Breda, Widline Cadet, Carl Cheng, Alonzo Davis, Ali Eyal, Hood Century/Jerald Cooper, Hanna Hur, John Knight, Kristy Luck, Patrick Martinez, Beaux Mendes, Na Mira, New Theater Hollywood/Calla Henkel and Max Pitegoff, Pat O'Neill, Will Rawls, Brian Rochefort, Amanda Ross-Ho, Gabriela Ruiz, Alake Shilling, Nicole-Antonia Spagnola, Mike Stoltz, Peter Tomka, Freddy Villalobos, Kelly Wall, Leilah Weinraub, and Bruce Yonemoto.

The curatorial vision for this year's exhibition comes from the collaborative efforts of Essence Harden, an independent curator, and Paulina Pobocha, Chair and Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Art Institute of Chicago and former Hammer Museum Robert Soros Senior Curator. Jennifer Buonocore-Nedrelow served as the curatorial assistant for the project.

The curators outlined their approach in a joint statement, explaining, "From the outset of this process, our primary objective was to look at art, and to see as much of it as possible. We wanted to learn from artists and distill an exhibition from those experiences." They emphasized the central theme connecting the diverse works: "While there are as many ideas circulating through the show as there are materials, an inquiry into one's relationship to the city of Los Angeles animates much of the work we will present."

The curators further elaborated on their perspective of Los Angeles as an artistic subject, stating, "Neither myth nor monolith, this city is many things to many people, and its cacophonous disorder is, perhaps, its most distinguishing feature." This viewpoint reflects the exhibition's commitment to presenting Los Angeles through multiple lenses and artistic interpretations.

Visitors can experience the "Made In L.A." exhibition at the Hammer Museum, located at 10899 Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles. The museum maintains its commitment to accessibility by offering free admission to the public. The exhibition will be open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., with extended Friday hours until 8 p.m., providing ample opportunity for art enthusiasts to explore this comprehensive showcase of Los Angeles-based artistic talent.