LOS ANGELES, CA.- Now in it’s 13th year, the L.A. Art Show, presented by the Fine Art Dealers Association (FADA), returns to the Barker Hangar at the Santa Monica Airport. The show commences with an exclusive opening night gala on Wednesday, January 23rd followed by four days of satellite events surrounding some of the world’s finest art available for purchase. With more than 125 exhibitors from destinations around the globe, this highly anticipated event marks the first time that the IFPDA’s Los Angeles Fine Print Fair will join the exhibition, further expanding the scope of artwork on display.

The L.A. Art Show is one of the country’s most prestigious art expositions featuring a striking array of artwork spanning cutting-edge contemporary to works from some of history’s finest artists. The show’s outstanding reputation is based upon a continued commitment to present only the best and the highest quality of work. The strength and variety of the show’s scope reflects a carefully selected group of galleries with all works vetted for authenticity by authorities in the fields of art. Vetting is made possible by sponsorship from FADA.

The Opening Night Gala is an event anticipated and attended by international art connoisseurs, prominent art figures and celebrities. The Honorable Antonio R. Villaraigosa, Mayor, City of Los Angeles, will serve as this year’s Honorary Gala Chair. The evening will be catered by some of Los Angeles’ most acclaimed restaurants. All proceeds of the Opening Night Gala will benefit the Art Museum Council and the Prints and Drawing Council of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).

“The Fine Art Dealers Association is proud to celebrate the 13th anniversary of The L.A. Art Show. The exhibition has gained tremendous momentum with record-setting attendance and sales,” says Howard Rehs, President of the Fine Arts Dealers Association (FADA). “The public is really responding to the expanded focus of the show and the variety and quality of the art. The show and the arts and culture scene in Southern California has really come into its own.”

Panelists and Presentations: In addition to the opening gala and daily shows, the upcoming L.A. Art show will feature its much lauded lecture series with celebrated art experts. 2008’s lineup includes the following: Jori Finkel, art critic and editor, returning with Art Collectors’ Boot Camp, Peter Fetterman, photographer and dealer, presenting Collecting Fine Art Photography, Gabriel P. Weisberg, Professor of Art History at the University of Montana, presenting New Realism or Old Realism: Traditional Realism Returns, David Pagel, Associate Professor of Art History and Chair of the Art Department at Claremont Graduate University, leading a panel discussion of Surreptitiously Yours: Art Politics and Do it Yourself Anger Management, George Melrod, Founding Director of art ltd. Magazine and contributing editor, leading a panel discussion of Los Angeles: What Kind of Art Capital? Ed Killian, winemaker, presenting a wine tasting with Architectural Digest and Souverain Wines.

Partial Listing of Exhibitors - Among the 125 exhibitors involved will be New York galleries: Charles Cowles Gallery, Flowers, Jane Kahan Gallery, Pace Prints, and Rehs Gallery; California galleries: George Stern Fine Arts, Gemini G.E.L., William A. Karges and Paul Thiebaud Gallery; Texas galleries: PanAmerican ArtProjects and David Dike Fine Art; New Mexico galleries: Gebert Contemporary, Gerald Peters Gallery, LewAllen Contemporary and Bellas Artes; Washington galleries: Greg Kucera Gallery and Winston Wachter Fine Art; International galleries: Neffe-Degandt Fine Art and Steps Gallery from England, Misool Sidae AKA Seoul Gallery from South Korea, Wetterling Gallery from Sweden, Whitespace Gallery from New Zealand, Walter Bischoff Gallery from Germany and Gallery Jones, Jennifer Kostuik Gallery and Newzones from Canada. For a complete list of participating galleries visit www.laartshow.com/galleries.

Museum, Installations and Other Participants: Several acclaimed museums and organizations will participate and combine their energies with the L.A. Art Show this year including the Autry National Center, the Art Museum Council of LACMA (AMC), Claremont Graduate University, Fine Art Conservation Laboratories, LA Packing, Crating and Transport, Installation by Maddy Le Meif, Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), Los Angeles Art Association Gallery 825, Museum of Latin American Art (MoLAA), Museum of Ventura County, Prints and Drawing Council of LACMA (PDC), Riverside Art Museum, Shawn Speck Picture Frames and Vandeuren Archival Framing.

Sponsors include: Architectural Digest, Art & Antiques, art ltd., Barker Hangar, Pacific Design Center, Southwest Art and Venice Magazine.