Los Angeles Art Association

What Los Angeles Art Association does

Los Angeles Art Association (LAAA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization founded in 1925 as the Museum Patrons Association and headquartered at Gallery 825, 825 N. La Cienega Boulevard, Los Angeles. The organization provides exhibition venues, professional development programming, and a curated community for emerging visual artists across all media in the Los Angeles area. Its core product is Gallery 825, a physical exhibition space that hosts group shows, solo shows, opening receptions, portfolio reviews, and workshops, supplemented by participation in external art fairs (Beverly Hills artSHOW, Art Palm Springs, stARTup Art Fair, LA Art Show) and the PING PONG international exchange program with Basel, Miami, Berlin, and Vienna (gallery STEINER).

LAAA's programming portfolio includes juried artist membership ($195 screening fee through December 31, 2025 and $320 annual dues), professional development workshops ($100-$180), portfolio reviews ($75 for members, $125 for non-members), signature events such as the annual Benefit Auction presented by John Moran Auctioneers and the OUT THERE LGBT Pride exhibition, and the Film & Video 825 screening series. The LAAAb private collector group ($500 individual / $800 dual annual membership) and curated art trips ($2,100-$2,400 per person) extend the organization beyond artists to emerging collectors. The technology stack is a standard nonprofit website (laaa.org) with e-commerce, a YouTube channel for the 3 Minute Studio Visit series, and basic email marketing; no proprietary platform, app, or AI capability is in evidence.

The revenue model is multi-stream and typical of a mid-sized arts nonprofit: recurring artist and collector membership dues, pay-as-you-go workshop and portfolio review fees, transaction revenue from art sales and the annual benefit auction, gallery rental income, and a heavy reliance on grants and sponsorships from institutional funders including the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department, The Getty Grant Program, J. Paul Getty Trust, Fran & Ray Stark Foundation, Burke Triolo Family Foundation, and the Offield Family Foundation. Customer segments are horizontal: emerging artists (primary), emerging collectors, and corporate/foundation sponsors. Leadership is led by Executive Director Peter Mays, with a staff in the 1-10 range.

Name

Los Angeles Art Association

Legal name

Los Angeles Art Association

Website

https://laaa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1925

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Los Angeles Art Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1925 that operates Gallery 825 in Los Angeles, providing exhibition venues, artist memberships, workshops, portfolio reviews, and professional development for emerging visual artists, supported by grants, sponsorships, and an annual benefit auction.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Arts Services

NAICS

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit) (THAJADAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC), Community Arts, Culture & Creative Placemaking Enterprises (BPAGALAO), Local Community & Multi-Category Fairs (MPAGAFAO)

Keywords

• Arts organization
• Artist membership programs
• Exhibition venue services
• Emerging artist support
• Professional development workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Annual Benefit Auction: LAAA hosts an annual benefit auction featuring emerging artists as well as established artists like Ed Ruscha, Mark Greenfield, and Shepard Fairey. The live auction is presented by John Moran Auctioneers and available online. All proceeds benefit LAAA and the Los Angeles emerging artist community.
2. Membership Dues: Artist membership dues provide recurring revenue. New artist screening membership is $195 valid through December 31, 2025. Annual membership dues are $320 (January 1 - December 31). Artist Members are required to serve 8 hours per year or pay an $80 volunteer waiver fee.
3. Workshop and Portfolio Review Fees: Fees charged for professional development workshops and portfolio review sessions. Workshop costs are $100 for LAAA members, $110 for students and seniors, and $180 for non-members. Portfolio reviews cost $75 for members and $125 for non-members.
4. Sponsorships and Donations: Corporate and foundation sponsors as well as individual donors support LAAA's mission. Major funders include Los Angeles County Arts Commission, City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department, The Getty Grant Program, Fran & Ray Stark Foundation, J. Paul Getty Trust, and numerous corporate sponsors.
5. Art Sales and Shop: LAAA sells art books and artwork through the gallery shop. Artwork sales occur during exhibitions and the annual Open Show, with pieces available at various price points.
6. Art Trips and LAAAb Collector Group: LAAAb is a private collector group offering exclusive experiences including guided artist studio visits, private collection tours, and gallery curatorial walkthroughs. Membership is $500 per year for individual membership, $800 for two people. Art trips (e.g., Seattle trip at $2100 per person, Boston/MassMOCA at $2400 per person) provide additional revenue.
7. Gallery Rental: Gallery 825 space is available for rental, providing venue hire revenue for the organization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Los Angeles Art Association (LAAA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization that provides exhibition venues, artist membership programs, and professional development services for emerging visual artists. It operates Gallery 825 as its primary exhibition space, hosts juried exhibitions, solo shows, and benefit auctions, and runs workshops, portfolio reviews, critique groups, and international cultural exchange programs.

Product overview

Los Angeles Art Association operates as a non-profit arts organization with a primary exhibition venue called Gallery 825. The organization provides a portfolio of services including artist membership programs, professional development workshops, portfolio reviews, art fair participation opportunities, film and video programming, and collector engagement programs. The core offering is the physical gallery space combined with year-round exhibition programming including group shows, solo exhibitions, and signature events like the Open Show and Annual Benefit Auction.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Gallery 825 Exhibition Venue The primary exhibition venue operated by LAAA, located at 825 N. La Cienega Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90069. The gallery hosts group exhibitions, solo shows, opening receptions, portfolio reviews, workshops, and the annual benefit auction, serving as the hub for LAAA's programming.
• LAAA Artist Membership A membership program for emerging artists providing opportunities to submit work to juried exhibitions, access to national Art Consultant and Curator databases, workshops, critique groups, artist sponsorship for economically disadvantaged members, and international cultural exchange opportunities. Annual dues are $320 (with $195 new artist screening) plus an 8-hour volunteer commitment or $80 waiver fee.
• Artist Workshops

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• PING PONG International Exhibition ProjectmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007Independent exhibition project founded in 2007 to cultivate artistic exchange between Basel, Miami, and Los Angeles. LAAA has participated annually, presenting emerging artists during Art Basel, Art Basel Miami Beach, and the LA Art Show.
• Burke Triolo StudiomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner hosting LAAA workshops in South Pasadena. Located at 538 Mission Street, South Pasadena 91030.
• John Moran AuctioneerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAuction house that presents LAAA's annual benefit auction live and online, featuring emerging and established artists.
• Fabrik MagazineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerArt publication that partners with LAAA for content coverage and marketing visibility for artist events.
• stARTup Art FairmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent art fair founded by Ray Beldner that collaborates with LAAA to present emerging artists at annual events in Los Angeles.
• gallery STEINER (Vienna)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVienna-based gallery partnering with LAAA on cultural exchange exhibitions, including the 'Streetlife / Straßenleben: Vienna meets LA' project.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Kala Art Institute: Berkeley-based nonprofit arts organization offering residencies, exhibitions, and public programs for artists. Comparable in mission (emerging artist support, exhibitions, professional development) and nonprofit gallery model, with stronger emphasis on printmaking and digital media.
• Headlands Center for the Arts: Marin County-based nonprofit providing artist residencies, public programs, and exhibition partnerships. Comparable emerging-artist support structure with a residency-led model and partnership exhibitions analogous to LAAA's PING PONG international exchange.
• Angels Gate Park Cultural Center: San Pedro (LA)-based nonprofit with artist studios and exhibition spaces supporting emerging and established artists. Comparable LA-region nonprofit gallery with programming oriented around studio-based artist support.
• Art Share LA: LA-based nonprofit that provides affordable studio space, gallery exhibitions, and arts education. Direct peer to LAAA by geography, nonprofit structure, and emerging-artist development mission, with a larger artist-residency component.
• Self Help Graphics & Art: LA-based nonprofit arts organization providing printmaking, exhibitions, and artist training since 1970. Comparable as a mission-driven LA gallery supporting emerging artists of color, with a printmaking-focused production program analogous to LAAA's workshop offerings.
• 18th Street Arts Center: Santa Monica-based nonprofit arts organization offering residencies, exhibitions, and artist support services. Closely comparable in mission (emerging artists) and operational model (gallery + professional development) to LAAA, though with a stronger residency focus.
• Smack Mellon: Brooklyn-based nonprofit supporting emerging and under-recognized artists through residencies and exhibitions. Comparable emerging-artist gallery model, offering a high-signal East Coast peer for benchmarking programming scale and revenue mix.
• CUE Art Foundation: NYC-based nonprofit supporting career advancement for emerging and under-recognized artists through exhibitions, a mentor program, and public programs. Highly comparable model to LAAA's emerging-artist exhibition and professional-development approach, providing an East Coast analog.

Emerging players

• Fountainhead Residency: Miami-based residency supporting emerging artists with studio programs and partnerships with Art Basel. Comparable in international market positioning (Basel/Miami/LA network overlap with LAAA's PING PONG program), though residency-centric rather than gallery-centric.

Broad incumbents

• Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery: City of LA-operated gallery under the Department of Cultural Affairs presenting contemporary art exhibitions. Adjacent rather than direct competition, but connected through shared municipal funding and overlapping artist communities—useful for benchmarking LA public-funded gallery programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/los-angeles-art-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Los Angeles Art Association