La Luz De Jesus 25: the Little Gallery That Could

Native Los Angeleno Billy Shire is best known as the owner of the Soap Plant + Wacko stores + La Luz de Jesus Gallery. Opened in 1986, La Luz de Jesus has become one of the most important, ground-breaking galleries in Los Angeles + has garnered a considerable reputation with collectors, galleries, + artists around the world. Its dedication to the “underground” art scene is what earned him the title, “The Peggy Guggenheim of Lowbrow,” from Juxtapoz magazine. La Luz de Jesus Gallery was the first gallery to present the works of such art luminaries as Manuel Ocampo, The Clayton Brothers, Robert Williams, Joe Coleman, Neon Park + Josh Agle (Shag), among others. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of La Luz de Jesus, mastermind Billy Shire has organized a monumental group show featuring over 250 artists, each of whom have contributed one new piece + a written anecdote about their experience with the gallery. Hardcover. 288 pages. Published 2011.