Newspace: Selections from the Collection of Ken Cave and LBMA

In 1973, Southern California artist Jean St. Pierre lead a cohort of artists who were part of the first graduating MFA class from the University of California, Irvine. Collectively, they activated exhibition spaces around Orange County and held a brick-and-mortar location in Costa Mesa on Superior Boulevard until 1974. St. Pierre then relocated the operation to Los Angeles, and took occupancy at 5241 Melrose Ave to run what would become the Newspace gallery until 1975, when local art enthusiast Joni Gordon took ownership.   

Joni Gordon became an advocate for the arts while she was enrolled at UCLA studying English and Anthropology. Because of its close proximity to the Anthropology department, exposure to the nearby art department opened a new world for her. At the time of Gordon’s attendance, artists such as Richard Diebenkorn, Tony Berlant, and Vija Celmins all held residencies in UCLA’s art department, and their studios were accessible to students.   

Gordon began her career working at galleries around Los Angeles in the late 1950’s, during a time when the Los Angeles art landscape was blossoming in unprecedented ways. Ferus Gallery debuted Warhol’s Soup Cans, Edward Kienholz was showcased at LACMA, and with Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art shifting the concept of what defined art, Gordon was able to be a sponge in the epicenter of this evolution. She soaked in all the change, and anything seemed possible to her.   

In time, she began working with art collector and philanthropist, Betty Asher. The two women collaborated on studio tours, art events in their homes, and curated small-scale exhibitions.  

In 1975, Gordon contacted Jean St. Pierre to request a publication on Newspace artist Chris Burden. At this time, St. Pierre had been living in the gallery and had to close the doors to the public due to financial hardships. The two of them scheduled a day to meet, and by the end of their visit, Gordon made a deal with St. Pierre to take over the gallery, as well as to pay off his financial debt. Gordon owned and operated Newspace Gallery from 1975 to 2006, providing a platform for many artists. At the time, those artists were considered to be emerging local talent, but are now acclaimed and celebrated, such as John Sonsini, Chris Burden, Seiji Kunishima, Dan McCleary, and Jay McCafferty.   

In 2023, Orange County collector, Ken Cave, whom resides in Costa Mesa, donated a large portion of his collection to LBMA. The majority of the works in his collection were acquired from Newspace Gallery between 1974 and 2006. The works he collected were from some of the artist’s most esteemed exhibitions. For example, he collected Jean St. Pierre’s Monochromatic White paintings from 1975, some of John Sonsinis’ first works on paper, and Seiji Kunishimas’ stone sculptures.  

The works from the Ken Cave collection provide just an introduction into the many facets of Newspace, but give insight into the history of Joni Gordon’s space and the way in which she devoted herself to supporting these artists and their visions.   

Alongside the Ken Cave collection, a selection of artists from LBMA’s permanent collection, such as Chris Burden and Jay McCafferty, are included. This exhibition remembers and salutes Newspace as a platform that played a significant role in shaping the fabric of the Los Angeles art world. LBMA is honored to hold these works in the permanent collection, and hopes to tell an integral part of a large story through this exhibition.