The Closure of The Box in Los Angeles
The Box, a prominent gallery located in downtown Los Angeles, has announced its closure after 19 years of operation. This decision marks the end of an era for the art community and comes as a significant loss for many artists and curators who have been part of its journey.
The final show was a two-venue collaboration with Parker Gallery, featuring the late California artist Wally Hedrick. The exhibition ran through April 4, offering a fitting tribute to the artist’s legacy. Additionally, the gallery planned to celebrate its closure with a fashion show for Johanna Went, created in collaboration with artist and playwright Asher Hartman on June 6.
In a statement released to its email listserv and shared on Instagram, founder Mara McCarthy expressed that while the decision had been under consideration for some time, it became urgent due to various circumstances that made continuing operations impossible. She emphasized that the closure would be marked by the kind of work the gallery always aimed to support—radical, enlightening, and not easily contained by the commercial marketplace.
A Legacy of Artist-Centered Programming
Located at 805 Traction Avenue, The Box opened in June 2007 with a multichannel video installation by Spandau Parks. McCarthy described the gallery’s inception as a collaboration with her father, the iconic LA-based artist Paul McCarthy. Although Paul gained wider acclaim in the 1990s with his inclusion in the landmark 1992 exhibition “Helter Skelter” at the Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles, he had been active since the 1970s.
The Box was conceived as an “artist-formed space,” designed as a response to Paul McCarthy’s market success, which came late in his career. The gallery aimed to uplift the work of his peers, such as Barbara T. Smith and Simone Forti, who had not yet achieved recognition. “The Box formed to help fill this void,” Mara wrote.
The gallery dedicated its third exhibition to Smith, showcasing two monumental works from the mid-1960s and early ’70s. Subsequent exhibitions featured other notable artists, including Forti, Hedrick, Paul McCarthy, John Altoon, Naotaka Hiro Stan Vanderbeek, Judith Bernstein, and Leigh Ledare. Through this program, The Box quickly established itself as a venturesome gallery and one of the most important in the city.
Navigating the Art Market
While The Box often resembled a nonprofit art space, it made a deliberate choice to engage the marketplace as a for-profit gallery. This allowed the gallery to actively shape a presence for experimental artists whose work had otherwise gone unrecognized. However, Mara acknowledged that the market has not always embraced the work they championed.
She attributed the closure partly to changing economics around support for her father’s work, as well as the fact that every member of her family lost their homes in the Eaton fire that ravaged Altadena and other parts of the San Gabriel Valley in January 2025.
A Growing Trend of Gallery Closures
The Box is the latest in a wave of gallery closures that have affected several commercial enterprises around the world, particularly in Los Angeles. Earlier this week, Marian Goodman Gallery announced it would close its LA space, while last year, Tanya Bonakdar announced the closure of its LA outpost. LA Louver, which had been in business for 50 years, closed its doors in September, shifting to private dealing, and the summer also saw dealer Tim Blum close his LA gallery after 30 years.
On Instagram, the post announcing the closure received nearly 2,000 likes and over 300 comments by Saturday morning. Clara Kim, the chief curator of MOCA LA, wrote, “Sending much love and respect, Mara. Thanks to you, Robert and The Box for an incredible run of thoughtful, provocative shows, championing artists and art scenes from the past and present. We have all been better for it. What a major loss for LA.”
Stuart Comer, chief curator of media and performance at New York’s Museum of Modern Art, added, “Mara, you moved the needle in ways very few can, have, or will again. Sending so much love to you and your family. ❤️❤️❤️”
A Continued Commitment to Art
In her statement, Mara McCarthy emphasized that she would not stop being present in the art world. As a woman, a curator, and someone who understands the power of art to alter the course of a life, she remains committed to advocating for the artists she believes in. She noted that supporting artists takes many forms, and exhibitions are only one of them. What many artists need most is conversation, presence, and genuine engagement, and that will not stop for her.
