L.A. Louver is one of those powerhouse galleries everyone wants to get into. But despite its gorgeous digs, and its decades as overlord of the increasingly fancy Venice Beach art scene, Louver remains a down-to-earth establishment that continues to take laudable risks in its programming. The core roster is solidly A-list and sometimes even old-school, but within that is a healthy sense of humor and an eclectic range of tastes, genres and styles — the gallerists are famously always on the lookout for the fresh, fascinating and ambitious ideas of younger generations. That exploratory spirit is what instigated the “Rogue Wave” exhibition series, of which the anticipated fifth iteration opens this month with a group of 15 L.A.-based artists, including Sarah Awad, Matthew Brandt, Asad Faulwell, Owen Kydd, Christopher Miles and Eric Yahnker. As the name implies, the currents Rogue Wave champions are unpredictable and even subversive. These shows are more about presenting an inclusive snapshot of moments in the city's cultural activity than about feeding the gallery's program — many of the artists already show with other galleries; some are quite well-known while others are only on the verge. This is a chance for Louver to let its hair down and its freak flag fly — which is only right for a summer at the beach. If the assuredly jam-packed opening night is too daunting a prospect, check out the series of after-hours Thursday night artist talks, which continue throughout the run of the exhibition (at 6:30 p.m. starting July 25; RSVP required). L.A. Louver, 45 N. Venice Blvd., Venice; Thurs., July 18, 6-9 p.m.; exhibition runs Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Thurs., 10 a.m.-8 p.m., through Aug. 23; free. (310) 822-4955, lalouver.com.

Tuesdays-Saturdays. Starts: July 18. Continues through Aug. 23, 2013

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