Adam Mars' “Public Privates” paintings hang on Melrose in the front window of Gusford, a gallery that opened just last month. Mars attached faux bricks to wood panels, painted the bricks single colors, then spray-painted phrases across each. The words “I loved you then I googled you” are on blue, “Retardashians” on soft pink, “Re-re-re-re-re-rehab” on pastel green and “We're so dumb we don't even care” on hot pink. The pithy, flashy, half-trashiness of these paintings feels at home on that block, next door to Golden Apple Comics and across the street from Hot Wings Cafe and Anarkali, the Indian restaurant with neon pink steeples towering above its awning. 7016 Melrose Ave.; through March 23. (310) 600-7734, gusfordgallery.com.

Tuesdays-Saturdays. Starts: Feb. 8. Continues through March 23, 2013

Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.