Jessica Stockholder, “Sex in the Office” at 1301PE

Jessica Stockholder takes everyday objects and stages them in new ways, forcing us to throw out associations with their utilitarian function. Her sculptures create a space in which a new thought or action can occur, and in this way her work is optimistic and almost magical — it’s all about new possibilities. Stockholder merges seemingly disparate objects — a chair base is mounted to a small shelf or table, a light bulb is forced through tubing to illuminate what is on the floor — but in the end a holistic piece is created. The title of the show toys with the notions of taboo, as well as an implied intimacy in a clandestine arena — or perhaps it’s simply about how play goes along with work, which Stockholder clearly understands.

6150 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. | www.1301PE.com | (323) 938-5822 | Through October 20

“Abstraction” at Michael Kohn Gallery

This group show curated by Nancy Meyer features work by Kathryn Andrews, Dan Bayles, Sarah Braman, Matt Connors, Mario Correa, Matthew Higgs, Shana Lutker, Rebecca Morris, Maeghan Reid and Lesley Vance. While all of the artists are from either New York or L.A. and the curatorial crux of the show is much too broad, there are some very impressive works — and it’s also nice to see small works given the room to breathe in the space. Local favorites make our coast look rather strong, for example, Lesley Vance’s delicate painting of flora, Rebecca Morris’ collage that is characteristically both space-age and primitive, and recent transplant Matthew Connors’ small paintings, which play with elements of minimalism and abstraction but are far more personal because of their intimate scale and the way he handles the paint itself.

8071 Beverly Blvd., L.A. | www.kohngallery.com | (323) 658-8088 | Through October 13

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