Friday, February 27, 2026 at 7:30 PM
The Broad, Los Angeles
In conjunction with the special exhibition, [***Robert Therrien: This is a Story***](https://www.thebroad.org/art/special-exhibitions/robert-therrien-story), The Broad is organizing two discussions to contextualize today’s L.A. sculptors as part of a storied history. The starting points for these discussions are two connected yet contrasting topics: *Distinct Encounters through Object Making* and *World Building*. **Saturday, November 22, 2025: **[*World Building*](https://www.thebroad.org/events/un-private-collection-world-building-samara-golden-piero-golia-max-hooper-schneider) **Friday, February 27, 2026:** *Distinct Encounters through Object Making * Los Angeles has been the home of important, ambitious sculptors for decades. The city has long been a place where art mixes freely with architecture, aerospace, and other cutting-edge industries, Hollywood, communities, countercultures, and undergrounds. L.A. sculptors have intersected with global movements including Minimalism, Light and Space, Land Art, and Assemblage, and have incubated hybrid, experimental practices that have run against the grain of global trends. The conversation features artist **Kelly Akashi**, who is deftly skilled at working across diverse materials and explores the impermanence of the natural world; artist **Sharif Farrag**,** **who creates organized chaos through his maximalist ceramic sculptures; and artist **Guadalupe Rosales**, whose artworks archive and celebrate the collective memories of Chicano youth culture of the ‘90s. *Distinct Encounters through Object Making* will take place during Frieze Weekend in February and will consider sculpture, inviting focused, isolated encounters with viewers, while [*World Building*](https://www.thebroad.org/events/un-private-collection-world-building-samara-golden-piero-golia-max-hooper-schneider) looks at sculpture as an immersive, often communal experience. Both discussions align current sculptural practice in L.A. within its history, its capacity for production and fabrication, and the city’s inspiration as a muse. The conversation will be moderated by **Ed Schad**, Curator of [***Robert Therrien: This is a Story***](https://www.thebroad.org/art/special-exhibitions/robert-therrien-story). Headshots courtesy of the artists; Artwork credits from L-R: Robert Therrien, *No title (stacked plates, white)*, 2009. Plastic, urethane foam, automotive paint. *No title (large black bow)*, 2015. Japan color on metal. *No title (table leg)*, 2010. Wood and metal. All artworks courtesy of Robert Therrien Estate. Photos by Josh White / JWPictures.com