Kim Martindale, the 17-year general manager of the LA Art Show has formed a partnership with the Palm Beach Show Group, which recently purchased the long-running show from the Fine Art Dealers Association.

“I’m thrilled with how much the LA Art Show has grown over the years.  I wanted to expand the show within the LA marketplace and knew there was potential for it to become one of the most important art events in the world,” states Martindale.  “We had reached a ceiling for growth operating under a non-profit model. With this new ownership team we can take the show to the highest of levels.  In partnering with the Palm Beach Show Group, I am confident that we can expand the collector and gallery experience and create a stage for the latest developments in the art world in the West Coast art market.”  

The LA Art Show is entirely unique in the art world, providing collectors with a complete art experience through an expansive breadth of galleries that crosses contemporary, historic and print genres.   

“Kim Martindale and KR Martindale Show Management has been the driving force behind the LA Art Show. Since it’s inception, he has been instrumental in growing the Show from a small regional event to an international platform for art with more than 115 participating galleries.  We are pleased to partner with Kim to continue to expand the show’s vision,” states Scott Diament, CEO of the Palm Beach Show Group. 

Created by the Fine Art Dealers Association (FADA) more than 18 years ago under the direction of KR Martindale Show management, the LA Art Show is one of the longest running art fairs in the West.  The show began in 1994 with 14 galleries showcasing historic works at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.  By 1997 the show had tripled in size and found a new home at the John Wooden Center on the UCLA Campus.  It was during this transition that Kim Martindale saw a demand within the collector community for a contemporary component in the LA Art Show. 

Taking a cue from the public art museum model, Martindale began to explore the idea of transforming the LA Art Show into a complete art experience, where collectors may view diverse genres of art under one roof.  This vision was realized when the show moved to the Barker Hanger in 2002.  By 2008, the show had expanded to more than 100 galleries and incorporated the Los Angeles IFPDA Print Fair under its umbrella.  The LA Art Show had become the largest and most significant art fair on the West Coast, but needed more space in order to realize its increasing potential.  With attendance figures rising annually the show was entirely sold out on exhibitor space with no room to expand.  Kim Martindale launched a new era for the LA Art Show in 2009 moving it to the LA Convention Center, doubling the size of the show to 160,000 square feet and increasing parking to tens of thousands of spaces.  The show has been an important part of the redevelopment of Los Angeles’ Downtown core and is conveniently located at the intersection of 3 major freeways.  After 18 years, the LA Art Show is in the most accessible location within the city and has room for expansion.   The LA Art Show, a complete art experience draws more than 50,000 visitors with its fair-within-a-fair concept that distinctly separates modern and contemporary works from historical and traditional exhibits.  

The LA Art Show has been instrumental in the creation of January’s Los Angeles Arts Month program.  With Kim Martindale as committee chair, per the resolution passed in the fall of 2008, ‘By declaring January, 2009 as Los Angeles Arts Month the city will use the confluence of more than 50,000 visitors to the Los Angeles Arts Show to anchor celebrations for the city.  Los Angeles Arts Month will showcase a multi-hued cornucopia of arts, including lectures, movies, music, food, dance, art walks & exhibitions.’ 

Kim Martindale’s vision for the LA Art Show continues to focus on the collector experience.  He and the Palm Beach Show Group have plans to expand of the ‘Fair-within-a-Fair’ concept with distinct sections catering to diverse collecting genres.  The 2013 show is slated to include:  A Modern & Contemporary Section, Historic & Traditional Section, Vintage Poster Section and the LA IFPDA Print Fair.   Martindale also plans on making the VIP Program more robust and increasing show programming and special exhibitions. 

The Los Angeles Art Show takes place from January 23-27, 2013 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, South Hall 1201 Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015. Los Angeles Art Show programming is included with show admission. For additional information about the Los Angeles Art Show, to register for lecture or purchase online tickets, please visit www.laartshow.com.

About Kim Martindale

For three decades, Kim Martindale has been producing many of the countries most prestigious and successful art shows. Kim in partnership with the Palm Beach Show Group produces the LA Art Show, a show he produced on behalf of FADA for 18 years.  He is also the producer of the Marin Indian Art Show, which now celebrates 28 years of success. Martindale’s credits also include the Tribal Art Show, held in association with the Denver Art Museum and “The Santa Fe Show: Objects of Art” at El Museo Cultural de Santa Fe.  In addition, he produced the Scottsdale Antiques and Fine Art Show, and ARTscottsdale, both in association with the Phoenix Art Museum and Art and Antiques Magazine. 

A strong believer in the importance of the Los Angeles art scene, Martindale was a formative partner in establishing January of each year, officially, as Los Angeles Arts Month. He is a past co-chair the Los Angeles Arts Month Committee with Ron Hartwig of the J. Paul Getty Trust.

About the Palm Beach Show Group 

Recognized as the nation’s leading producer of premiere jewelry, art and antique shows, the Palm Beach Show Group owns and operates the Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show (February 15-19, 2013), widely recognized as the largest show of its kind in the United States, as well as the Baltimore Summer Antiques Show (August 23-26, 2012), the DALLAS International Art, Antique & Jewelry Show (November 8-12, 2012), and the Naples Art, Antique & Jewelry Show (February 7-11, 2013) in West Naples, Florida. For additional information about the Palm Beach Show Group please visit www.palmbeachshow.com.