Lisson Gallery Presents Liu Xiaodong's Detroit Paintings in Los Angeles Exhibition
The Facts
Lisson Gallery announced an exhibition of new paintings by Liu Xiaodong (born 1963) at its Los Angeles location, marking the artist's first show at the gallery's LA space. The works focus on John Mcintyre, a Detroit-based tattoo artist and member of a local medieval-style fighting team, whom Xiaodong depicts in full armor, mid-battle in a snowy forest, and at home in a hot tub. The artist traveled to Detroit in winter to document the city through Mcintyre's life, portraying industrial and suburban landscapes as seen through his subject's experiences. The exhibition is edited by Todd Bradway and Ossian Ward, with book design by Emma Singleton.
The Signal
This concentrated project represents a departure for Liu Xiaodong, who typically documents a broader range of subjects during his travels. By focusing solely on Mcintyre, the artist creates an intimate portrait of Detroit's post-industrial reality through the lens of one resident and his community. For collectors and curators, the exhibition signals Lisson's deepening commitment to its Los Angeles program and offers a rare opportunity to see Liu's empathetic, narrative-driven work in a West Coast context. The paintings' exploration of masculinity, labor, and urban decay resonates with contemporary conversations around Rust Belt identity and the American working class.
- Artists: Liu Xiaodong
- People: John Mcintyre, Todd Bradway, Ossian Ward, Emma Singleton
- Galleries: Lisson Gallery
- Locations: Los Angeles, Detroit
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