Magdalena Suarez Frimkess, a Venezuelan-born and Los Angeles-based artist, is the focus of a LACMA exhibit opening Sunday, Aug. 18 of her works over five decades in a show titled, “Magdalena Suarez Frimkess: The Finest Disregard.”
Born in 1929, she is best known for her works in clay, and was trained in painting, print-making, and sculpture in Venezuela, Chile, and New York. Three cartoon characters recur throughout her works including an anguished Olive Oyl, an unaware Minnie Mouse and the shrewd Condorito—a Chilean cartoon from the 1950s.
The Finest Disregard show features a broad mix including ceramics, paintings, and drawings, and one group of works is described by the museum as “an important selection of works made collaboratively with her husband, Michael Frimkess.”
During a preview of Magdalena Suarez Frimkess: The Finest Disregard at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024. The exhibit is the first museum exhibition of L.A.-based and Venezuelan-born artist Magdalena Suarez Frimkess. Trained in painting, print- making, and sculpture in Venezuela, Chile, and New York, Suarez Frimkess’ most recognized works are made in clay. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
People look at art during an preview of Magdalena Suarez Frimkess: The Finest Disregard at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024. The exhibit is the first museum exhibition of L.A.-based and Venezuelan-born artist Magdalena Suarez Frimkess. Trained in painting, print- making, and sculpture in Venezuela, Chile, and New York, Suarez Frimkess’ most recognized works are made in clay. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Art on display during an preview of Magdalena Suarez Frimkess: The Finest Disregard at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024. The exhibit is the first museum exhibition of L.A.-based and Venezuelan-born artist Magdalena Suarez Frimkess. Trained in painting, print- making, and sculpture in Venezuela, Chile, and New York, Suarez Frimkess’ most recognized works are made in clay. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Magdalena Suarez Frimkess smiles during a preview of her exhibit, Magdalena Suarez Frimkess: The Finest Disregard, at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024. The exhibit is the first museum exhibition of L.A.-based and Venezuelan-born artist Magdalena Suarez Frimkess. Trained in painting, print- making, and sculpture in Venezuela, Chile, and New York, Suarez Frimkess’ most recognized works are made in clay. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
José Luis Blondet, Senior Curator, Museum of Contemporary Art (former Curator, Contemporary..Art, LACMA) escorts artist Magdalena Suarez Frimkess during a preview of her exhibit, Magdalena Suarez Frimkess: The Finest Disregard, at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024. The exhibit is the first museum exhibition of L.A.-based and Venezuelan-born artist Magdalena Suarez Frimkess. Trained in painting, print- making, and sculpture in Venezuela, Chile, and New York, Suarez Frimkess’ most recognized works are made in clay. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
People look at art during a preview of Magdalena Suarez Frimkess: The Finest Disregard at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024. The exhibit is the first museum exhibition of L.A.-based and Venezuelan-born artist Magdalena Suarez Frimkess. Trained in painting, print- making, and sculpture in Venezuela, Chile, and New York, Suarez Frimkess’ most recognized works are made in clay. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Art on display during a preview of Magdalena Suarez Frimkess: The Finest Disregard at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024. The exhibit is the first museum exhibition of L.A.-based and Venezuelan-born artist Magdalena Suarez Frimkess. Trained in painting, print- making, and sculpture in Venezuela, Chile, and New York, Suarez Frimkess’ most recognized works are made in clay. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Art on display during a preview of Magdalena Suarez Frimkess: The Finest Disregard at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024. The exhibit is the first museum exhibition of L.A.-based and Venezuelan-born artist Magdalena Suarez Frimkess. Trained in painting, print- making, and sculpture in Venezuela, Chile, and New York, Suarez Frimkess’ most recognized works are made in clay. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Art on display during a preview of Magdalena Suarez Frimkess: The Finest Disregard at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024. The exhibit is the first museum exhibition of L.A.-based and Venezuelan-born artist Magdalena Suarez Frimkess. Trained in painting, print- making, and sculpture in Venezuela, Chile, and New York, Suarez Frimkess’ most recognized works are made in clay. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
People look at art during a preview of Magdalena Suarez Frimkess: The Finest Disregard at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024. The exhibit is the first museum exhibition of L.A.-based and Venezuelan-born artist Magdalena Suarez Frimkess. Trained in painting, print- making, and sculpture in Venezuela, Chile, and New York, Suarez Frimkess’ most recognized works are made in clay. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Magdalena Suarez Frimkess smiles as she takes a photo with family and friends during a preview of her exhibit, Magdalena Suarez Frimkess: The Finest Disregard, at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024. The exhibit is the first museum exhibition of L.A.-based and Venezuelan-born artist Magdalena Suarez Frimkess. Trained in painting, print- making, and sculpture in Venezuela, Chile, and New York, Suarez Frimkess’ most recognized works are made in clay. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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During a preview of Magdalena Suarez Frimkess: The Finest Disregard at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024. The exhibit is the first museum exhibition of L.A.-based and Venezuelan-born artist Magdalena Suarez Frimkess. Trained in painting, print- making, and sculpture in Venezuela, Chile, and New York, Suarez Frimkess’ most recognized works are made in clay. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
In its description, LACMA explained, “Although her work is usually considered to stand outside the California ceramic tradition, this exhibition demonstrates otherwise. With many works shown in public for the first time, The Finest Disregard offers insights into the artist’s fascination with art history books, popular media, cartoons, animation, autobiography, and the humor found in the folds between the layers of everyday life.”
