No Prior Art: Illustrations of Invention

September 14, 2024 to May 11, 2025

This new exhibition at Central Library's Getty Gallery and citywide program series explores the intersection of art, science, and invention. From historic artifacts to new contemporary artworks, this project features an eclectic range of stories that explore the nature of human creativity and celebrate the inventive spirit.

Inspired by and drawing from the Los Angeles Public Library's patent and intellectual property resources and how the library provides opportunities for active creation and invention, No Prior Art features the work of more than a dozen artists and inventors, many with ties to Los Angeles. The project includes work from Mixografia, a multigenerational art studio that invented and patented a unique three-dimensional printmaking process; Pippa Garner, a trans artist whose outrageous inventions act as an exploration of the body and a critique of consumerism; and KAOS Network, an Afrofuturistic innovation lab in Leimert Park founded by artist/filmmaker Ben Caldwell, among many others.

 



Upcoming Events


carboard creations with hinges made of carboard
April 26, 2025 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Cardboard is accessible, sustainable, recyclable, fun, and readily available for makers who want to continue their projects at home. Learn...


Text 'No Prior Art' over an image of a table with beads and wire and two hands creating with the materials
April 29, 2025 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
In this hands-on jewelry tinkering workshop, you will learn how to use pliers and wire to make one-of-a-kind pieces out of ordinary objects...


smiling child in front of a drawing of a monster
May 3, 2025 11:00 AM
Design the toy of your dreams! Join Angela Alcerro, Professor of Toy Design at Otis College of Art and ...


The hand of a person in a suit points to a document held by another person, next to a gavel and scales
May 3, 2025 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Calling independent inventors! Do you have a new invention that you want to patent, a patent application that has recently been rejected,...


close up of a camera in front of a green screen
May 3, 2025 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Join Ben Cadwell, renowned filmmaker and the founder of the KAOS Network, an arts collective and center based in Leimert Park, for a 90-...


cyanotypes laid out on a table
May 3, 2025 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM
Come learn how to make art using a sun printing process invented in the 1800s. This class will teach you how to use cyanotype paper to...


A series of hanging lamps with household items used as lamp shades next to an image of the presenter,
May 3, 2025 4:00 PM
Embrace an inventor's mindset! Transform everyday objects into a unique hanging lamp. This class focuses on basic electronics and creative...


Close up image of hands making beaded jewelry
May 5, 2025 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM
In this hands-on jewelry tinkering workshop, you will learn how to use pliers and wire to make one-of-a-kind pieces out of ordinary objects...


little girl using a drill
May 6, 2025 4:00 PM
Plan, design, and prototype! Learn to use woodworking tools and techniques to design and build a functional stool or chair. Working alone...


handmade cardboard constructions
May 7, 2025 4:00 PM
Cut, fold, and connect with cardboard and other upcycled materials. Experiment with an assortment of kid-friendly tools to create...



Southern California’s landmark arts event, PST ART, returns in September 2024 with more than 60 exhibitions from museums and other institutions across the region, all exploring the intersections of art and science, both past and present. Dozens of cultural, scientific, and community organizations will join the latest edition, PST ART: Art & Science Collide, with exhibitions on subjects ranging from ancient cosmologies to Indigenous sci-fi, and from environmental justice to artificial intelligence. Art & Science Collide will share groundbreaking research, create indelible experiences for the public, and generate new ways of understanding our complex world. PST ART is presented by Getty. For more information about PST ART: Art & Science Collide, please visit pst.art.


PST Art: Art & Science Collide, presented by Getty
Lemelson Foundation logo
National Endowment for the Arts logo
Library Foundation of Los Angeles Logo

This project would not be possible without the generous support of Debra and Norris Bishton, Hope and Stephen Heaney, and Abby Sher. Further support was provided by The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, the Peck Endowment for Cultural Programs, and the Steve and Judith Krantz Foundation.

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