Maggie West: Installations

98

In October 2017, West created a large scale installation for the Amber Rose Slutwalk in downtown Los Angles.  98 is an art installation built to resemble an outdoor stained glass ceiling.  The piece, titled 98 was constructed out of steel, plexiglass and photos printed on a transparent material.  An image of one of the forty women West shot for the exhibit was printed on each tile of the installation.  The structure was 6 feet wide, 10 feet tall and 75 feet long.

Throughout history, most women depicted in stained glass artwork are saints.  The majority of these saints were virgins, many of whom suffered gruesome violent deaths rather than lose their “purity.” The Catholic church revered these women as much for their commitment to maintaining their virginity as their commitment to God.  

Rather than be celebrated for their purity, this piece, titled 98, pays tribute women’s freedom to sexually express themselves and protest sexual violence. The title, 98, is taken from a Department Of Justice statistic that says ever 98 seconds an American is sexually assaulted.

STAND

In November 2016, West had her first solo exhibition at Leiminspace gallery in Chinatown.  STAND: A Benefit for Planned Parenthood featured select prints from KISS, Fluid and 23.  STAND also featured a 20 foot installation of 100 portraits of hyper-colorful portraits of Los Angeles based creatives who support Planned Parenthood.  The show raised over 1k for organization and was featured in publications such as iD, Paper Magazine, Bust and Galore.

FLORA

On Feb 9th, 2017 West will had her 2nd solo art exhibition in the lobby of the Standard Hotel in West Hollywood.  The exhibition, Flora, featured a 10 foot electric garden. Built with a combination of real and artificial plants, the garden shifted colored every few minutes.  Live models were featured in the Box throughout the installation.

23 

For the launch party of her second photo book, 23, West built twelve illuminated lanterns and installed them in the pool on the rooftop of The Standard in downtown Los Angeles.  Four images from the book were featured on each lantern.