An Exclusive Interview with Executive Director Kassandra Voyagis on Art, Accessibility, LGBTQ+ Representation and the Future of Creativity
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 11/5/26 – Art has always had the power to bring people together, challenge perspectives and inspire meaningful conversation. As the LA Art Show prepares to celebrate its 32nd edition, January 6–10, 2027, at the Los Angeles Convention Center, that philosophy is taking center stage in exciting new ways.n
Returning as one of the country’s longest-running international art fairs, the LA Art Show will welcome more than 90 galleries and exhibitors from the United States and around the world, presenting an extraordinary range of contemporary and modern artwork.
Under the leadership of Producer and Executive Director Kassandra Voyagis, the 2027 edition promises much more than an exhibition. It represents an ongoing commitment to making art accessible, inclusive and relevant to an increasingly diverse audience.
Among this year’s most significant developments are a new partnership with GLAAD, the launch of Art Under 10, and the return of the acclaimed DIVERSEartLA program.
One of the most exciting announcements for 2027 is the LA Art Show’s selection of GLAAD as its new charitable partner.
The organization, widely recognized for its work advancing LGBTQ+ acceptance and representation, will receive 15% of ticket proceeds from the fair.
For an event that attracts artists, collectors, celebrities and cultural leaders from around the globe, the partnership sends a powerful message about the importance of visibility, equality and the arts as a vehicle for positive change.
It is a particularly meaningful collaboration for the LGBTQ+ community and one that reinforces Los Angeles’ longstanding relationship with artistic freedom and self-expression.
Another exciting addition is Art Under 10, a companion art fair debuting January 8–10, 2027, in Petree Hall at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
Designed to introduce emerging galleries and a new generation of collectors to the contemporary art market, the fair will feature artworks created within the past five years and priced at $10,000 or less.
Admission to Art Under 10 is included with an LA Art Show ticket, allowing visitors to explore two distinct art experiences under one roof.
The initiative challenges the idea that collecting art is reserved for established buyers with unlimited budgets. Instead, it encourages visitors to discover artists whose work speaks to them personally.
Returning in 2027, DIVERSEartLA, curated by Marisa Caichiolo, continues to expand the conversation about art’s role in society.
This year’s theme, The Future as a Collaborative Human Experience, examines how creativity and interdisciplinary collaboration can help shape a more connected world.
Through partnerships involving cultural institutions, artists, architects, designers and other creative thinkers, DIVERSEartLA provides a non-commercial platform for artistic exploration, education and social dialogue.
At a time when communities often find themselves divided, the program offers an opportunity to look beyond those differences and discover shared human experiences.
The Hollywood Times had the opportunity to speak with Kassandra Voyagis through a special written interview about the show’s evolution, the importance of LGBTQ+ representation, emerging artists and what continues to inspire her after so many years in the art world.
The Hollywood Times: As the LA Art Show celebrates its 32nd edition, what are you most excited about for 2027, and what can attendees expect that’s new or different this year?
Kassandra Voyagis: I’m particularly excited about how the fair continues to evolve while staying true to its identity. Our 32nd edition, taking place January 6–10 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, will bring together more than 90 galleries and exhibitors from across the U.S. and internationally.
This year, we’re introducing Art Under 10, a new companion fair dedicated to emerging galleries and works priced at $10,000 or less.
We’re also welcoming GLAAD as our new charity partner. Together with the return of DIVERSEartLA, these initiatives reflect our commitment to making the fair more inclusive, accessible and culturally engaging.
The Hollywood Times: GLAAD is your new charity partner for 2027. What inspired this partnership, and why is supporting the LGBTQ+ community especially meaningful to you?
Kassandra Voyagis: Art has always been a powerful platform for self-expression, visibility, inclusivity and bringing people together. GLAAD’s work advancing LGBTQ acceptance and inclusive representation aligns naturally with those values.
I believe cultural institutions and events have a responsibility to contribute positively to the communities around them, and this partnership allows us to do that in a meaningful way. We are proud that 15% of ticket proceeds will support GLAAD’s work.
The Hollywood Times: The new Art Under 10 fair is designed to make collecting art more accessible. What do you hope this initiative will accomplish for emerging artists and first-time collectors?
Kassandra Voyagis: I want to challenge the perception that collecting art is intimidating or only accessible to people with significant resources. Art Under 10 will showcase works created within the past five years, all priced at $10,000 or less, giving emerging galleries an opportunity to reach new audiences while introducing more people to collecting.
An exciting advantage of launching Art Under 10 alongside LA Art Show is that it can benefit from the established platform, history and audience that LA Art Show has built over 31 years. Visitors can access both fairs with one ticket, giving this new initiative immediate exposure while allowing it to establish its own identity. Although connected, the two fairs will offer distinctly different visual experiences, collecting opportunities and price points, complementing one another rather than competing.
I hope it encourages younger generations and first-time buyers to start building collections of their own. Collecting should be about discovering something you genuinely love, and there should be an accessible entry point.
The Hollywood Times: DIVERSEartLA continues to bring important cultural conversations into the art world. How do you see art helping bridge divides and inspire greater understanding in today’s society?
Kassandra Voyagis: I think art has a unique ability to communicate across cultural, political and social boundaries. It allows us to encounter perspectives different from our own and encourages conversations that might not otherwise happen.
DIVERSEartLA was created nearly a decade ago to provide a non-commercial, educational platform within the fair, and it continues to be an important part of our identity. This year’s theme, The Future as a Collaborative Human Experience, curated by Marisa Caichiolo, explores how creativity and inter-disciplinary collaboration can bring people together and encourage us to think differently about our shared future. At a time when there is so much division, I believe those conversations are more important than ever.
The Hollywood Times: On a personal note, after so many years in the art world, what still gives you that special excitement when you walk through the doors on opening night?
Kassandra Voyagis: For me, it’s the energy of seeing everything come together. There are months of preparation, conversations and collaboration behind the scenes, and then suddenly the doors open and the fair comes to life.
One aspect that particularly excites me, and perhaps comes from my entertainment background, is the creative process itself. Every year, you start with a clean slate: an empty exhibition floor, a blank canvas, almost like a movie set before production begins. Then, through the galleries, installations, exhibitions and all the visual elements, it gradually comes together to create an experience. I love that transformation. In many ways, it reminds me of making a film: you work behind the scenes for so long, and finally the doors open and people get to experience the finished production. I hope visitors enjoy walking through the fair as much as an audience enjoys sitting down in a movie theater to see a film for the first time.
I particularly love seeing people discover an artist for the first time, watching galleries connect with new audiences and seeing visitors respond to works in unexpected ways. Even after all these years, that first evening and the sense of possibility it brings never gets old.
What makes the LA Art Show special is not simply the incredible artwork on display, but the relationships and conversations that happen around it.
From established international galleries to emerging artists finding their audiences, the fair creates opportunities for discovery, connection and inspiration.
For Voyagis, whose entertainment background brings a cinematic perspective to producing the event, the transformation of an empty exhibition hall into a vibrant celebration of creativity remains one of the most rewarding parts of her work.
With GLAAD joining as its charitable partner, Art Under 10 opening doors to new collectors, and DIVERSEartLA encouraging cultural dialogue, the 2027 LA Art Show promises to celebrate not only what art is today, but what it can become tomorrow.
The Hollywood Times looks forward to the 32nd edition of the LA Art Show and to sharing the creativity, innovation and inspiring stories behind one of Los Angeles’ most anticipated cultural events.
Event Information
LA Art Show — 32nd Edition
- Dates: January 6–10, 2027
- Opening Night Premiere: Wednesday, January 6, 6–10 p.m.
- General Admission: January 7–10, noon–7 p.m. daily
- Location: Los Angeles Convention Center, West Hall
- Address: 1201 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015
- Art Under 10: January 8–10, Petree Hall
- Charity Partner: GLAAD
- Website and Tickets: https://www.laartshow.com/
For additional coverage of the arts, entertainment and cultural events, visit The Hollywood Times.
By Cynthia Underwood & Valerie Milano | The Hollywood Times
