Art attack: Lab 101's ‘Loved’ show

(Credit: Julianna Swaney)

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If it's wrong to want to eat a painting, we don't want to be right. Culver City's Lab 101 Gallery is all about showcasing small pieces of art by talented illustrators and painters for prices palatable to first-time collectors. The result is a veritable pantry of works so small and cute, you'll have trouble deciding whether to hang them up or ingest them.

This week's opening of "Loved" features work by four artists who paint on a range of media, with subject matter involving adorable animals and delicately rendered cartoons. Julianna Swaney's wispy drawings are just asking to be munched on, as are the blocky, big-eyed creatures in New Yorker Keith Obrien's work. Meanwhile, Amy Ruppel goes out on a limb to paint birds on shower curtains, and Trish Grantham depicts bunnies on wood. If the current economic climate has you too heartbrokenly cashless to buy art, you might want to reconsider—Lab 101's visual vittles may be delectable enough to replace this week's groceries. (No food bill!)

And click here for a preview of the pieces »

Alie Ward is Events editor at Los Angeles Metromix.