Compton-born artist Reggie Burrows Hodges is presenting three concurrent exhibitions at the Getty Center, the California African American Museum and Art + Practice in Leimert Park. Opened on October 20, 2026, the presentations mark his first solo museum exhibitions in his hometown, bringing together paintings influenced by European Old Masters, Black artistic heritage and dub music.
Key Takeaways
- Reggie Burrows Hodges opened three concurrent exhibitions across Los Angeles on October 20, 2026
- The participating institutions are the Getty Center, the California African American Museum and Art + Practice in Leimert Park
- The Getty and California African American Museum exhibitions run through February 28, 2027, while Art + Practice’s presentation ends February 27
- Hodges’ paintings draw on historic European art, childhood memories and Black cultural experiences
- Dub music features prominently at Art + Practice, where a traditional sound system complements the exhibition
Reggie Burrows Hodges Presents Three Exhibitions Across Los Angeles
Reggie Burrows Hodges has brought three interconnected exhibitions to Los Angeles, each exploring a different aspect of his artistic practice. The presentations feature paintings that draw inspiration from historic European artworks while reflecting the artist’s experiences, cultural background and interest in music.
The exhibitions are titled A Theater of Passions at the Getty Center, A Theater of Miracles at the California African American Museum (CAAM) and A Theater of Dreams at Art + Practice. Although presented separately, the three exhibitions share an interest in memory, visual storytelling and the relationship between historical and contemporary art.
The presentations also mark a homecoming for Hodges, who was born in Compton in 1965 and later established his artistic career beyond Southern California. His work has appeared in major museums, including the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, but the Los Angeles exhibitions represent his first solo museum presentations in the region where he grew up.
Rather than repeating the same selection of works at three venues, each exhibition offers a distinct perspective on his practice. Together, they connect his personal history with broader artistic traditions and the cultural landscape of Los Angeles.
Getty, California African American Museum and Art + Practice Host the Exhibitions
The three participating institutions approach Hodges’ work from different artistic and cultural perspectives.
At the Getty Center, Reggie Burrows Hodges: A Theater of Passions features five paintings influenced by 17th-century Italian artists Orazio Gentileschi and Artemisia Gentileschi. Hodges revisits compositions associated with biblical and mythological narratives, exploring their dramatic and emotional dimensions through his distinctive painting style.
At the California African American Museum in Exposition Park, A Theater of Miracles examines the influence of European Old Master paintings on Hodges’ contemporary compositions. The exhibition includes work inspired by Jacopo Bassano’s 16th-century painting The Miracle of the Quail, connecting historical religious imagery with Hodges’ interest in everyday human experiences.
Los Angeles has also hosted contemporary presentations examining memory and emotion through different artistic approaches. The recent Hospital of Emotions exhibition brought together installations inside a former medical center, demonstrating how artists use physical settings to explore personal experiences.
At Art + Practice in Leimert Park, A Theater of Dreams turns toward Hodges’ upbringing in Compton, the cultural history of South Los Angeles and his travels through Europe. The exhibition places his personal memories alongside broader artistic influences, offering another perspective on the subjects that inform his paintings.
The Getty and CAAM exhibitions are scheduled to remain open through February 28, 2027. Art + Practice’s presentation runs through February 27, 2027.
Compton Roots Connect the Artist to Los Angeles
Hodges’ upbringing in Compton provides an important connection between his personal history and the locations of his exhibitions. His paintings frequently address memory, relationships and the circumstances that shape everyday experiences.
The Art + Practice exhibition places particular emphasis on his childhood memories and the cultural legacy of Leimert Park. The neighborhood has long served as a center for African American artistic expression, with music, visual art and community events contributing to its cultural identity.
That heritage remains visible through neighborhood traditions such as the Leimert Park Juneteenth Festival, which brings together local artists, musicians and community members in a celebration of African American history and culture.
Art + Practice’s location gives Hodges’ exhibition a particularly meaningful setting. His paintings engage with memories of Southern California while drawing on artistic influences developed through experiences elsewhere.
The exhibitions also connect different parts of Los Angeles, from the Getty Center to Exposition Park and Leimert Park. This geographical spread allows audiences to experience Hodges’ work in settings with different institutional histories and relationships to the city’s cultural communities.
Baroque Painting and Black Artistic Heritage Inform Hodges’ Work
Historic European painting is a central influence in Hodges’ latest exhibitions. His interest in the Old Masters is particularly evident in the works presented at the Getty, where he responds to paintings by Orazio and Artemisia Gentileschi.
The Gentileschi paintings are associated with the dramatic compositions and emotionally charged narratives of the Baroque period. Hodges draws from their visual structures while introducing contemporary figures, atmospheric settings and his own approach to representation.
His paintings often begin with dark grounds from which figures and environments gradually emerge. Through soft edges, layered color and gestural marks, he creates scenes that suggest memory rather than reproduce events with photographic precision.
This approach also connects with his exploration of Black artistic heritage. His subjects frequently involve ordinary moments, work, community interactions and personal experiences that reflect broader questions about identity and social history.
At CAAM, the inclusion of Bassano’s The Miracle of the Quail alongside Hodges’ work illustrates how historical compositions can be reconsidered through contemporary painting. His interpretations retain elements of the original works while shifting attention toward human gestures and relationships.
Across the three exhibitions, these artistic influences operate together rather than as separate themes. European painting traditions provide formal references, while Hodges’ personal experiences and cultural background shape the subjects and atmosphere of his work.
Dub Music Connects Hodges’ Visual and Musical Interests
Dub music plays a significant role in the creative context surrounding Hodges’ Los Angeles exhibitions, particularly at Art + Practice.
The artist has a longstanding connection to music, having previously worked with the reggae-dub band Trumystic. His musical background adds another dimension to a painting practice already shaped by memory, rhythm and atmosphere.
At A Theater of Dreams, a traditional dub sound system introduces music directly into the exhibition environment. The installation connects his interest in sound with the paintings on display, allowing visitors to experience another aspect of his creative background.
Dub originated in Jamaica and developed through experimental approaches to recorded reggae music. Producers emphasized bass, percussion, echo, reverb and other studio effects, creating compositions that transformed existing recordings into new sonic experiences.
Although painting and dub operate through different mediums, both can involve layering, repetition and the reinterpretation of existing material. These connections offer another way of considering Hodges’ creative process without treating his paintings as direct illustrations of music.
For visitors, the inclusion of dub music reinforces the exhibition’s relationship to Black musical and cultural traditions. It also distinguishes the Art + Practice presentation from the Getty and CAAM exhibitions, which place greater emphasis on Hodges’ engagement with historical artworks.
Together, the three Los Angeles exhibitions provide a broader view of Reggie Burrows Hodges’ artistic practice. His paintings bring European art history into conversation with personal memory, Black cultural heritage and music, while the participating institutions offer distinct settings for audiences to encounter his work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Reggie Burrows Hodges?
Reggie Burrows Hodges is an American contemporary painter born in Compton, California, in 1965. His work explores memory, labor, identity and everyday experiences through paintings influenced by historical art and personal recollections.
Where are the Reggie Burrows Hodges exhibitions in Los Angeles?
The three exhibitions are taking place at the Getty Center, the California African American Museum in Exposition Park and Art + Practice in Leimert Park.
What are the titles of the three exhibitions?
The exhibitions are A Theater of Passions at the Getty Center, A Theater of Miracles at the California African American Museum and A Theater of Dreams at Art + Practice.
When do the Reggie Burrows Hodges exhibitions end?
The Getty Center and California African American Museum exhibitions are scheduled to end on February 28, 2027. Art + Practice’s exhibition concludes on February 27, 2027.
How does Baroque painting influence Reggie Burrows Hodges’ art?
Hodges draws inspiration from historic European paintings, including works by Orazio and Artemisia Gentileschi. He adapts elements of their compositions and dramatic narratives through his own painting techniques and contemporary perspectives.
What role does dub music play in Reggie Burrows Hodges’ artistic practice?
Dub music reflects Hodges’ longstanding musical interests and experience performing reggae-dub music. At Art + Practice, a traditional dub sound system contributes to the exhibition environment, connecting his visual practice with his musical background.
