La Luz de Jesus 25

Native Los Angeleno Billy Shire is best known as the owner of the Soap Plant and Wacko stores and La Luz de Jesus Gallery. Opened in 1986, La Luz de Jesus has become one of the most important, ground-breaking galleries in Los Angeles and has garnered a considerable reputation with collectors, galleries, and artists around the world. Its dedication to the "underground" art scene is what earned him the title, "The Peggy Guggenheim of Lowbrow," from Juxtapoz magazine.

La Luz de Jesus Gallery was the first gallery to present the works of such art luminaries as Manuel Ocampo, The Clayton Brothers, Robert Williams, Joe Coleman, Neon Park, and Josh Agle (Shag), among others.

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of La Luz de Jesus, mastermind Billy Shire has organized a monumental group show featuring over 250 artists, each of whom have contributed one new piece and a written anecdote about their experience with the gallery. 

The companion book to this landmark exhibition is a who's-who of the most important artists working today in contemporary and figurative art, including: Robert Williams, Joe Coleman, Mark Ryden, Glenn Barr, Elizabeth McGrath, Gary Panter, Mark Mothersbaugh, Lou Beach, Hudson Marquez, Marion Peck, Aaron Smith, Owen Smith, Frank Kozik, Manuel Ocampo, Gail Potocki, Don Ed Hardy, Dave Cooper, Daniel Martin Diaz, Laurie Lipton, Shag, Scott Musgrove, Bari Kumar, Tim Biskup, Judith Schaecter, Joe Sorren, Chris Mars, The Pizz, S. Clay Wilson, Jessica Joslin, Gary Baseman, Bob Dob, Spain Rodriguez, the Clayton Brothers, Sam Doyle and hundreds more.

La Luz de Jesus 25, published by La Luz de Jesus Press / Last Gasp, is the single most important book ever published on this art genre from one of the most important galleries to emerge in the past 25 years. (Hardcover, 288 pages)