Conversations with Alice Lodge

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alice Lodge.

Hi Alice, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started The Lodge in 2015 on whim – I had been doing pop-up shows with my own art and friends’ artwork in my living room and when a space next door became available the idea to start a permanent site was inspired… When I started The Lodge I had little experience in the art world. In college, I had interned at Barbara Gladstone in NY and Regen Projects in LA and I had studied art history at Barnard College but that was the breadth of my experience. I was working in the film industry to make a living.

But it felt like the right thing to do. It was calling me. When I set up my business account and seeing The Lodge on the checks I remember crying because I was so happy to have created something that was all mine and an official entity.

I started up just showing art by people I knew around Los Angeles and after about a year started branching out and actually having the confidence to approach artists I admired to ask them to show at the gallery. I feel like the fact that I understand the physical practice of art-making helps me with my relationships with the artists I show.

I am proud that we have given a few artists who have gone onto great success their first solo exhibitions in Los Angeles.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I had no idea how much work a gallery takes. It is a seven days a week job. There are a lot of details I didn’t think about outside of the fun of finding artists I admire, installing and opening parties! I hadn’t considered the transporting, shipping, endless emails, paperwork, lugging ice for openings, moving heavy objects, painting walls, mopping floors etc.

But I love it!!!

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I feel so privileged to be able to have a gallery. I love that I learn something new every day and get to engage with new people and talk about the curiosities of life.

I feel like the gallery is my art project. I especially love putting together the annual exhibition “Sexy Xmas”. This year is the sixth iteration and opens 1st December 2022.

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I have always relied on the help of others. I also believe in supporting other people and helping them in return.

I love seeing things through another person’s eyes which to me is what a good artist does.

It is important to listen to other people and learn. But through experience, I have learnt to trust myself. When I first started I didn’t have much faith in my abilities and I listened to people that I shouldn’t have which resulted in wasted time and money.

As much as I love the word YES… I now say NO when I feel like saying it, which I recommend for everyone.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thelodge.la
• Instagram: thelodgela

Image Credits
Portrait of Alice Lodge photo by David Black. Last photo of Aubrey Longley-Cook “Film Studies” by Marc Walker All other photos courtesy of The Lodge