Helen Pashgian’s “Untitled” is included in the new exhibit at LACMA. (photo © Museum Associates/LACMA)

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art presents “Light, Space, Surface: Selections from LACMA’s Collection,” an exhibit running from Sunday, April 2, through Sunday, Oct. 1.

The exhibit offers an exploration of art of the Light and Space Movement as well as related works with highly polished surfaces often referred to as “finish fetish.” In the 1960s and 1970s, many Southern California artists began to create works that investigated perceptual phenomena. The artists were united by an interest in manipulating the medium of light to alter the perception of form, architectural space and surface qualities. They used newly developed industrial materials, such as sheet acrylic, fiberglass and polyester resin to explore form, volume, presence and absence through light seen directly through other materials, reflected or refracted.

Featuring 20 works by 16 artists and drawn almost exclusively from LACMA’s collection, the works in the exhibition range from small sculptures shown on pedestals to larger phenomenological experiences. Artists in the exhibition include Peter Alexander, Larry Bell, Billy Al Bengston, Judy Chicago, Laddie John Dill, Fred Eversley, Robert Irwin, Craig Kauffman, Helen Pashgian and Hap Tivey. A new experiential work by Helen Pashgian is on loan from the artist.

“This exhibition underscores the importance and depth of LACMA’s holdings of Light and Space and ‘finish fetish’ work from the 1960s and ‘70s,” said exhibition curator Carol S. Eliel, senior curator of modern art for LACMA. “Many of the featured artists spent much of their career in Southern California, mostly in Los Angeles, where they first showed interest in Light and Space. We are excited to share this aspect of Southern California art history with audiences in Los Angeles.”

“’Light, Space, Surface’ is a selection of key works that recently traveled to several cities across the United States and is coming back to Los Angeles,” LACMA CEO and Wallis Annenberg Director Michael Govan said. “Accompanied by LACMA’s first publication on its Southern California Light and Space works, this exhibition includes several pieces that have never been on view to the public, including a number of recent acquisitions. We are also excited to debut ‘Untitled,’ a new work by Helen Pashgian.”

The exhibit be on display in BCAM, Level 1. LACMA is located at 5905 Wilshire Blvd. For information, visit lacma.org.