Wangechi Mutu

Wangechi Mutu’s new show “Little Touched” at Susanne Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects is so complete and polished that it feels more like walking into a museum than a gallery. Originally from Kenya, Mutu’s work focuses on the constant exploration and discovery of identity as a woman, immigrant and African in New York City. Known for her lyric collages like “A’gave you” (pictured right), this show consists of new drawings, installations, collages and sculptures, all beautiful and extreme.

Small mountains arranged on the floor with clusters of framed works lining the walls fills the main room while a playful homage to Joseph Beuys featuring a plaster rabbit wearing a toupee and felt on the walls occupies another. Mutu also hung balls made of plastic bags—oftentimes made by children in Africa to use as soccer balls—from the ceiling in yet another room.

Well worth a visit, the exhibit stays up through 3 May 2008.