Fall is one of my favorite seasons to catch up on what’s happening in the art world, at least in my neck of the woods: Los Angeles. Here are three exhibits that are on my radar:

1. Ai Weiwei/Jeffrey Deitch, Los Angeles; Marciano Art Foundation; UTA Artist Space

Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei has come to Los Angeles before, but never in such a big way with three different exhibits in three separate venues, a perfect scavenger hunt for creatives looking for inspiration from a master artist fluent in the international language of shape, form, color, and line. More than that, check out how he plays with timeless ingredients/themes and redefines the ordinary at all three shows at the Jeffrey Deitch, Los Angeles new gallery space, Marciano Art Foundation, and UTA Artist Space. (Image-top-courtesy Jeffrey Deitch, Los Angeles/photo: Joshua White)

*(Image courtesy of Marciano Art Foundation)*

*(Image courtesy of Marciano Art Foundation/Joshua White)*

2. “King Tut: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh”/California Science Center

Let’s rewind a bit to ancient Egypt. We’ve got about 8 more weeks to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the discovery of the tomb of King Tut, an event that set off the craze for all things Egyptian as a civilization of supreme artistic archievement and fascinating cultural practices impacting much of our world, even in L.A. (think Boris Karloff in The Mummy or the Egyptian lotus-themed architecture of Glendale’s Alex Theatre). Among the more than 150 objects on display in this large-scale, multi-media exhibit include iconic Egyptian New Kingdom-era statues, ceremonial furniture and shrines, Tut’s golden sandals found on his mummy’s feet, and the jewelry adorning his body. “King Tut: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh” runs at the California Science Center at Exposition Park through Jan. 13, 2019. (And don’t miss the Imax movie, Mysteries of Egypt, connected to the exhibit and co-located!)

3. Alexander Calder/Hauser & Wirth, Arts District

Okay, so we’ve covered a show about a current artist, one from the ancient world, so how about something in between-ish? Hauser & Wirth is featuring an exhibit of the work of twentieth-century modernist artist and sculptor, Alexander Calder. “Calder Nonspace” showcases mobiles—many thrillingly oversized—and their many other sculptures in on-site spaces that include an open-air courtyard and garden. Opens tomorrow-Jan. 6, 2019.