We had the good fortune of connecting with Elena Jacobson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Elena, what do you attribute your success to?
Gabba Gallery has a warm and welcoming vibe. The art world can be intimidating so people really appreciate how comfortable they feel at Gabba, especially if they are new to the scene. We have built a vibrant community of artists and art-lovers who are fun to be around. Our openings are lively and unpretentious with a DJ spinning groovy tunes and a taco stand outside. Our prices are affordable and always posted on the wall, no need to ask for a list. We believe art is for everyone and strive to make Gabba feel like home to anyone who cares about art.

What should our readers know about your business?
One of the things I am most proud of is Gabba’s growing online presence. We started as a traditional brick and mortar gallery but these days we also sell a lot of art through our website, gabbagallery.com. We sell original art as well as limited edition fine art prints. It is exciting to be able to reach out beyond LA and share our art with people all over the world. Our next online show will be Remix: The Art of Music, opening August 20, 2020. All the art is inspired by music and we will donate a portion of proceeds to Adopt the Arts, an organization that supports arts education programs in LA schools. I also want people to know about Gabba’s annual affordable art show, Wishlist. Over 70 artists participate and all works are priced between $50 and $1000. Buyers get to take their purchases home the same night. It is a great place for first-time art buyers to begin their collection or for seasoned veterans to find great deals. The 8th annual Wishlist opens November 16, 2020. We also love sharing art outside the gallery whenever we can. We created the Gabba Alley Project as a way to give back to our neighbors by creating an outdoor public art gallery of murals. We started in the residential alleys near the gallery but since then then the project has expanded to many other parts of the city. Most recently we started a mural project in Redondo Beach where dozens of artists will paint new murals over the coming months.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’d start by showing her around Hi-Fi (Historic Filipinotown), the neighborhood where Gabba Gallery is located. I would take her to Tactile Coffee on Beverly for a black-and-tan latte and a homemade biscuit with honey. Then I would give her a walking tour of the Gabba Alley Project. There are hundreds of murals hidden in the residential alleys that have been painted by Gabba artists from all over the world. We’d have lunch at Doubting Thomas or Hi-Fi Kitchen, two of my local faves. At night I’d take her to an opening at Gabba Gallery of course! Afterwards we’d go across the street for a late-night cocktail at Genever, a speakeasy with a glamorous, old-Hollywood vibe. The next day we’d head to the Westside. Temescal Canyon is my favorite LA hike. It’s a nice length and rewards your hard work with stunning views of the Pacific. Afterwards we’d drive up through Malibu for a seaside lunch at Neptune’s Net then head down to Venice to take in the madness of the boardwalk. I’d also make sure to take her to an outdoor concert. Nothing beats a picnic with wine at the Hollywood Bowl. I also love Jazz at LACMA and the KCRW Summer Nights series. Getting to spend so much time outside is my favorite part of living in LA. 

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Thank you to Gabba’s owner and my dear friend, Jason Ostro, for inviting me to join you on this exciting adventure. I love working with you! Your tenacious work ethic and positive personality are always inspiring. Thank you to the other members of the Gabba team, Jaq Frost and Bobby Moore, for working hard and making work fun. Thank you to our community of collectors and art-lovers for your continued support. Most of all I want to thank all the Gabba artists for allowing us to share your creations with the world!

Website: https://www.gabbagallery.com/
Instagram: @gabbagallery
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GabbaGallery/
Other: contact@gabbagallery.com

Image Credits
Art Credits: Jordan K. Valdez, Shlome J. Hayun, Joey Feldman, Isaac Pelayo, Matt Gondek, Clinton Bopp and more.