Los Angeles Modern Auctions
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Auction house |
| Founded | 1992 |
| Founder | Peter Loughrey |
| Headquarters | Van Nuys, California , United States |
Area served | Global |
Key people | Peter Loughrey (founder; deceased 2020) |
| Products | Auctions of 20th-century Modern art and design, including paintings, photography, prints, sculptures, ceramics, furniture, jewelry, lighting fixtures |
| Parent | Rago Wright Auctions (merged 2021) |
Los Angeles Modern Auctions (LAMA), established by Peter Loughrey in 1992, stands as the pioneering auction house dedicated exclusively to 20th-century Modern art and design, with a particular emphasis on artists from California and the West Coast. Based in Van Nuys, California, LAMA hosts auctions throughout the year in Hollywood, presenting a diverse range of items including paintings, photography, prints, sculptures, ceramics, furniture, jewelry, and lighting fixtures. The firm has cultivated a notable presence in the marketplace through landmark auctions spotlighting designers such as Charles and Ray Eames, Paul Laszlo, and R.M. Schindler. LAMA also holds multiple global auction records for pieces by California-based artists like Peter Alexander, Ruth Asawa, Larry Bell, Chris Burden, Jay DeFeo, Lorser Feitelson, Mike Kelley, Vasa Mihich, Ken Price, Ed Ruscha, and De Wain Valentine.
1990s
Prior to founding LAMA in 1992, Peter Loughrey launched the vintage furniture gallery Bedrock in 1989. The first auction under LAMA featured 136 lots showcasing Modern design by prominent creators including Harry Bertoia, Charles and Ray Eames, Frank Gehry, Frank Lloyd Wright, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Peter Max, Isamu Noguchi, and Ettore Sottsass.
After Bedrock closed in 1993, Loughrey advanced his knowledge at Sotheby's Institute of Art in London while gaining hands-on experience at Sotheby's auctions. In 1995 he married Shannon Carragher; together they revitalized LAMA by conducting joint auctions starting in 1996 at Eric Owen Moss’s 'Samitaur' building and subsequently at the IM Chait Gallery located in Beverly Hills.
LAMA’s expanding reputation resulted in important commissions such as managing the liquidation of Richard Neutra’s Silver Lake architectural offices. The company also leveraged exclusive collections including over 500 Eames leg splints that were retailed through the gift shops of MoMA New York and MOCA Los Angeles.
In 1998, LAMA enhanced its online presence by launching a website and received media attention for shaping trends within the antiques market. That same year featured an exclusive interview conducted by Loughrey with architect Pierre Koenig.
By 1999, LAMA had firmly established itself within the Modern art sector through “Modern Monthly” auctions aimed at younger buyers with affordable lots averaging below $500. That year also marked the company’s first major corporate fine art liquidation commission from ARCO (Atlantic Richfield Corporation). A record-setting sale occurred when the 1941 “Conversation” prototype—co-created with Eero Saarinen—achieved $129,000.
2000 to 2010
Building on the 1999 world record for an Eames design, John & Marilyn Neuhart selected LAMA in July 2000 to auction pieces from their private Charles and Ray Eames collection. This sale included custom designs, sculptures, photographs, drawings, and rare prototypes such as the "DCW," many of which are held by public institutions. In recognition of its expanding market influence, Loughrey was featured in Art & Auction’s Power Issue that year.
While directing Butterfield and Butterfield's 20th Century Decorative Arts and Design department in 2002, Loughrey was appointed by Playboy Enterprises to oversee auctions of items from the magazine’s archives. Additionally, LAMA organized the inaugural auction of Michael and Gabrielle Boyd's collection.
In 2003, Peter Loughrey joined PBS's Antiques Roadshow as an appraiser, further elevating his stature as a leading figure within the auction industry until his passing in 2020.
LAMA set two global auction records in 2004 with George Nakashima pieces exceeding $100,000; Nakashima continues to be a key artist represented by LAMA. That same year saw Loughrey co-curate Gio Ponti: Furnished Settings & Figuration alongside ACME Gallery—an event that launched ongoing collaborations featuring Ponti’s designs.
In 2005, Loughrey co-curated ACME’s Dutch Design exhibition. LAMA also conducted an exclusive auction of the complete contents from the Paul Laszlo-designed Hudspeth Residence—the largest Laszlo collection ever offered at auction.
At its June 2007 Modern Art & Design Auction, LAMA achieved a world record for Andy Warhol’s Marilyn (#28) selling for $144,000. Shortly thereafter Judy Chicago’s Car Hood realized $288,000.
In 2008 LAMA held its first house sale featuring the Linda Sullivan collection and was highlighted in Forbes' SOLD!. That year also marked the company’s relocation from West Hollywood to its Van Nuys showroom—previously Stan Winston Studio—upgrading its headquarters with a skylight originally constructed for the film Jurassic Park.
2010 to 2020
On October 22, 2017, LAMA commemorated its 25th anniversary with a Modern Art & Design Auction headlined by Roy Lichtenstein’s Reverie, which achieved a sale price of $175,000. Additional notable pieces included creations by Paul Klee, Marcel Duchamp, Ed Ruscha, and Pablo Picasso.
The Modern Art & Design Auction held on October 3, 2008, set a record for LAMA with total sales reaching $5.17 million—exceeding the low estimate by 125%—highlighting the company’s robust financial results and expanding market share.
In October 2019, LAMA introduced its custom-developed application and conducted its first exclusively online auction, broadening its global reach through internet-based bidding on live lots.
Peter Loughrey passed away in March 2020. Benedikt Taschen recognized him as an unmatched authority on California modernism, emphasizing his enduring impact as both a business executive and industry expert.
2010 to 2020
In August 2021, LAMA revealed its merger with Rago Wright Auctions, enhancing its market footprint and operational strength.
Notable Auctions
May 18, 1996: A Modern Art & Design Auction spotlighted exclusive pieces from Richard Neutra's V.D.L. Research House, underscoring LAMA's dedication to iconic design.
July 9, 2000: The inaugural auction focused solely on Charles and Ray Eames featured 103 lots, including rare prototypes and collectible items, reinforcing LAMA's prominence in Mid-Century Modern design sales.
May 19, 2002: Offered 485 lots from collectors Michael and Gabrielle Boyd, many associated with a landmark exhibition at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, bolstering LAMA's reputation for handling prestigious collections.
June 23, 2002: Partnered with Butterfield & Butterfield to auction archives from Playboy magazine, including original artworks by Robert Vargas, diversifying the range of offerings.
December 7, 2003: Presented works from James Prestini's personal collection for the first time, expanding the company's portfolio of designer and sculptor estates.
May 22, 2005: Auctioned the complete contents of the John M. Hudspeth Residence designed by Paul László—a major architectural commission—demonstrating LAMA's expertise in managing comprehensive estate sales.
December 7, 2008: Held its first auction at the Van Nuys showroom, signifying growth in physical operations.
February 23, 2014: Featured a bespoke Ruth Asawa piece that sold for $1.4 million, establishing a new sales benchmark for LAMA.
February 21, 2016: A painting by Richard Prince sold for $1.58 million, surpassing earlier records and showcasing LAMA’s increasing influence in the market.
October 22, 2017: Marked the company’s quarter-century milestone with a Modern Art & Design Auction emphasizing ongoing business expansion.
October 20, 2019: Executed its first auction conducted entirely online, reflecting a strategic shift toward digital marketplace trends.
Exhibitions
Selected exhibitions curated or advised by Peter Loughrey, founder of LAMA:
2000: The Fabulous Fifties: International Modern Design, California Heritage Museum, Santa Monica, California 2000: Work from the Office of Charles & Ray Eames, LAMA showroom, Van Nuys, California 2001: New creations by Bryan Thompson, LAMA showroom, Van Nuys, California 2004: Gio Ponti: Furnished Settings & Figuration, ACME Gallery, Los Angeles, California 2005: Dutch Design, ACME Gallery, Los Angeles, California 2003: Design by Decades at Pacific Design Center's WESTWEEK event in West Hollywood, California 2006: R.M. Schindler: The Gingold Commissions, Pacific Design Center, Los Angeles 2010: Jews on Vinyl, Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles 2010: Gaetano Pesce: Pieces of a Larger Puzzle, Istituto Italiano di Cultura, Los Angeles 2011: Collecting in Los Angeles: 1945–1980 for Pacific Standard Time: Art in L.A., 1945-1980, held at LAMA showroom in Van Nuys 2017: ¿Qué significa?: Emerson Woelffer in the Yucatán for Pacific Standard Time: LA/LA, hosted at LAMA Showroom in Van Nuys
World Records
Since its establishment in 1992, LAMA has achieved a multitude of world auction records in the realm of fine art and design.
| Sale Date | Artist | Title | Price Realized | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 2021 | Masayuki Kurokawa | Pair of Lavinia table lamps | $13,750 | Designer record |
| December 2021 | Vasa | Towers (4) | $50,000 | Artist record |
| October 2021 | Ed Ruscha | Blank Signs (four works) | $20,000 | Edition record |
| October 2021 | Ed Ruscha | Hell | $27,500 | Edition record |
| October 2021 | T.J. Robsjohn-Gibbings | Rare Mesa Table | $362,500 | Design record |
| May 2021 | Fritz Scholder | Indian with Peace Medal | $225,000 | Artist's auction record |
| May 2021 | Ed Ruscha | Made in California | $87,500 | Edition record |
| May 2021 | Mark Bradford | 630C-MB03 | $18,750 | Edition record |
| May 2021 | Frank Stella | The Funeral (Dome) (Moby Dick Domes Series) | $30,000 | Edition record |
| February 2021 | Linda Stark | Visitation | $13,750 | Artist auction record |
| January 2021 | Ettore Sottsass | Vase (Hollywood Collection) | $18,750 | Design record |
| October 2020 | Paul Allen Reed | Upstart XXXVI | $27,500 | Artist painting auction record |
| October 2020 | Frank Gehry | Pair of Wiggle chairs | $13,750 | Design record |
| October 2020 | Charles Arnoldi | Untitled print | $31,250 | Artist print auction record |
| August 2020 | Raimonds Staprans | A Study of the Shiny Paint Can | $87,500 | Record for works of comparable size by artist |
| August 2020 | Vija Celmins | Drypoint – Ocean Surface | $16,250 | Edition record |
| August 2020 | Ed Ruscha (two works) | Ghost Station, OK (State I) | $53,125 each | Edition records |
| June 2020 | John Baldessari | Studio | $22,500 | Impression record |
| June 2020 | Larry Cohen | Open Door with Chair | $17,500 | Artist auction record |
| May 2020 | Lita Albuquerque | Ereiumul Series #4 | $8,750 | Artist drawing auction record |
| February 2020 | Henry Moore | Maquette for Seated Woman | $45,000 | Edition record |
| February 2020 | Ellsworth Kelly | Blue/Black/Red/Green | $46,975 | Edition record |
| February 2020 | Vija Celmins | Night Sky | $25,000 | Edition record |
| February 2019 | Ed Ruscha | Mocha Standard | $168,750 | Edition record |
| February 2019 | Keith Haring | Andy Mouse | $212,500 | Edition record |
| February 2019 | Fred Eversley | Untitled | $281,250 | Artist auction record |
| February 2019 | Kenneth Noland | Songs: Yesterdays | $550,000 | Series work auction record |
Television & Publications
Peter Loughrey, founder of LAMA, regularly appeared as an appraiser on the PBS program Antiques Roadshow’’ starting in 2003. He also served as a recognized expert on Modern art and design in various publications such as the Taschen editions Julius Shulman, Modernism Rediscovered, Case Study Houses, and Collecting Design.
Press
- My 'Antiques Roadshow' moment with auctioneer Peter Loughrey, champion of California modernism, Los Angeles Times, March 23, 2020
- Peter Loughrey, founder of Los Angeles Modern Auctions, leaves us at 52, KCRW, March 19, 2020
- Peter Loughrey, Esteemed Auctioneer and Curator, Dies After Battle with Cancer, Architectural Digest, March 18, 2020
- The irresistible rise of Light and Space, The Art Newspaper, October 20, 2017
- How Peter Loughrey Went from Homeless to A Millionaire Art Dealer, CNBC, July 9, 2017
- Auction Record: Alma Thomas's 1969 Vision of ‘Spring Flowers’ Yields More Than $300K, Culture Type, March 6, 2017
- Why It's a Great Time to Be Buying Collectible Art, Fortune, November 11, 2016
- A rare sculpture by 20th-century Italian-American artist Harry Bertoia enters the market, Surface, February 2015
- Artelligence Podcast: Peter Loughrey, Los Angeles Modern Auctions, September 17, 2014
- William Haines’ custom designs from 1960 to be auctioned, Los Angeles Times, May 17, 2014
- L.A. Auctioneer Peter Loughrey on Mixing Art and Design, Artspace, January 7, 2014
- L.A. Modern Auctions: Record haul for 2011 design sale, Los Angeles Times, 2011
- Moving Pictures: The collection of a lifetime is ready for a new home, C Magazine, October 2011
- A Sotheby's Catalog With Some Juicy Details, New York Times, February 24, 2011
- Style and wit, Los Angeles Times, May 30, 2009
- It's Modern No Longer, But Precious, New York Times, December 5, 2003
- Thoroughly Modern Milieu, Los Angeles Times, October 14, 1999
References
- Loughrey, Peter (Spring 2010). Baby, Are You for Real?, Modern Magazine. Accessed 04-13-2010
- Peter Loughrey Appraisals, Antiques Roadshow. Accessed 04-15-2010
- Forbes' SOLD!: LAMA segment, Ovation TV. Accessed 05-25-2011
- Interview on YHBHS, YHBHS. Accessed 05-25-2011
- Heet, Erika (October 2010). Celebrating LAMA’s 50th, Dwell Magazine. Accessed 05-25-2011