LA Modern Auctions (LAMA) is proud to present The Collection of Shawn & Andrew Hosner of Thinkspace LA, in a two-part auction event on September 12th and 13th. With works from Javier Calleja, Roby Dwi Antono, Hebru Brantley, Banksy, KAWS, Shepard Fairey, Margaret Kilgallen, Audrey Kawasaki, and Mark Ryden, the collection represents the Hosners’ fearless and intuitive approach to collecting and community. Co-founders of Los Angeles gallery and cultural incubator Thinkspace LA, the Hosners have been an integral part of several contemporary art movements that have exploded over the last two decades. As Thinkspace LA approaches its 20th anniversary in 2025, this auction will support the gallery’s continued programming, and a portion of sales will be donated to the Keep A Breast Foundation in loving memory of Shawn Hosner.
Over the past two decades, the Hosners simultaneously rallied a heartful community of like minds while building a remarkable collection that represents a wide swath of bold contemporary artists—many of whom have since become internationally recognized. Beginning with a small work by Jeff Soto that they purchased in the 2000s for around $300, the Hosners together evolved into inveterate collectors who championed emerging artists in what they call the New Contemporary Art movement, including Neo-Pop, street art and graffiti, art collectibles, and contemporary ceramics. They co-founded Thinkspace in 2005 with their partner LC, initially opening just off the Melrose strip and soon after moving to the bustling Sunset Junction area of Silver Lake. The gallery eventually relocated to Culver City in 2009, where it blossomed for over a decade before landing in the West Adams Arts District in 2020 and expanding to two locations.
As both collectors and gallerists, the Hosners have been more likely to set market trends than follow them. “The first rule of buying for us, and myself moving forward, will always be you have to like it,” says Andrew Hosner. “We’ve never really tried to buy simply because of a name.”
Yet, many of the artists whose works the Hosners showed and collected have become important. Among the highlights of The Collection of Shawn & Andrew Hosner of Thinkspace LA are Banksy’s 2002 Parachuting Rat (est. $40,000–60,000], Jen Stark’s 2011 sculpture Beyond Finite (est. $20,000–30,000), and the figurative drawings Words of Wisdom from Javier Calleja (est. $20,000–40,000) and The Street (Sketch) from Mark Ryden. A group of works from Roby Dwi Antono including the 2022 Love Me Do (Study) (est. $20,000–30,000) and the 2021 sculpture Asteria (est. $10,000–15,000), which was exhibited at the Thinkspace exhibition Epos.
The Collection of Shawn & Andrew Hosner of Thinkspace LA represents a significant chapter for both LA culture and contemporary art. Of his decision to bring this collection to auction, Andrew Hosner says, “I felt that it was more important to keep the gallery going and all that comes with it: the community, our extended gallery family, and all of our ‘children’ that are the artists that we’ve supported over the years, that they continue to have a place to exist and nurture and grow and support each other…that ultimately is the best legacy that I could ask for Shawn.”
Works featured in The Collection of Shawn & Andrew Hosner of Thinkspace LA and The Collection of Shawn & Andrew Hosner of Thinkspace LA: Online Only will be on view from September 9 to 12 at LAMA’s new location at 6666 Lexington Ave, Los Angeles. A public opening celebration will be held on September 7, from 5-8pm PT. Additionally, a public conversation between Andrew Hosner and Evan Pricco, Editor of JUXTAPOZ, will be held on Tuesday, September 10 at 4pm PT.
The live auction on September 12th will begin at 10am PT and accommodates advanced bids, telephone bidding, and live online bidding. The online-only auction on September 13 will begin at 10 am PT and accommodates advanced online bids and live online bids.
