Los Angeles, the city of angels and the city of dreams, is known for its fleeting beauty—from sunsets and beaches to youth and intimacy and the inescapable calls of desire. Capturing such warmth and radiance in the city’s elusive moments can seem a challenge for those unaccustomed to Los Angeles’s shifting atmosphere. Perhaps only those who come to California to chase this essence—those drawn to the simultaneous radiance and restlessness—can understand and render this energy in a wholly authentic manner. Such a task is achieved in the works of two non California-native photographers: Paul Jasmin and Todd Weaver. Fahey/Klein Gallery’s newest exhibition Fade to West features the works of these two visionary artists, both of whom have captured not only LA’s landscapes and people but also its spirit. 

Fade to West pairs each photographer’s works—Jasmin’s cinematic vignettes and portraiture and Weaver’s ethereal landscapes—in an exhibition that embodies the city’s ambience. 

Paul Jasmin, who peacefully passed away this May, was a painter and actor turned photographer whose work distilled poignant beauty in his dreamlike tableaux. He was also an educator, mentoring emerging artists at the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, known affectionately as “Jazz” by friends and students. His works are palpable emblems of Los Angeles, offering explorations of the city’s contrasts: dreams and aspirations among the reality, the glamour and allure of the American dream, or the fleeting moments of becoming. There is an undeniable authenticity to his works. They capture the intimate moments of youth, suffused with a passion and curiosity for a city of warmth, in a way that feels personal and suspended.

Todd Weaver’s works are known for a boldly vibrant use of color that evokes emotions in all those who bear witness. His career began under the mentorship of other established photographers, and he ventured into his own distinct style in portraiture and brand collaborations. With a keen eye for composition, Weaver has turned his sights on Southern California surf culture, capturing the unity of surfer and wave in dreamy film portraits. His included works in Fade to West explore the edges of California—the surf, the windswept dunes, and the shifting horizon. Each work is a meditation on the familiar landscapes of the city of angels, rendering Los Angeles in a genuine vision.

Together, these artists bring California to life—as a living, breathing place that pulses with the energy of its inhabitants.

‍Fade to West is on display at the Fahey/Klein Gallery in Los Angeles from July 10 to September 6, with an exhibition reception on July 10 and a walkthrough with Todd Weaver on July 12.