Superchief Gallery LA Hosts a Weekend of Art, Community, and Resistance
Superchief Gallery LA is coming in hot with a weekend that captures everything it stands for — underground art, cultural organizing, and community resilience. Starting this tomorrow, the gallery is hosting three back-to-back events, each rooted in creative expression and mutual aid. From an anti-ICE fundraiser to the official opening of Contagious Culture Vol. 5, and a global community market supporting queer folks on Sunday, Superchief is going all in this weekend, the way they always have.
The main event, Contagious Culture Vol. 5, officially opens Saturday night, June 21. Curated by Estevan Oriol and Superchief founder Bill Dunleavy, the show features photography selected from an open call that drew over ten thousand submissions. Artists were not judged by name or reputation — the entire process was done blind. Oriol and Dunleavy didn’t look at which photographers submitted what photos. Images were sorted by theme and chosen strictly on merit. Out of the massive pool, 260 photographs made the cut, representing the work of 167 artists.
The result is a raw, wide-ranging collection of photos that reflect the chaos, joy, and urgency of life in the city. You’ll see protests, street culture, skate crews, music scenes, graffiti, quiet moments of survival, and loud expressions of resistance. The gallery will showcase a wide-ranging collection of work by artists like Catrina Esperanza, Odd Cerebrum, Erika Weitz, Nathan Hanson, Andy Nguyen, and Cat Donuts, alongside select pieces by Dunleavy and Oriol himself. Together, these works create a vivid tapestry of LA’s underground culture that is honest, bold, and proudly homegrown.
This year’s Contagious Culture 5 reflects the original purpose of the series, which began in 2019 under Dunleavy’s curation. Formerly known as Fuck the Likes, the exhibition pushes back against performative art scenes and social media clout-chasing. It celebrates photography that exists for its own sake and documents community, culture, and the realities that often get left out of gallery walls.
You can expect a packed house, a riot of visuals, and the kind of scene you can’t fake. You can show up, see the work, meet the artists, and pick up the limited edition exhibition book. The Contagious Culture Vol. 5 book features 260 full-color pages and is available for preorder. Books can be picked up at the show or shipped.
Estevan Oriol’s involvement adds weight and intention. He is one of Los Angeles’ most iconic visual historians. He’s a photographer and director whose work has captured the raw beauty and power of LA street culture for over two decades. Known for his signature black-and-white portraits, Oriol has photographed everyone from Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, and Ryan Gosling to Snoop Dogg — just to name a few. For most of his career, he’s turned his lens towards everyday Angelenos — the people who live, breathe, and shape LA’s identity beyond the spotlight. His striking imagery blurs the line between grit and glamor, often becoming the definitive visual of a moment, a scene, or a legend.
His photograph of the “LA Fingers” hand sign has become one of the most recognized cultural symbols tied to the city. Beyond that, it has become a symbol of pride, survival, and deep love for a city that gives more than it asks for. That image alone solidified Oriol as a figure whose work doesn’t just document LA — it defines it. Having him co-curate this exhibition means the show carries real lineage. It bridges generations of photographers, uplifts new talent, and does so with a level of cultural responsibility that’s rare in gallery spaces.
His work has appeared in publications like Rolling Stone, GQ, Juxtapoz, Vibe, and Complex, and has been exhibited at major institutions including MOCA, the Smithsonian, the Petersen Automotive Museum, and Mesa Contemporary. Oriol has also shot campaigns for brands like Nike, Apple, and Cadillac, directed music videos for Eminem, Blink 182, and Xzibit, and released bestselling photography books including LA Woman, L.A. Portraits, and This Is Los Angeles. His influence on LA’s visual language is massive — not just in how he represents the city, but in how the city sees itself.
Dunleavy’s own background in photojournalism, activism, and graffiti shaped the gallery’s identity. He has curated shows that introduced artists like Creepygals, Sickid, Sarah Sitkin, and Yu Maeda. But Superchief’s impact goes beyond the walls. After this year’s devastating wildfires in LA, the gallery paused its programming to focus entirely on relief for wildfire victims. In the wake of recent ICE raids, Superchief is now using its platform to raise funds and support for families impacted by the violence.
This space is the right place for this kind of work. Since 2014, it has carved out a space that challenges traditional art world norms. The gallery has grown into a cultural hub for artists who operate outside the usual systems. It has also opened space for overlooked voices, and remained fully committed to serving the community.
ANTI-ICE FUNDRAISER
FRIDAY, JUNE 20
7PM-11PM
FREE (DONATIONS ENCOURAGED*)
*All funds will be donated to CHIRLA (Coalition of Humane Immigration Rights)
CONTAGIOUS CULTURE VOL. 5
SATURDAY, JUNE 21
7PM-11PM
$5 GENERAL ADMISSION / FREE FOR PATREON SUPPORTERS
RIO WORLD MARKET
SUNDAY, JUNE 22
2PM-8PM
FREE ADMISSION
If you believe in what Superchief is doing, joining their Patreon is one of the most direct ways to help. The gallery runs on community support. For ten dollars a month, Patreon members get exclusive access to events, free merch and art gifts, and the opportunity to support a space that exists to serve artists, not profit.
This weekend is about more than just showing art. It’s about building something together, preserving what matters, and showing up for each other because we owe each other everything.
Stay tapped in with photographer Estevan Oriol (@estevanoriol) and Superchief Gallery LA (@superchiefgalleryla) to support underground artists, get updates on events, and be part of a community that’s always putting the people first.
Photos — Superchief Gallery LA, Estevan Oriol, Phranks Photography, Steve Tirona, Nathan Hanson, Mikey Wally, Chris Luna, Shoton FIlm, Andrew Kim, Isaiah Ryan
