Dennis Oppeheim, known for his experimentation in land art and body art, is now exhibiting new work at Ace Gallery in Los Angeles. Cactus Grove features colorful, exuberant, architectural sculptures of cacti – a lighthearted but characteristic venture for an artist who has spent the last forty years adventurously challenging the way people interact with space and nature. Oppenheim has used a span of materials, including fiber glass, side walk grating, galvanized steel, doors and windows, to evoke these organic cactus forms, engaging a conversation between architecture and natural bodies.

Oppenheim, who has lived and worked in New York since the 1960s, studied art at California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland and Stanford University. At the 2007 Vancouver Sculpture Biennale, he was recognized for his life’s work in sculpture, photography and performance. Recently, Oppenheim was commissioned to display public sculptures during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Two of his works, Engagement and Raining Halos, appeared during the games, one in Hong Kong, the other in Beijing. Oppenheim’s exhibition at Ace Gallery continues through December 2008.