Creative Conditions: Making Space to Imagine w/ Mr. Wash & Peter Shire

Creative Conditions: Making Space to Imagine

As part of The Philosophical Research Society’s series Philosophy of Design, we are proud to host two remarkable Angeleno artists as they discuss what they create, where they create, and how we can all create spaces — inside and out — to bring out our most imaginative selves.

Creative Conditions will open with a screening of the short documentary Mr. Wash, which traces the early days following Mr. Wash’s release from a life sentence after being freed by President Obama in 2016. A conversation between Mr. Wash and Peter Shire will follow, along with an audience Q&A.

This event is in support of Mr. Wash's new book, , featuring studio visits with 20 of L.A.'s most dynamic working artists today. The 200-page hardcover publication showcases how each individual cultivates environments to nurture their own creative expression.

All proceeds go towards building the Art By Wash Studio & Community Center in Compton.

Mr. Wash

Fulton Leroy Washington a.k.a. Mr. Wash is a self-taught artist and criminal justice reform advocate living and working in Compton, CA. Wrongfully convicted in 1997 for a non-violent drug offense and handed a life sentence due to mandatory minimums, Mr. Wash learned and refined his craft in Pr*son before President Obama granted him clemency 21 years later.

Mr. Wash’s work has been shown and acquired by Los Angeles institutions including the Hammer Museum, LACMA, the Huntington Library, and Palm Springs Museum. In 2024, Mr. Wash presented a solo show at Jeffrey Deitch Gallery in L.A. artbywash.com

Peter Shire

Peter is an LA-based artist whose work eludes all attempts at categorization. He has created ceramics, furniture, toys, interior designs, and public sculptures, that seem to at once reference and parody influences such as Bauhaus, Futurism, Art Nouveau and Art Deco. This subversive humor and playfulness extend throughout his work and made him a natural fit for the controversial and iconic Milan-based Memphis design group, of which he was a founding member.

A graduate of the famous Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles, Peter Shire has an impressive exhibition record. In addition to many group shows, his works have been exhibited in numerous solo shows, in his hometown, Los Angeles, nationally and internationally in Milan, Paris, Tokyo and Sapporo. Shire’s works are in many public collections and museums in the U.S. and abroad. Shire is represented by Kayne Griffin Corcoran. petershirestudio.com

Tickets $10 (in-person event)

All proceeds go towards building the Art By Wash Studio & Community Center in Compton.

photo credit: Joppe Jacob Rog @joppe.jacob.rog

Philosophy of Design Series

This April and May, we celebrate the transformative power of design with a series of events examining the work of influential architects, artists, and designers. We'll explore how their unique philosophies and principles are reflected in their creations—works that not only shaped the way we view the world and experience space but open up new possibilities for ways of living.

CONTENT DISCLAIMER: The views, opinions, and thoughts expressed by the presenters are solely those of the presenter and may not represent those of the Philosophical Research Society (PRS), its affiliates, or any individuals associated with PRS. Presentations are intended for informational and entertainment purposes.

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