Los Angeles Modern Auctions
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| Auction house | |
| Industry | Fine Art & Design Auction House |
| Founded | January 01, 1992 |
| Founder | Peter Loughrey |
| Headquarters | Van Nuys, California |
| Owner | Peter & Shannon Loughrey |
| Website | www.lamodern.com |
Los Angeles Modern Auctions (LAMA) is the first auction house to specialize in 20th century modern design and fine art. Auctions are held three times a year in Van Nuys, CA and offer material ranging from fine art, furniture, lighting, sculpture, prints, photography, ceramics, to decorative arts. Notably, LAMA has carved a niche in the international market through milestone auctions dedicated to individual designers such as Charles and Ray Eames, Paul László, and R. M. Schindler. Of late, LAMA has distinguished itself by achieving record prices for California artists such as Ed Ruscha, Jay DeFeo and Mike Kelley.
Peter Loughrey opened a vintage furniture gallery, "Bedrock," in October 1989 and, three years later, founded Los Angeles Modern Auctions (LAMA). The company's first auction occurred on October 10, 1992, featuring 150 lots. In 1993, Mr. Loughrey chose to close the gallery and moved to London in order to continue his education at Sotheby's Institute of Art. There he apprenticed in the Vintage Automobile Department and worked as a porter in the landmark Man Ray auction at Sotheby's, London.
In 1995, Peter married Shannon Carragher and the two re-opened Los Angeles Modern Auctions. On May 18, 1996 Peter and Shannon conducted their first joint auction at the Eric Owen Moss 'Samitaur' building in Culver City, California. Five months later, on October 27, 1996 they held an additional auction at the Chait Gallery in Beverly Hills.
Having built a reputation for expertise in the field of modernist design, LAMA was chosen to liquidate the Silver Lake architectural offices of Richard Neutra. This same year, the auction house acquired more than 500 Eames leg splints from an army surplus, and distributed them via MoMA and MOCA gift stores.
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