Ever Velasquez – The Chingona of Chinatown

Today, Velasquez manages the gallery that’s become ground zero for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ exhibitions and artist representation in Los Angeles. We sat down for a punk rock lunch at Toi in West Hollywood and chatted about her strong influence in the Los Angeles art scene.

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Artist and curator Ever Velasquez first visited Charlie James Gallery in 2018 to support her friend, Shizu Saldamando’s solo exhibit, To Return. A colored pencil portrait of Velasquez called La Ever, Chica Malcriada which hung in the main gallery was the featured image in the show’s marketing and the first piece sold to CJG’s best collector. Today, Velasquez manages the gallery that’s become ground zero for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ exhibitions and artist representation in Los Angeles. We sat down for a punk rock lunch at Toi in West Hollywood and chatted about her strong influence in the Los Angeles art scene.

Trina Calderón: How did your role with Charlie James evolve after you met at Shizu’s show?

Ever Velasquez: I kept running into Charlie at different art events and we would sidebar, “What do you think of that show, who do you think is a standout?” I would tell him, “There’s these two or three, these are the ones to watch. I have a good feeling about these.” Sure enough, anybody that I mentioned went on to do well. I started helping at the gallery, and at the fairs and now I’m the gallery manager. Charlie says I’m the eye of the gallery.

Do you and Charlie share the same taste?

What sets Charlie aside from most galleries is he came from tech, and he worked, traveled, and lived throughout Latin America and Europe.