Inaugural Art Project 01:

Part I + Part II

Allied Special Projects was born in February 2025.

Out of necessity to regroup after the LA Fires and pivot from a cancelled art fair. Artist/Curator, Mary Lai founded ASP so she could still have the show go on - even if it was going to be in her own art studio at in DTLA. However, as stars would align she was able to show her curation at The Other Art Fair LA (Part I) and SPRING/BREAK Art Show in New York (Part II) as a two-part Inaugural Show with SB’s theme - PARADISE: Lost + Found with Allied Special Projects.

Part II - Mapping Memories: A State of Paradise

For SBNY in May 2025 our tagline was: Lost stories finding new life.

It featured artists Colin Roberts, Yoon Chang, Richard Ankrom and Mary Lai of ASP. This was an evolved over-the-top curation that included large-scale sculptures, paintings, mixed media and video. A story of artists coming together to bring together art & magic from Los Angeles to New York.

  • Art gallery with colorful paintings on teal wall and sculptures on white pedestals near large windows in city building.
  • Art gallery with large window views featuring colorful, abstract sculptures, including a prominent pink and white creature with tentacle-like appendages and other glass sculptures on white pedestals.
  • Interior of a gift shop with turquoise walls, American flag wall hanging, colorful artwork, and decorative items on shelves.
  • Interior of a retail store with turquoise walls, displaying various American flags, hats, and collectibles, with a wooden counter and decorative wall art.
  • Art gallery interior with four illuminated animal-shaped sculptures on pedestals and a large abstract painting on a teal wall.
Pink exhibition poster titled "Mapping Memories: A State of Paradise" with black text, listing artists Colin Roberts, Yoon Chang, Richard Ankrom, Mary Lai, and curators Allied Special Projects, for Spring/Break New York 2025.
A collage-style image with torn paper effects showcases a colorful mosaic of art supplies, an abstract cityscape, and vibrant artwork. Overlaid text reads: 'SPRING/BREAK NY25: ALLIED SPECIAL PROJECTS MARY LAI, RICHARD ANKROM, COLIN ROBERTS, YOON CHAN
Text document titled 'SPRING/BREAK LA to NY 2025 CURATORIAL STATEMENT' by Mary Lai of Allied Special Projects, describing an exhibition called 'Mapping Memories: A State of Paradise' with a tagline 'Lost stories finding new life.'
Text describing an art exhibition called 'Mapping Memories: A State of Paradise' featuring works by Colin Roberts and Yoon Chang, including mosaic sculptures, acrylic art, and abstract paintings.
Text-based description of art and installation projects on the theme of lost and found, including references to guerrilla art, an exhibition about paradise, and interactive car sculptures.
Profile of visual artist Colin Roberts with a sculpture of a colorful ghost made of holographic tiles and wire.
Holographic disco ball balloon with a cube pattern, titled 'Holograph Balloons, 2022, Holographic Acrylic, 16x10 inches, Edition of 3'.
Collection of holographic acrylic sculptures including a pillow, mirror, banana, T-Rex dinosaur, and skull with iridescent, translucent surfaces.
Colorful mixed media sculpture titled 'Ego Escape' resembling a giant pillow with multiple protruding pink tentacles, featuring various small objects, figurines, and accessories on its surface, displayed indoors with windows in the background.
An artist working in a studio with colorful abstract paintings on the wall, using brushes and paints on a red table, surrounded by art supplies.
Abstract painting titled 'Mindscape 17' depicting layered white background with scattered patches of color and gestural marks.
Abstract painting titled 'Secret Garden' with vibrant colors, including pinks, blues, greens, and oranges, featuring a minimalistic depiction of a female figure with long orange hair and some black and green elements.
Abstract mixed media painting titled 'Sunkissed Motion' depicting inspired by the sea with vibrant colors and spontaneous brushstrokes on a blue background.
Three colorful abstract paintings in ornate frames. The largest blue-framed painting labeled 'Found Objects Series 01, 2025' shows mixed media artwork measuring 17x20 inches. The middle yellow-framed painting labeled 'Found Objects Series 05, 2025' m
Two framed abstract art paintings with colorful brushstrokes. The first, titled 'Found Objects Series 02, 2025,' measures 10 inches by 8 inches, features a vintage-style ornate cream-colored frame, and depicts blue, white, and red shapes. The second,
Photograph of a man and woman working with a camera in an outdoor industrial setting, with a large camera and equipment in the background.
Green GPS-style painted sign on canvas indicating directions to Paradise with arrows and no trucks instructions, and a framed photograph of a highway sign displaying North I-5 and the word Pasadena.
American flag with a star-shaped field of white stars on a blue background and red and white stripes, with yellow fringe on the edges.
Collection of colorful resin paperweights shaped like hatchets, with various patterns and embedded decorations, from the gra'ma series.
An artist bio page featuring a portrait of Mary Lai smiling at her colorful artwork and supplies, with her name in large black text on the left side.
Interior view of a car with a colorful, abstract landscape parked in a city. The dashboard has a small toy and a navigation device, with a rearview mirror showing a person's face. The background features a sunset, clouds, and a cityscape with tall bu
A diptych of two abstract paintings depicting views from a car interior. The left panel shows a landscape with mountains, clouds, and a starry sky seen through the rearview mirror, while the right panel features a colorful road, flowers, and a pair o
A colorful, abstract painting titled "Slice of Paradise" depicts a car's side-view mirror reflecting a mountain landscape at sunset, with red flowers and a sky filled with green and yellow stars, in a textured acrylic paint style.
A colorful painting of Lady Liberty holding a torch and a tablet, with a halo behind her head, a cityscape in the background, and an apple with an eye on the bottom right corner.
A decorative can with a colorful label that reads 'Paradise Mix.' The label has pastel colors and designs resembling a cake and a slice of cake, with textured details. The can is placed on a blue circular surface on a wooden table.
Colorful stack of books with names Mary Lai, Yoon Chang, Colin Roberts, and Richard Ankrom on a table against a teal wall, topped with a white sculpture of a hand.
An eclectic art display at Lost & Found General Store with colorful paintings, sculptures, plush pillows, and various decorative items on walls and a wooden counter, with a large American flag on the left. A sign above reads 'lost & found GENERAL STO
Artwork depicting four social media profiles represented as character figurines with themed accessories: Colin Roberts as an artist with a dog, banana, and backpack; Mary Lai as an artist and curator with a hat, art supplies, and a snow globe; Yoon C
Blank white sheet with contact information at the bottom for sales and press inquiries.
Bright pink poster with black text reading "Mapping Memories: A State of Fararies, Lost Stories Finding New Life", and additional text listing event details including location at 333 Pearl Street and date Tuesday, November 1, 2022.

Part I: Portal to Dreams

Part I of our Inaugural Art Project took place in Los Angeles, CA in February 2025 during The Other Art Fair.

This installation / exhibition took place a few weeks after the LA fires and we wanted this to be a dedication to the City of Angels. Over 8,000 people came through the art fair and engaged with ‘Portal to Dreams’ which was located at the Entrance booth where visitors were invited to write down their dreams, tying them to the installation’s fence. Inspired by the Japanese tradition of Omikuji, guests wrote down their wishes whether it was a hope for LA, a wish for our country, or a dream for themself. In this act of intention, we affirmed the belief that when a dream is written, it is destined to come true.

Featured artworks by Richard Ankrom, Yoon Chang and Mary Lai (curator/artist). Each piece had a compelling story and invited viewers to enjoy this slice of paradise that reminds us how resilient the Los Angeles creative community is and to keep dreaming.